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someone please help me... low blood sugar problems

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Posted 5/22/2005 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I'm coming on over from the lupus forum!

For years I've been battling hypoglycemic tendancies. I've gone into my doctor's office in a full blown blood sugar crash, trembling, sweating, dizzy, pale, moody, all the symptoms. My blood is tested and always comes back with a normal reading. Then they wait about a half hour, until I'm nearly out of my mind, and my sugar levels actually go up a bit! What the???

 

So, lately, the symptoms have been getting much worse, to the point where I can't stuff enough food down my throat to stave off the symptoms. I eat high protein meals and snacks regularly, but the symptoms are with me al the time. It's a horrble way to live. These symptoms are like this especially about a week before my period starts. Then they go away, and come back again mid cycle.

 

I've been to an endochrinologist about it, and I don't have diabetes, a pancreatic tumor, or any lupus antibodies causing this. He's at a loss.  He said that I could be one of those people who just have a very sensitive system and will react to the slightest change in sugar levels. But come on! This is extreme! I'm in the "bad place" this week. I'm at my wits end. Any one know what this might be?

 

Thanks a bunch everyone!

 

Ginny

Posted 5/31/2005 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ginny,

Endo's have a monitor that you can wear that constantly records sugar levels. Sounds like you may be a candidate for one. If you sugars go low your body tries to pull glucose from any storage place it can...muscles, liver, etc. That's what starts the 'shakes' and sweats. This is likely why your readings are up a bit after a few minutes wait. You may want to try using glucose tablets. They'll raise your sugars fast without having to stuff food in.

Keep pushing until you're satisfied with an answer and can lead a more normal life. Hope you're feeling better!

Hugs,
Chutz
Posted 7/14/2005 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Chutz!

Thanks for that info. My low blood sugar attacks have become much worse in the last couple of months. It's so bad now that I'm eating every 2 hours, and I still feel yucky. I'm seing my primary doctor on Monday. I'll be making an appointment with my Endo after I see my primary.

I can't think of a worse feeling than these "crashes". It just wears me out to no end.

I've been reading a lot of the posts here and I have some of the diabetes symptoms like neuropathy, but I've always contributed that to my lupus. It's very common in lupus to have the tingly hands and feet, numbness etc. It's tough to distinguish what is what!

 

I know my primary will order a fasting glucose test. I don't think I can even make it to the lab to do it. As soon as I'm awake, my body goes into crash mode and I have to shove something down my throat or I'll be a dizzy, shaking mess. Not sure how to handle that test!

 

Thanks again!

 

Ginny

Posted 7/14/2005 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Ginny, since you live in Canada, I hope this will help you. If you have a regular pharmacy that you deal with, they may be prepared to loan you a glucometer. This would allow you to test your blood sugar before you even got out of bed. Just keep the glucometer right next to your bed and test as soon as you wake up after having fasted for hopefully ten hours at least. It would be better to check after twelve hours, but YOU CAN NOT AFFORD TO TAKE THAT RISK!!! Low blood sugar can be very dangerous, I mean very dangerous!!!! So if you can not fast for that long, then just fast for a shorter time period and do the testat home. When you borrow the glucometer make sure it comes with ten test strips at least, and the lancets for testing, and purchase some glucoce tabs, like Chutz recommended. the glucose tabs that I use come in three different flavours, orange, lemon and vanilla. I prefer the orange. Then my endocronologist told me to also keep a banana next to my bed. After I have the glucose tablets (2-3), then I am suppose to eat one half a banana. The banana will continue to provide me with sugar, natural sugar, and is released more slowly and sustains longer. I am suppose to then have protein 20-30 minutes after I bring my sugar up. It is important to wait to eat the protein because your body will not absorb it when your bs is low, at least that is what I have been told. If the pharmacy will not give you a loaner, the hospital might, or you could call a company, I will email you the info on a company and you can get a free tester from them. I just know that this company gave me a third tester during a time when my sugars were out of control, for free.
Your doctor really should book you into the hospital for a 24 hour test, if you are having difficulty finding out the root cause of these symptoms.
I am sorry Ginny, I think my sugars are off right now because I am having trouble even typing this response. When I read your post indicating your concern on how you were going to do the fasting test, I panicked. I just know how dangerous it is for you to have low blood sugar. Both my husband and my sister are hypoglycemic, wheras I am hyperglycemic. I think that is what they call it. I am insulin dependent diabetec and they suffer from low blood sugar. The last time my husband did his fasting blood test, whereby he fasted, then went first thing in the morning to the doctor, his sugar level was 1.3. The doctor called us with the results and said he could have died and he was NEVER to have that type of test again.
I do not know if this makes any sense. Email me if you want more info and I could even give you my home number and we could discuss this. I am very worried about you. Please be careful.
Also my partner, when I was working, had low blood sugar. We all live in Ontario. all three of the low blood sugar people were sent to see a nutrionist at the hospital. Just as I have to follow a special diet for diabetes, they have a special diet to follow as well. I was surprised by the diet they were given to follow. I hope your doctor will send you to a nutrionist as well.
The other question I was wondering about was has your weight changed with these recent changes in your blood sugar. How long have you been on prednisone? Does prednisone interfere with blood sugar?
I am extremely sensitive to changes in my blood sugar. It is a terrible and scary feeling.
Judy/effie
note: I am not a doctor. I can only pass on my experiences.

Post Edited (effie) : 7/14/2005 10:51:51 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/14/2005 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Effie,

Oh bless your heart! thank you for all that wonderful information. I soaked it all up! I'm in Alberta!

 

I've been on prednisone for 5 years. It does really bad things to one's blood sugar levels. It raises the levels. So with me being on prednisone for that long it also affects the function of the adrenal glands. So the adrenals don't put out the hormones to stop insulin production. it's a wicked cycle of events. I don't know if I have an adrenal difficiency. I have to get my endo to test me for that.

 

My weight hasn't changed at all during this time. I'm eating like a horse, but not gaining any weight. I am about 10 pounds overweight right now. I'm 5'6" and weigh 150 pounds.  I do have very loose stools (nice eh!) and a chronic lower back pain. (Both of those are symptoms of adrenal difficiency). I just can't keep the "lows" away at all. I feel like I'm losing the battle here! Can't wait to see my doctor on Monday!

 

I eat a very good diet, one built for hypo's. I had a naturopathic doctor hook me up with what I need to eat etc. I eat a high protein diet, with fruits and veggies. Lots of fish, chicken and whole wheat yeast free breads. Nuts, and nut-butter (I'm allergic to peanut butter). I stay far away from refined sugar and anything "white".

 

I can understand your fear for the 24 hour fasting test. I'm freaked right out about it. My hubby said he'd drive me, but if it takes a couple hours to do, he can't stay, has to get to work. I guess I could take a cab home!

 

Well, I'll keep you posted on what the doc says on Monday. She's a pitbull when it comes to dealing with my problems. I think she enjoys the challenge. It's nice to have a doctor who really cares!

 

Thanks again!

Ginny

 

 

Posted 7/15/2005 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Ginny. I too live in alberta! A lot of the pharmacies right now have a special where if you buy some test strips, you can get the tester for free. It's something to consider if you are wanting one and can't find one to borrow. Just ask at any local pharmacy and they can tell you all about it. I hope this helps. Good luck on monday too! Robyn
Posted 7/15/2005 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Ginny, I think you may have misunderstood me, I did not mean a 24 hour fasting test. I just thought if you were hospitalized for 24 hours, then right after you woke up, the hospital lab technician could be called a.s.a.p. to measure your sugar. That way you would not have to worry about getting to a lab when your sugars may already be at a possibly dangerous low.

When I wrote to you my sugars were out of whack so I probably did not express my self well. I get very irritable, shaky and can not concentrate when my sugars are low.

Take care. Let me know if you can get a glucometer for home. I could even ship you one of the ones I have, brand new still in the box it came in.

Please be careful.
Judy/effie

Another idea would be to try and talk to flopsie, usually on fibro, arthritis, or anxiety sites. She is a retired RN with type 2 diabetes. She is also on chat quite often, Lovely lady and I am sure she or erin might have great suggestions.
Posted 7/15/2005 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
Oh Judy thank you so much for the offer of the glucometer! I'll do what I can here and I'll let you know if I need it! Okay, I understand now what you meant about the 24 hour test. It would be helpful to be at the hospital for it, but very unlikely due to our bed shortage!

 

Robin! So you're an Albertan too eh! I'm in Calgary. What a small world! My regular pharmacy is Shopper's Drug Mart. I know the pharmasists very well. With all the meds I'm on and with my lupus, I've been in there constantly for 5 years now! They know me very well and would likely go out of their way to get me a glucometer and some test strips!

 

thanks again gals!

 

ginny

Posted 7/15/2005 8:20 PM (GMT 0)

So I went to the pharmacy and got myself a monitor. My hubby's insurance plan covered all the expenses 100%, so that is really good!

 

We did a test on me right then and there, to show me how to use it and just see what result we'd get. I had lunch a half hour before the test. I had whole wheat pasta with a meat and veggie sauce on it. A big bowl.  My number was 5.7

 

I'm thinking that is pretty low considering I had just had lunch? Am I right in assuming that? I'm waiting for another round of "the downs" to happen, and I'll test it again and then eat something and test it about a half hour after I eat. I'm logging everything to show my doctor on Monday.

 

Ginny

Posted 7/16/2005 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
Ginny normal blood sugar for non diabetics can range anywhere from 3-7. However the more current literature says that normal should really be between 3-6. If that is the case 5.7 is pretty good. For diabetics the normal reading should be in the 3-10 range. However, I am type 1, insulin dependent. I feel changes in my well being anytime I fluctuate from 5.9 to 6.5. I am super sensitive to changes in my readings. The most dangerous thing is if you are one of those people who do not notice when your blood sugar drops below 3. There is a special name, can not remember it, for people who actually will sleep through low blood sugars. If my sugar drops while I am sleeping, it will wake me up. I keep my tester right on my night stand and the glucose tabs and usually a banana. That way if I drop too low I can deal with it, without having to get out of bed.
I am glad you got the glucometer. Which kind did you get? Some are so much easier to use than others. There is one that u can actually attach to your computer and it will make graphs of your sugar levels.
Judy/effie

Post Edited (effie) : 7/16/2005 12:29:25 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/17/2005 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Effie,

 

I've only had my hypo symptoms wake me up a couple of times. (95% of the time, I sleep right through, but when I get up and test my levels, I'm usually at 4.5 or a bit lower. I have a desperation to get food into my stomach when I first wake up. It's not a nice way to start my day!

 

The monitor I got is the Accu Check Compact. It's very user friendly!

 

Is it posible that what is a normal glucose level for some people is very abnormal for others?  I keep getting strong hypo symptoms with a bg of 5 or 5.2, and definitely when it's 4.8 or 4.5.  The highest I've tested is 6.7

 

I guess I must be really sensitive to small changes in my levels?  I'll be seeing my doc tomorrow so I'll let you know what she says!

 

Thanks for listening!

 

Ginny

Posted 7/18/2005 11:26 AM (GMT 0)
Good Luck Ginny, I do not understand why you are having the symptoms you are having. However I do know that I can almost always accurately guess my sugar level by how I feel. I do hope the doc sends you for the 3 hour glucose fast test. As long as your wake up sugar levels are above 3 you should be okay. Just make sure you have a friend or someone to take you for the test and go to the closest lab. Please let me know what you find out. I would be starving if my sugar level was 3 or 4. However if my sugar is at 6.5 up to 7.8 I feel the best. Yes everyone does have their own normal levels. That is why it is good to test often and keep a journal of how you feel at each test. Please keep me informed. I am very worried about you.
Judy from Calgary many years ago.
Posted 7/19/2005 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Effie (Judy) and all!

 

My appointment went well today. My doctor suspects adrenal gland defficiency due to my long term use of prednisone. So I have an appointment with an endochrinologist in NOVEMBER! Sheesh.

In the meantime, I have a fasting glucose to do tomorrow and some other tests that look at my thyroid and female hormones.

 

My primary doc will also have me do an ultrasound of my pancreas and adrenal glands, and some xrays to see if everything looks normal.

 

She said that with adrenal gland defficiencies, bg levels dont' always add up right. What might look like normal numbers is really deceiving. So I'll take her word for it! I'm also going to continue monitoring my bg every day as I have been.

 

thanks everyone for your support and listening! I'll keep you posted as I learn more things!

 

Ginny

Posted 7/19/2005 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Ginny,
Thank God, you finally got some answers or at least directions to start searching for the cause. November is a long time off. I missed an appt. with my regular endocronologist in May and I could not get another appointment until August. They must have a shortage of endocronologists. However, some other specialists have even longer waiting lists.

Your primary doc, reminds me of the wonderful doc I had when I lived in Calgary. She was a heavy set woman, but very bright and an excellent diagnostician. She practiced out of a clinic at the small Ranchlands plaza. I remember it was right near the entrance to Ranchlands and when I lived there it was the only plaza.

It sounds like she is doing all of the right tests. She is taking your case very seriously. I hope you make out okay after fasting. Like I said before I do hope the lab is close by and you have a friend to drive you there. Bring a snack to eat right after the test.

Do you have any idea what the next step would be if it is your adrenal glands? If my endocronologist is in a good mood the day I see her in August I will ask her if she has any literature on this. The endo I see is brilliant, but she can be moody. She lives a very busy life with 3 young children and a very busy practice.

Will keep praying and trying to think up ideas. Please keep me posted. I am so glad you got the glucometer and I am sure the doctor was glad that you got one too.

Take care
Judy/Effie
Posted 7/19/2005 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
HI Judy!

The test went like clockwork this morning! My levels were at 4.7, and I was having some good old symptoms while in the chair getting blood drawn. But they had me in and back home in a half hour! So it was easy!

 

I'm not sure what the step would be if it is my adrenal glands. I think there is a medication I would take to ensure proper functioning. My reality is that I need to be on prednisone, even a very small dose makes all the difference in my inflammation problems. So I do believe there is a med that helps the adrenals work properly. Who knows! hehe!

 

I'm just hoping to hear from the endo's office really soon with a cancellation for me!  Thanks Judy, have a good week!!

 

Ginny

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