Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Hypoglycemia

  1. #1
    AlexxaHex
    Guest

    Default Hypoglycemia

    I had a blood test recently where I was checked for gestational diabetes. Thankfully I don't have it, but almost the opposite! My midwife says that my blood sugar is really low and almost borders on hypoglycemic.
    I've never had a really big interest in sugar, although I do like ice cream. I think it stems from my mom not letting me have any sugar at all until I was about 4 or 5. Even after that it was very limited. So maybe I naturally don't have a taste or craving for sugar because of the diet my mother originally imposed upon me.
    Does anyone think it's possible that I could have developed a low blood sugar because of my upbringing, or maybe my body is so used to running on lower sugar that it is normal for me?
    I'm also confused as to whether or not I should force myself to eat sweet things to get my blood sugar up to what is considered normal. I didn't think to ask her at my checkup.

  2. #2
    exotisch23
    Guest

    Default Re: Hypoglycemia

    I have hypoglycemia too but used to eat hordes of candy when I was a kid.
    I guess it varies for everyone.

    There are certain things you can eat to help maintain your blood sugar all the time but if you're feeling extremely low blood sugar wise you've got to eat something sugary (glucose tablets work well).

  3. #3
    God/dess
    Joined
    Jan 2005
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    3,786
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Hypoglycemia

    DO NOT eat sugary things because you have low blood sugar. Eating something sugary will only cause a quick rise in BS levels resulting in a crash. Try having protein instead.

    I am hypoglycemic and to keep my blood sugar stable, I eat small meals throughout the day. I also avoid sugar, refined carbs and processed foods.

    Up your protein and lower the white foods. Eat 6 small meals throughout the day.

    If you're looking for some snack ideas, I always keep raw almonds and part-skim string cheese handy. Natural peanut butter is good too and there are some excellent protein bars/shakes on the market.

    My hypo is so severe that I have to stay away from fruit like apples and grapes as well. Strawberries, blueberries etc are the lowest on the Glycemic Index, so I eat those.

    In fact, here's a good link for you. If you stick to the lower ones on this list and eat more often, you should be good.



    Take care of this, especially when you're pregnant.

  4. #4
    AlexxaHex
    Guest

    Default Re: Hypoglycemia

    Wow thanks for the info, ladies! I had no idea about any of this.

  5. #5
    God/dess Lena's Avatar
    Joined
    Jun 2002
    Location
    On a sweet muddy river.
    Posts
    6,399
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 78 Times in 43 Posts

    Default Re: Hypoglycemia

    No it's normal to be hypoglycemic when you're pregnant. You need to eat small, frequent meals with lots of protien and complex carbs like Dylan said.

    (if you're interested, there's a book called the Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susan Weed that would tell you about this kind of stuff for you and the baby)



  6. #6
    exotisch23
    Guest

    Default Re: Hypoglycemia

    Quote Originally Posted by DylanAngel View Post
    DO NOT eat sugary things because you have low blood sugar. Eating something sugary will only cause a quick rise in BS levels resulting in a crash. Try having protein instead.

    I am hypoglycemic and to keep my blood sugar stable, I eat small meals throughout the day. I also avoid sugar, refined carbs and processed foods.

    Up your protein and lower the white foods. Eat 6 small meals throughout the day.

    If you're looking for some snack ideas, I always keep raw almonds and part-skim string cheese handy. Natural peanut butter is good too and there are some excellent protein bars/shakes on the market.

    My hypo is so severe that I have to stay away from fruit like apples and grapes as well. Strawberries, blueberries etc are the lowest on the Glycemic Index, so I eat those.

    In fact, here's a good link for you. If you stick to the lower ones on this list and eat more often, you should be good.



    Take care of this, especially when you're pregnant.
    I agree with most of this, except if you're having a panic attack (low blood sugar attack-whatever you call it) I absolutely HAVE to eat something sugary to avoid passing/blacking out. That's why I recommended glucose tablets, they get your blood sugar right back up quickly.

    Of course there are ways you can make sure it doesn't get that low in the first place, like you said.

