reactive hypoglycemia and "browning out"

so i have reactive hypoglycemia, and every so often i start to see double then slowly everything goes black. The weird thing is i come to on my own as though waking from a nap; and weirder still, i feel 100X better even if i've only been out a short time. Today I was out for 12 minutes (according to my activity tracker) while I was at the movies but when I came to, I felt surprisingly amazing. I did go eat about 15 minutes later, but I was able to finish watching the movie, record a quick video for my youtube channel, and walk out to the concession stand first.

does anyone else have this issue? I feel like my doctor doesn't take this seriously and even though I come to on my own, I am terrified that the time will come when I don't.

my whole dad's side of the family has diabetes. The reactive hypoglycemia was diagnosed because my insulin levels were through the roof but my A1C was normal. I have had measured blood sugar levels as low as 50 but only ever as high as 110 (that said I only measure when I feel sick or have been having sugar issues and want to document progression). I've had to get a glucose shot one time after passing out but otherwise I have always come to on my own.

Now every time I ask the doctor, he replies that I just need to fix my diet but it doesnt seem to make much difference and I can't see a dietitian here in TX without having a DIABETES diagnosis and I don't.

rpgdancer, I'm not exactly sure about reactive hypoglycemia so I don't know the best answers for you. I've read that eating smaller, more frequent meals might help the blood sugar from dropping so drastically. Also, carrying some packets of glucose that you can buy at the drugstore over the counter can help when you're starting to have that 'feeling'. Of course, it would be important to know that your blood sugar is low at that time and you would have to test.

I think keeping a record of these episodes is important. It seems to me that with your family history and your blackouts that your doctor could write up a diagnosis in such a way that it would be acceptable to any insurance company to cover.

And - still, maybe it would be better to find another doctor. I think your doctor should be more active and assertive in visits to him. It doesn't sound like he's giving you much guidance!

Captaindd, welcome to the Diabetes Forum. I'm going to make another post for you for your own thread.

Argh. He said that? Please, can you find another doctor? You need a doctor who knows about blood sugar/diabetes. And here is a website for you to look through: www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/

And in order not to be caught getting too low, please carry some glucose tabs or gel. Any store with a pharmacy sells them.

You could carry some nuts (for protein) or jerky around with you.

Almonds probably are the best choice...

just had a blood sugar reading of 57... and i'm upright but my head is killing me.

30 minutes post eating: 94

When was the last time you had eaten before your reading of 57?

When I had suggested taking glucose gel if your blood sugar was low, you told me it would give you an insulin response and make matters worse, so you were supposed to have some protein. Why did you eat a Snickers bar? It's full of sugar?

I'm trying to understand this.

I also think you need to see a different doctor who can give you better care.

Hmm. Maybe if you write down what to eat or drink in situations like this, it would help? I don't have reactive hypoglycemia but since you told me that you should have protein and not sugar when you're feeling like that, if you kept a note with you on your phone or in your wallet, then you would be able to take something that would help instead of make things worse.

If you are able to change doctors by yourself, then please find an endocrinologist who understands reactive hypoglycemia.

It must be stressful to have your blood sugar bounce around like that.

they're trying to find out if i have an insulinoma. slightly worried.

i have the test on friday morning. my dad's kidney transplant is tuesday so i hope we at least know the results before he goes in.

found out today that I do have a mass on my pancreas. doing more tests and talking to a surgeon. masssive panic attack when told. thank heavens my doctor also has a daughter with autism like me.