  7. #7
    AlexxaHex
    Guest

    Default Re: Hypoglycemia

    Lena, I remember you mentioning Susan Weed before. I will have to cruise around Amazon for some prices on books!
    I don't have full blown hypoglycemia, but I do have lower blood sugar that is close to it. I also don't have those "attacks" either, but I am getting a small trace of protein in my urine when I test it monthly, so I was told to eat more protein anyway. I try to eat frequently throughout the day because when I get hungry now, I get REALLY hungry so I like to avoid feeling like that if I can. I think it's healthier to eat that way than have a few big meals during the day - better for metabolism and digestion. The hardest part is forcing myself to eat in the morning.

  8. #8
    God/dess
    Joined
    Jan 2005
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    3,786
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Hypoglycemia

    Quote Originally Posted by AlexxaHex View Post
    The hardest part is forcing myself to eat in the morning.
    You know, I never ate breakfast until I was diagnosed and I actually had to retrain myself to start eating it. And I feel much better because of it.

    And, like Lena said, it is definitely normal to have low blood sugar while pregnant.

    I don't know how or what you eat, but I found an easy breakfast to be some low fat cottage cheese and the above mentioned berries. Very easy to tolerate in the morning.

    That is, unless your not wanting to eat in the morning has to do with being preggers. All I wanted was tea and toast when I was sick in the morning. And you can do that, just make sure it's whole grain...ultimately healthier anyway.

  9. #9
    Veteran Member Sinful333's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2006
    Posts
    350
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts

    Default Re: Hypoglycemia

    My only advice... dont eat sweets to get your sugar back up to where it needs to be. Are you checking your sugar daily (pricking your finger)?

    I have been hypoglycemic for so long that I know when my sugar is dropping just by the way I see things. Then I eat and back to normal I go.

    Good luck, its not so bad once you get used to it.

  10. #10
    AlexxaHex
    Guest

    Default Re: Hypoglycemia

    I don't have a blood sugar testing kit, so no, I'm not checking it that often. I just had that one blood test. I know from taking a test at one of the two sites mentioned in this thread that I am about 40% at risk for hypoglycemia.

    I've never been good at eating in the morning, although I have been better about it during the pregnancy than ever before. I used to wait until 3 or 4 in the afternoon to eat! These days I usually wake up by eating an orange, then either a peanut butter granola bar, bowl of cereal, can of sliced peaches in lite syrup or bagel with cream cheese. I can't eat eggs, pancakes, bacon or pastries because the greasiness or sugar makes me nauseous. I think my stomach needs to "wake up" for several hours before I can eat anything heavy at all, but I have to eat something small just so I don't get dizzy.
    I think the cottage cheese and berries would be okay.

  11. #11
    Senior Member
    Joined
    Nov 2006
    Location
    tx
    Posts
    88
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Hypoglycemia

    ya i have hypogycemia too, and bad!! i just have to eat a speacial diet which is just when i eat carbs i have to eat protein and vice versa,stay away from sugar,etc.and when my blood sugar is low i eat candy or sugar pills or just anything with lots of sugar in it to raise my bllod sugar level quick thne ill eat some peanut butter or something like that to keep it up,you also need to make sure you eat at least every 2-3 hours.

  12. #12
    Featured Member flickad's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    1,860
    Thanks
    268
    Thanked 103 Times in 67 Posts
    My Mood
    Pensive

    Default Re: Hypoglycemia

    Quote Originally Posted by exotisch23 View Post
    I agree with most of this, except if you're having a panic attack (low blood sugar attack-whatever you call it) I absolutely HAVE to eat something sugary to avoid passing/blacking out. That's why I recommended glucose tablets, they get your blood sugar right back up quickly.

    Of course there are ways you can make sure it doesn't get that low in the first place, like you said.
    I am hypoglycaemic myself, and I find that if I have something sugary when my blood sugar dips, it dips again very soon after. This doesn't stop me from doing it, but following up the sugar with protein arrests any subsequent dips.

Similar Threads

  1. Hypoglycemia ruins my sanity
    By Jeska in forum Body Business
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 02-11-2008, 11:00 PM
  2. hypoglycemia
    By jaizaine in forum Body Business
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 11-19-2007, 06:02 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •