A Number Of Questions For Those With Blood Sugar Issues

[Clark Bent as Stupor-Man]

I know there are a lot of us who have to deal with blood sugar issues as well as food intolerances. I figure we might as well see how each of us copes with this. I personally have been trying to figure out for years why I remained symptomatic even on a high protein, eating frequently hypoglycemic diet. Food allergies certainly seem to be a part of that, but I'm now wondering if my current protein intake is too high and my carb too low and if I eat too frequently.

I realize there are a lot of questions and it is fairly comprehensive, but I'd appreciate answers to any of the questions below even if you skip some of them. Feel free to add any other information you feel is relevant. I'm going to put up my responses to these questions later tonight (a little too long for me to fill out now ).

1.) Have you been officially diagnosed with any blood sugar condition (ie. Diabetes type 1 or 2, reactive or fasting hypo, impaired glucose tolerance, etc.)?

2.) If you haven’t been diagnosed, what are you symptomatic of?

3.) Have you had an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test), and if so, what was the load (75 or 100 grams) and what were your test results at any tested intervals (generally each hour for 3-6 hrs) including fasting?

4.) Can you distinguish the difference between a blood sugar high/low and a food reaction? If so, what are the differences?

5.) How frequently do you eat and what is the longest you go between substantial snacks/meals?

6.) How close to going to sleep at night do you eat and how soon after waking up? What do you eat at these times?

7.) What do meals/snacks look like, and what is the protein-carb-fat ratio? Do you ever eat any snacks/meals without either protein or carbs? If so, how frequently and how do you feel afterwards?

8.) Do you feel best immediately after a meal, an hour after, or 2 plus hours after?

9.) For those of you who are hypoglycemic, how do you restore a low blood sugar and maintain a normal level afterwards?

10.) What do you eat for a quick fix if you are out and need something easy and fast?

11.) For those who test their blood sugar, what highs/lows have you had and what triggered them (ie. protein/carb content, type of food, time between meals, etc.)?

12.) Have you seen an endocrinologist or other doctor for blood sugar symptoms, and how have they helped you (if you found it beneficial)?

13.) Do you feel you have a good grasp on controlling your blood sugar and symptoms related to it?

14.) Have you found this has improved, gotten worse, or received no affect from going on a gluten-free diet?

[Green12]

1.) Have you been officially diagnosed with any blood sugar condition (ie. Diabetes type 1 or 2, reactive or fasting hypo, impaired glucose tolerance, etc.)?

No

2.) If you haven’t been diagnosed, what are you symptomatic of?

hypoglycemia, I think, or low blood sugar- or tat least this is what my symptoms resemble

3.) Have you had an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test), and if so, what was the load (75 or 100 grams) and what were your test results at any tested intervals (generally each hour for 3-6 hrs) including fasting?

Yes, several times, not sure what specific results were but I was always within normal range. I did fasting tests and the extended one where you drink a solution and take blood every hour or something like that

4.) Can you distinguish the difference between a blood sugar high/low and a food reaction? If so, what are the differences?

Not so sure I can. I always thought my blood sugar reactions were just blood sugar, now I am thinking they might be all food allergy related

5.) How frequently do you eat and what is the longest you go between substantial snacks/meals?

I try to eat every 4 hours

6.) How close to going to sleep at night do you eat and how soon after waking up? What do you eat at these times?

I eat my last meal between 5 and 6 pm, some form of protein, vegetables, and a small portion of carbohydrate. I eat in the morning between 9 and 10 pm, usually it was scrambled eggs and veggies, now it is fruit. (I am in the process of changing my diet so it's different now)

7.) What do meals/snacks look like, and what is the protein-carb-fat ratio? Do you ever eat any snacks/meals without either protein or carbs? If so, how frequently and how do you feel afterwards?

I try to eat protein with every meal, vegetables and a small portion of carbs to balance everything out.

8.) Do you feel best immediately after a meal, an hour after, or 2 plus hours after?

One hour after, probably? I ave to check into that one.

10.) What do you eat for a quick fix if you are out and need something easy and fast?

I used to do nuts, but I am intolerant. Now if I need to in a pinch I will eat baby carrots or a piece of fruit. My protein sources are very slim to none.

13.) Do you feel you have a good grasp on controlling your blood sugar and symptoms related to it?

At times, when my diet is regular it really is smooth sailing. After reactivity it is all over the place.

14.) Have you found this has improved, gotten worse, or received no affect from going on a gluten-free diet?

It's the same really. Although I feel my reactivity is greater when I eat all the packaged gluten-free foods and then as a result my blood sugar gets all wacky again.

[VydorScope]

1.) Have you been officially diagnosed with any blood sugar condition (ie. Diabetes type 1 or 2, reactive or fasting hypo, impaired glucose tolerance, etc.)?

DX - Reactive Hypoglycemia. Diagnosed via symptons and home blood glucose monitoring. This is from my post in the other thread, but tell you how to test for most of this stuff.. you will need a home blood gulocose tester. I got mine at CVS for $15.

First you fast for at least 8 hours (make sure have a good dose of protien and fat before you start, and it helps if you sleep most of it..), and check levels. If your NOT diabetic it should fall in the 70-110 range. After that I ate a "normal person meal", it was around 40 or 50 carbs I think. DOnt matter much should be somthing somewhat sugary, but not out of line for a so called normal person. Note the time you START eating the meal. Check your blood at one hour after that. It should be bettween 70-140. Then check at 2 hours it should be between 70-120 (remember not to eat after that meal while your testing). All that means your NOT hyper-gylicemic, but the real test will be at about 4 hours. If you sugar level drops below 70, and you get your symptons at the same time, eat something like rasins and retest in 15 mins. If your symptons get better AND your sugar goes up, thats considered completely diagonostic of reactive hypoglycimia.

The ranges are a bit fuzzy.. my reading of 146 at one hour is considerd close enough.

2.) If you haven�€™t been diagnosed, what are you symptomatic of?

N/A

3.) Have you had an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test), and if so, what was the load (75 or 100 grams) and what were your test results at any tested intervals (generally each hour for 3-6 hrs) including fasting?

NO they do not typically do the OGTT for hypo as it will cuase a bad bad bad crash and is not considered diagnostic.

4.) Can you distinguish the difference between a blood sugar high/low and a food reaction? If so, what are the differences?

EDIT: N/A - No food intolerances that I know of.

5.) How frequently do you eat and what is the longest you go between substantial snacks/meals?

I need to eat every 2-3 hours, cept when asleep.

6.) How close to going to sleep at night do you eat and how soon after waking up? What do you eat at these times?

Right befor, and right after. Protein heavey meals, but some carbs, just more wieght on the protein then other meals.

7.) What do meals/snacks look like, and what is the protein-carb-fat ratio? Do you ever eat any snacks/meals without either protein or carbs? If so, how frequently and how do you feel afterwards?

The one time I tried going with out carbs I crashed so hard, so hard my wife was wanting to call 911. Its important to keep all three in.

8.) Do you feel best immediately after a meal, an hour after, or 2 plus hours after?

When eating right you will feel good most of the time... or so Im told, still working on balance.

9.) For those of you who are hypoglycemic, how do you restore a low blood sugar and maintain a normal level afterwards?

Theres only one way in a bad crash, sugary foods and drinks etc to kick it up fast, then something more balance to stablize it. Last bad crash I had, it took a full day to get back to normal. Its rough. I did force my self to eat some receses peanutbutter cups for teh fast sugar hit. Prbly the only reason I did not colapse (tho was close).

10.) What do you eat for a quick fix if you are out and need something easy and fast?

South Beach Protien Bars. Cinanmon Rasin.

11.) For those who test their blood sugar, what highs/lows have you had and what triggered them (ie. protein/carb content, type of food, time between meals, etc.)?

Highest I have recorder was 169, which is not all that bad, lowest I recorded was 52, but I do everything I can to prevent that so I dunno how low its been, but I know I have been lower based on sympton tracking. Still earning triggers, but I would say, lack of carbs OR to many carbs esply unblanced with protien and fat.

12.) Have you seen an endocrinologist or other doctor for blood sugar symptoms, and how have they helped you (if you found it beneficial)?

No. GP DX'd and that is it.

13.) Do you feel you have a good grasp on controlling your blood sugar and symptoms related to it?

Getting there.

14.) Have you found this has improved, gotten worse, or received no affect from going on a gluten-free diet?

gluten-free diet did not help me at all. Helps my son, but he has celiac disease so that makes sense.

[tarnalberry]

1.) Have you been officially diagnosed with any blood sugar condition (ie. Diabetes type 1 or 2, reactive or fasting hypo, impaired glucose tolerance, etc.)?

Reactive hypoglycemia, but not 'lab-test' official.

2.) If you haven’t been diagnosed, what are you symptomatic of?

My doctor diagnosed via symptom description, and dietary response.

3.) Have you had an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test), and if so, what was the load (75 or 100 grams) and what were your test results at any tested intervals (generally each hour for 3-6 hrs) including fasting?

Nope. Regular fasting blood sugar tests as part of my physicals - always showed the very low end of normal, but that's about it.

4.) Can you distinguish the difference between a blood sugar high/low and a food reaction? If so, what are the differences?

Oh, very easily. The headache/nausea/crankiness that comes with a blood sugar low is very different from the brain fog/dizziness followed by intestinal noises and later diahhrea.

5.) How frequently do you eat and what is the longest you go between substantial snacks/meals?

If I am good about the macronutrient proportions of my meals over time, I don't really have too much of a problem with this one. I can go easily five or six hours (awake) between snacks/meals. If I have been eating too many carbs, or otherwise haven't been eating properly/exercising well, it's more like two to three hours.

6.) How close to going to sleep at night do you eat and how soon after waking up? What do you eat at these times?

Nightime hasn't been a big problem for me - I can eat dinner at 7 at night, go to bed at 10, and get up and having breakfast at 6 or 7 in the morning and be fine. But dinner and breakfast are always very balanced (25/25/50 or 30/30/40 or thereabouts).

7.) What do meals/snacks look like, and what is the protein-carb-fat ratio? Do you ever eat any snacks/meals without either protein or carbs? If so, how frequently and how do you feel afterwards?

My meals/snacks are generally balanced. If I've been good about maintaining balance, I can go 'maintenance' levels of 60% carbs, but if I've not been good about it, I go back to 40% for a while until I'm balanced again (takes a week or two). I can have a couple of hard candies without a problem, but other than that, I don't eat unbalanced snacks. I'll eat a snack that's just carbs/fat or carbs/protein or protein/fat (for that matter), but never just carbs alone outside of a couple hardcandies.

8.) Do you feel best immediately after a meal, an hour after, or 2 plus hours after?

As long as I am good with macronutrient level maintenance, it doesn't much matter.

9.) For those of you who are hypoglycemic, how do you restore a low blood sugar and maintain a normal level afterwards?

Balance, balance, balance. I prefer to use fruit to get blood sugar up quickly, but I'm not as severe as many people, and this is sufficient for me. After that, a balanced meal - complex carbs always favored over simple outside of fruit, of course. This is one of the reasons I like Clif Nectar bars - they work well for me when I start experiencing a blood sugar drop.

10.) What do you eat for a quick fix if you are out and need something easy and fast?

As mentioned above, I like to keep a Clif Nectar bar with me (and in the car) for this purpose. Dried fruit and nuts are a secondary option, but doesn't work as well for me. At home, if I've got leftovers, or raw veggies and hummus are also a good option. Hot cereal with plenty of flax meal works for me as well.

11.) For those who test their blood sugar, what highs/lows have you had and what triggered them (ie. protein/carb content, type of food, time between meals, etc.)?

I haven't measured, but the primary things that have set me off are time between meals (when I wasn't eating balanced, there was a much narrower window between "I'm fine" and "I feel like crap") and high carb foods - chips, bagels, cookies.

12.) Have you seen an endocrinologist or other doctor for blood sugar symptoms, and how have they helped you (if you found it beneficial)?

Nope, 'cause it's totally handled as is.

13.) Do you feel you have a good grasp on controlling your blood sugar and symptoms related to it?

Yep. Even a day or two of non-balanced eating doesn't throw me totally off at this point. I can tell it makes a definite difference, but doesn't throw me back to the days when it was bad.

14.) Have you found this has improved, gotten worse, or received no affect from going on a gluten-free diet?

I don't think the dietary change made a difference, because I was experiencing this a few months after going gluten-free as well, but I can't rule it out either.

[VydorScope]

ops I need to read what Im replying to better. LOL

[Clark Bent as Stupor-Man]

1.) Have you been officially diagnosed with any blood sugar condition (ie. Diabetes type 1 or 2, reactive or fasting hypo, impaired glucose tolerance, etc.)?

reactive hypoglycemia and impaired glucose tolerance (I don't think this affects me much but it's apparently a pre-diabetic condition)

2.) If you haven’t been diagnosed, what are you symptomatic of?

see above

3.) Have you had an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test), and if so, what was the load (75 or 100 grams) and what were your test results at any tested intervals (generally each hour for 3-6 hrs) including fasting?

I had a 5 hr GTT with a 75 gram load... my numbers were:

Fasting 1HR 2HR 3HR 4HR 5HR

...88.....242..159..50...63...77

4.) Can you distinguish the difference between a blood sugar high/low and a food reaction? If so, what are the differences?

I think so generally but question it at times... I've only been becoming cogniscent of food intolerances for the past 5 months and used to think all my reactions were due to blood sugar and protein/carb intake or not eating

5.) How frequently do you eat and what is the longest you go between substantial snacks/meals?

I generally eat every 2-3 hrs but I'm trying to stretch it at times recently...

6.) How close to going to sleep at night do you eat and how soon after waking up? What do you eat at these times?

I eat something within 2 hrs of going to sleep nearly every night and feel that this is a big need for me... I haven't been eating a substantial snack/meal (besides almond butter or a bar) until 1.5-2 hrs after getting up the past month or 2 which I am trying to change now... it's difficult though after eliminating eggs, dairy, and other easy breakfast foods..

7.) What do meals/snacks look like, and what is the protein-carb-fat ratio? Do you ever eat any snacks/meals without either protein or carbs? If so, how frequently and how do you feel afterwards?

nearly all of my meals/snacks currently contain protein, probably too much protein and too little carbs... most meals of mine right now are meats and green veggies (sometimes a rice or potato product to complement it)... even when I eat higher carbs like a bar it still contains some protein...

8.) Do you feel best immediately after a meal, an hour after, or 2 plus hours after?

I think it's more the 2 plus hours range, which I'm trying to stretch out as long as I feel I can without dipping low... I've felt off for years right after eating lunch (much more than your average person who crashes somewhat after lunch)...

9.) For those of you who are hypoglycemic, how do you restore a low blood sugar and maintain a normal level afterwards?

I just eat something... I'm limiting sugar now for candida reasons and just eat pretty much anything to get level again

10.) What do you eat for a quick fix if you are out and need something easy and fast?

I don't have many foods I currently can eat that are easy and fast due to my elimination diet but something like an organic bar or cashews

11.) For those who test their blood sugar, what highs/lows have you had and what triggered them (ie. protein/carb content, type of food, time between meals, etc.)?

I haven't self-tested myself in about 2 years... when I was testing (only for a couple months), I was never really that low or high (confused the hell out of my endo who said I had all the symptoms but nothing of importance from my test results)... lowest I tested was 68 and highest was 120... I was mostly in the 70s

12.) Have you seen an endocrinologist or other doctor for blood sugar symptoms, and how have they helped you (if you found it beneficial)?

saw 2 endocrinologists a couple years ago... 1 was more helpful than the other but didn't get anything overly useful from either one

13.) Do you feel you have a good grasp on controlling your blood sugar and symptoms related to it?

don't know... have to get a hold on my food intolerances first

14.) Have you found this has improved, gotten worse, or received no affect from going on a gluten-free diet?

probably about the same... just seems different now that I'm trying to identify a food rxn from a blood sugar one

[elye]

I won't take the time to answer all of your questions, but I'm a very long-term, tightly-controlled type one diabetic, and known celiac for only six months. You should definitely check out the comprehensive thread that was started about a week ago by Vydorscope called "this is nuts!" in the coping section. Vincent has been wrestling with these same blood-sugar issues and you may find a lot of the posts really informative. I know I got a lot out of it, and I've been battling the BS demons for thirty-three years!

[wolfie]

1.) Have you been officially diagnosed with any blood sugar condition (ie. Diabetes type 1 or 2, reactive or fasting hypo, impaired glucose tolerance, etc.)?

No, was tested years ago, but all was fine.

2.) If you haven’t been diagnosed, what are you symptomatic of?

Low blood sugar, usually in the morning between breakfast & lunch. I get shaky, nauseous, irritable and sometimes sweaty. I have never passed out, but have felt like it before.

3.) Have you had an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test), and if so, what was the load (75 or 100 grams) and what were your test results at any tested intervals (generally each hour for 3-6 hrs) including fasting?

No

4.) Can you distinguish the difference between a blood sugar high/low and a food reaction? If so, what are the differences?

5.) How frequently do you eat and what is the longest you go between substantial snacks/meals?

I usually try to eat every few hours, but that doesn't always happen. The longest I go between snacks./meals is 5 hours (usually after lunch till dinner time). I try to eat more protein at lunch so I can make it to dinner if I don't have time for a snack.

6.) How close to going to sleep at night do you eat and how soon after waking up? What do you eat at these times?

I eat usually 2 hours before going to bed and eat within an hour of waking up.

7.) What do meals/snacks look like, and what is the protein-carb-fat ratio? Do you ever eat any snacks/meals without either protein or carbs? If so, how frequently and how do you feel afterwards?

My breakfast sets me up for disaster....waffles with syrup and OJ. I really should switch to eggs/turkey bacon. Although the longer I am gluten-free, the less I am having blood sugar issues

8.) Do you feel best immediately after a meal, an hour after, or 2 plus hours after? usually right after

9.) For those of you who are hypoglycemic, how do you restore a low blood sugar and maintain a normal level afterwards?

I usually keep snacks in my purse. Things that are easy to keep on hand are M & Ms....not healthy, but will help me in a hurry if my blood sugar is too low. Then I am able to get to something more substantial.

10.) What do you eat for a quick fix if you are out and need something easy and fast?

M & Ms or pineapple juice that I keep in the car (Comes in little cans that I keep in my diaper bag)

11.) For those who test their blood sugar, what highs/lows have you had and what triggered them (ie. protein/carb content, type of food, time between meals, etc.)?

12.) Have you seen an endocrinologist or other doctor for blood sugar symptoms, and how have they helped you (if you found it beneficial)?

My PCP years ago (the one who blew off my food intolerance issues). She did a test and said I was fine...no blood sugar issues. She also told me to eat more protein for breakfast.

13.) Do you feel you have a good grasp on controlling your blood sugar and symptoms related to it?

Yes

14.) Have you found this has improved, gotten worse, or received no affect from going on a gluten-free diet?

Improved.

Hope this helps!

[VydorScope]

Sorry just edited my asnwer to #4 I must learn to read one day... LOL

[kabowman]

1.) Have you been officially diagnosed with any blood sugar condition (ie. Diabetes type 1 or 2, reactive or fasting hypo, impaired glucose tolerance, etc.)?

Pre-Diabetes about 1 1/2 years ago.

2.) If you haven’t been diagnosed, what are you symptomatic of?

N/A

3.) Have you had an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test), and if so, what was the load (75 or 100 grams) and what were your test results at any tested intervals (generally each hour for 3-6 hrs) including fasting?

Not sure what these are: My high home test #s are 171, my lows are about 100 (that is when I feel like I am ready to pass out)

4.) Can you distinguish the difference between a blood sugar high/low and a food reaction? If so, what are the differences?

Yep - jittery and shakey when low - real low extreme fatigue. Hi, jittery.

5.) How frequently do you eat and what is the longest you go between substantial snacks/meals?

I eat about every 2 hours until 7:00PM.

6.) How close to going to sleep at night do you eat and how soon after waking up? What do you eat at these times?

About 7 or 8 is the latest I eat before bed at 10.

7.) What do meals/snacks look like, and what is the protein-carb-fat ratio? Do you ever eat any snacks/meals without either protein or carbs? If so, how frequently and how do you feel afterwards?

Most meals are balanced between protein, veggies, carbs, snacks less so.

8.) Do you feel best immediately after a meal, an hour after, or 2 plus hours after?

Right after I feel best...then an hour later, I am hungry again.

9.) For those of you who are hypoglycemic, how do you restore a low blood sugar and maintain a normal level afterwards?

N/A

10.) What do you eat for a quick fix if you are out and need something easy and fast?

Not much I can do for a quick fix - we have to stop in somewhere and order a meal.

11.) For those who test their blood sugar, what highs/lows have you had and what triggered them (ie. protein/carb content, type of food, time between meals, etc.)?

High carbs kill me - I have eliminated almost all sugar, except for carbs and what is in my tomato sauces, from my diet. I occasionally have honey for sore throats.

12.) Have you seen an endocrinologist or other doctor for blood sugar symptoms, and how have they helped you (if you found it beneficial)?

N/A

13.) Do you feel you have a good grasp on controlling your blood sugar and symptoms related to it?

Yes, avoid all sugar, limit honey, limit carbs.

14.) Have you found this has improved, gotten worse, or received no affect from going on a gluten-free diet?

The only change was I am able to notice and pinpoint my symptoms of low blood sugar more easily.

[dlp252]

1.) Have you been officially diagnosed with any blood sugar condition (ie. Diabetes type 1 or 2, reactive or fasting hypo, impaired glucose tolerance, etc.)?

No, not officially, but I have suspected for some time that I have blood sugar issues and plan to seek a diagnosis soon.

2.) If you haven’t been diagnosed, what are you symptomatic of?

Both low blood sugar (or blood sugar rises/drops) and intolerances.

3.) Have you had an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test), and if so, what was the load (75 or 100 grams) and what were your test results at any tested intervals (generally each hour for 3-6 hrs) including fasting?

No.

4.) Can you distinguish the difference between a blood sugar high/low and a food reaction? If so, what are the differences?

I cannot distinguish yet, but I know when I haven't eaten for a while I get shakey, headachy, grumpy and spacey. Other than dizziness, my food reactions seem to be more digestive in nature.

5.) How frequently do you eat and what is the longest you go between substantial snacks/meals?

Up til a couple of days ago, I ate about every 3-4 hours--about 5 times per day. The last couple of days I've been trying 2-3 hours apart. If I can help it I never go longer than 5 or 6 hours without eating.

6.) How close to going to sleep at night do you eat and how soon after waking up? What do you eat at these times?

I have GERD as well so try not to eat too close to bedtime, but I will have a bite or two of nut butter an hour or two before bed or if I have them made, a hard boiled egg. I eat as soon as I get myself showered--I can eat as soon as I get up if I don't have to work. I often wake up immediately hungry.

7.) What do meals/snacks look like, and what is the protein-carb-fat ratio? Do you ever eat any snacks/meals without either protein or carbs? If so, how frequently and how do you feel afterwards?

I haven't been thinking much about the ratio until the last few days..I've been trying to do 40% fat, 30% carbs and 30% protein...not doing well I'm afraid...I like fat--my typical meal is almost 55% fat, but it's good fat except for what's in the meat. I never eat snacks without fat or protein, lol. A typical breakfast might be eggs and fruit, or a Bumble Bar with nut butter on it, or nut butter and an apple. Lunches are usually meat, veggies and maybe a fruit...my afternoon snack is identical to my lunch. Dinners are usually meat, veggies and fruit and sometimes a bite of casein/gluten free chocolate. Last snack of the day is whatever is handy. I typically feel fine, but in the last month I have been ravenously hungry all the time, even within an hour after eating a good sized meal, so I'm obviously doing something wrong...and I'm also taking Prilosec OTC which might be doing something--don't know.

8.) Do you feel best immediately after a meal, an hour after, or 2 plus hours after?

I'd have to say best immediately afterwards...I'm usually hungry again 1 or 2 hours later.

9.) For those of you who are hypoglycemic, how do you restore a low blood sugar and maintain a normal level afterwards?

Don't have a grasp on this yet.

10.) What do you eat for a quick fix if you are out and need something easy and fast?

I haven't been good about carrying something, but I think I need to. I have nuts in my drawer at work.

11.) For those who test their blood sugar, what highs/lows have you had and what triggered them (ie. protein/carb content, type of food, time between meals, etc.)?

N/A...plan to buy a monitor this weekend.

12.) Have you seen an endocrinologist or other doctor for blood sugar symptoms, and how have they helped you (if you found it beneficial)?

No, not yet.

13.) Do you feel you have a good grasp on controlling your blood sugar and symptoms related to it?

Nope, not yet.

14.) Have you found this has improved, gotten worse, or received no affect from going on a gluten-free diet?

Worse because for some reason going gluten-free triggered something in my mind that said it was okay for me to eat anything as long as it was gluten-free...unfortunately that meant cookies, candy, baked goods, etc...stuff I hadn't eaten in at least 3 years.

[ehrin]

1.) Have you been officially diagnosed with any blood sugar condition (ie. Diabetes type 1 or 2, reactive or fasting hypo, impaired glucose tolerance, etc.)?

T1 Diabetic for over 25 years - well controlled with an insulin pump A1c's range from 5.3-6.1 in the past year

2.) If you haven’t been diagnosed, what are you symptomatic of?

N/A

3.) Have you had an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test), and if so, what was the load (75 or 100 grams) and what were your test results at any tested intervals (generally each hour for 3-6 hrs) including fasting?

I have not had the OGTT done - not necessary

4.) Can you distinguish the difference between a blood sugar high/low and a food reaction? If so, what are the differences?

Low blood sugar I get spacey and shakey, can break out into a cold sweat - I also get very...excited and animated.

High blood sugar I turn into uberb%$@# - very thirsty, run down, want to sleep - high's are much worse than lows as they take longer to dissipate (at least two hours) vs. lows which can be corrected in under a half hour

If I have ingested Gluten (no other known food allergies) I get bloated and crampy - being glutened does NOT affect my blood sugars

5.) How frequently do you eat and what is the longest you go between substantial snacks/meals?

I am on an insulin pump so I can eat/not eat any time I want

6.) How close to going to sleep at night do you eat and how soon after waking up? What do you eat at these times?

I have a protein filled snack (cheese stick) before bed - helps reduce the dawn phenomenon

and I don't eat first thing upon waking - I have coffee and eat hours later

again the pump allows me to do this

7.) What do meals/snacks look like, and what is the protein-carb-fat ratio? Do you ever eat any snacks/meals without either protein or carbs? If so, how frequently and how do you feel afterwards?

I eat whatever I want and don't adhere to a ratio

however when eating simple carbs I definitely crash hours later

although simple carbs are far and few between since starting the gluten-free diet

8.) Do you feel best immediately after a meal, an hour after, or 2 plus hours after?

depends on if I bolused the correct amount of insulin, but I generally feel fine after eating

perhaps a few hours after is best, after I've digested

9.) For those of you who are hypoglycemic, how do you restore a low blood sugar and maintain a normal level afterwards?

N/A - diabetics are hyperglycemic

10.) What do you eat for a quick fix if you are out and need something easy and fast?

Lara bar, generally always have some sort of "bar" in my purse

11.) For those who test their blood sugar, what highs/lows have you had and what triggered them (ie. protein/carb content, type of food, time between meals, etc.)?

For me it's all based on insulin/food intake -

if food is ingested and not enough insulin is taken the result is a high

if not enough food is ingested and too much insulin is taken the result is a low

lows also result from exercise

I carb count and have ratios to base how much insulin to take for how many carbs

it's all about the carbs

12.) Have you seen an endocrinologist or other doctor for blood sugar symptoms, and how have they helped you (if you found it beneficial)?

Yes, I have a great endo - T1 diabetics must have an endo

T2 can generally work with their PCP

Endo's live the endocrine system so they can detect, much more readily, when the system is out of whack

13.) Do you feel you have a good grasp on controlling your blood sugar and symptoms related to it?

absolutely!!! It has been 26 years!

14.) Have you found this has improved, gotten worse, or received no affect from going on a gluten-free diet?

It's the gluten-free foods that are the problem - they are loaded with sugars and are not frienldy to diabetics at all. The worst offender is gluten-free beer - made from honey & molasses - it spiked my blood sugar into the 300's even though I bolused for the beer (although it was a mystery bolus as I couldn't find any nutritional info on the stuff)

[penguin]

First, If you're hypoglycemic, I don't think you can eat too freqently, unless you feel like you're going to explode, of course

1.) Have you been officially diagnosed with any blood sugar condition (ie. Diabetes type 1 or 2, reactive or fasting hypo, impaired glucose tolerance, etc.)?

Reactive hypoglycemia when I was a teenager.

2.) If you haven’t been diagnosed, what are you symptomatic of? N/A

3.) Have you had an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test), and if so, what was the load (75 or 100 grams) and what were your test results at any tested intervals (generally each hour for 3-6 hrs) including fasting?

No, because any doctor I've asked about it has said it is a very cruel test for a hypoglycemic to go through. I was diagnosed by description of symptoms and dietary response.

4.) Can you distinguish the difference between a blood sugar high/low and a food reaction? If so, what are the differences?

They are in no way similar for me. With a bs problem, my arms start to feel shaky and I get nauseated, etc. A food reaction makes my face go numb and causes stomach noises (gluten) or mouth itching (nuts). My blood sugar is worse after glutening, though.

5.) How frequently do you eat and what is the longest you go between substantial snacks/meals?

In the morning I pretty much snack from breakfast until lunch, since I have my worst problems in the morning. I pack a big lunch and keep snacks in my drawer at work to facilitate this. I don't really snack from lunch to dinner, so there's about a 5 hour gap. If I get shakey, I eat. I don't *usually* eat after dinner, but if I do it's usually a bowl of cereal.

6.) How close to going to sleep at night do you eat and how soon after waking up? What do you eat at these times?

I can eat dinner at 6 and be fine when I go to bed. I sometimes eat some cereal or something about 2 hours before bed, but it has nothing to do with blood sugar. Rarely I'll have problems when I go to bed, then I get up and drink some milk or eat some peanut butter. I eat usually within an hour and a half of waking.

7.) What do meals/snacks look like, and what is the protein-carb-fat ratio? Do you ever eat any snacks/meals without either protein or carbs? If so, how frequently and how do you feel afterwards?

I strive for balanced, my mom taught me protein/carb/vegetation for each meal, so that's what I try for. It doesn't always happen and I don't usually keep track. I use the very scientific "I feel like crap, I need to eat" method of figuring out what to eat. I always have protein with carbs, though.

8.) Do you feel best immediately after a meal, an hour after, or 2 plus hours after?

No difference.

9.) For those of you who are hypoglycemic, how do you restore a low blood sugar and maintain a normal level afterwards?

I drink a coke usually, as it's quick. Then I make sure to eat something substantial within an hour when I get my appetite back and I can stand to eat anything.

10.) What do you eat for a quick fix if you are out and need something easy and fast?

Coke and/or a "beef stick" like a slim jim (but not slim jims since they aren't gluten-free)

11.) For those who test their blood sugar, what highs/lows have you had and what triggered them (ie. protein/carb content, type of food, time between meals, etc.)?

I have a monitor, but I chicken out of actual real testing.

12.) Have you seen an endocrinologist or other doctor for blood sugar symptoms, and how have they helped you (if you found it beneficial)?

No.

13.) Do you feel you have a good grasp on controlling your blood sugar and symptoms related to it?

Yes, I don't even notice it most of the time.

14.) Have you found this has improved, gotten worse, or received no affect from going on a gluten-free diet?

Better gluten-free, for sure. I'm on a gluten challenge now and my blood sugar is sucking. Too many simple carbs, I guess.

[L.A.]

I know there are a lot of us who have to deal with blood sugar issues as well as food intolerances. I figure we might as well see how each of us copes with this. I personally have been trying to figure out for years why I remained symptomatic even on a high protein, eating frequently hypoglycemic diet. Food allergies certainly seem to be a part of that, but I'm now wondering if my current protein intake is too high and my carb too low and if I eat too frequently.

I realize there are a lot of questions and it is fairly comprehensive, but I'd appreciate answers to any of the questions below even if you skip some of them. Feel free to add any other information you feel is relevant. I'm going to put up my responses to these questions later tonight (a little too long for me to fill out now ).

1.) Have you been officially diagnosed with any blood sugar condition (ie. Diabetes type 1 or 2, reactive or fasting hypo, impaired glucose tolerance, etc.)?

2.) If you haven’t been diagnosed, what are you symptomatic of?

3.) Have you had an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test), and if so, what was the load (75 or 100 grams) and what were your test results at any tested intervals (generally each hour for 3-6 hrs) including fasting?

4.) Can you distinguish the difference between a blood sugar high/low and a food reaction? If so, what are the differences?

5.) How frequently do you eat and what is the longest you go between substantial snacks/meals?

6.) How close to going to sleep at night do you eat and how soon after waking up? What do you eat at these times?

7.) What do meals/snacks look like, and what is the protein-carb-fat ratio? Do you ever eat any snacks/meals without either protein or carbs? If so, how frequently and how do you feel afterwards?

8.) Do you feel best immediately after a meal, an hour after, or 2 plus hours after?

9.) For those of you who are hypoglycemic, how do you restore a low blood sugar and maintain a normal level afterwards?

10.) What do you eat for a quick fix if you are out and need something easy and fast?

11.) For those who test their blood sugar, what highs/lows have you had and what triggered them (ie. protein/carb content, type of food, time between meals, etc.)?

12.) Have you seen an endocrinologist or other doctor for blood sugar symptoms, and how have they helped you (if you found it beneficial)?

13.) Do you feel you have a good grasp on controlling your blood sugar and symptoms related to it?

14.) Have you found this has improved, gotten worse, or received no affect from going on a gluten-free diet?

I know there are a lot of us who have to deal with blood sugar issues as well as food intolerances. I figure we might as well see how each of us copes with this. I personally have been trying to figure out for years why I remained symptomatic even on a high protein, eating frequently hypoglycemic diet. Food allergies certainly seem to be a part of that, but I'm now wondering if my current protein intake is too high and my carb too low and if I eat too frequently.

I realize there are a lot of questions and it is fairly comprehensive, but I'd appreciate answers to any of the questions below even if you skip some of them. Feel free to add any other information you feel is relevant. I'm going to put up my responses to these questions later tonight (a little too long for me to fill out now ).

1.) Have you been officially diagnosed with any blood sugar condition (ie. Diabetes type 1 or 2, reactive or fasting hypo, impaired glucose tolerance, etc.)? I have been diabetic since age 13 (i'm 46 now) and i was diagnosed celiac in 2000. The diabetic specialist i saw said adult onset celiac's is high in diabetic...

2.) If you haven’t been diagnosed, what are you symptomatic of?

3.) Have you had an OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test), and if so, what was the load (75 or 100 grams) and what were your test results at any tested intervals (generally each hour for 3-6 hrs) including fasting?

4.) Can you distinguish the difference between a blood sugar high/low and a food reaction? If so, what are the differences? Low blood sugar makes you feel shaky and extremely hungry. High blood sugar can make you sleepy and give you a hechache.

5.) How frequently do you eat and what is the longest you go between substantial snacks/meals? Three meals a day and a snack about 9 pm

6.) How close to going to sleep at night do you eat and how soon after waking up? What do you eat at these times? Try not to eat after an hour before bed. Am up for an hour before breakfast. I eat normal breakfast type food and at night have a cookie and juice.

7.) What do meals/snacks look like, and what is the protein-carb-fat ratio? Do you ever eat any snacks/meals without either protein or carbs? If so, how frequently and how do you feel afterwards?

8.) Do you feel best immediately after a meal, an hour after, or 2 plus hours after?

9.) For those of you who are hypoglycemic, how do you restore a low blood sugar and maintain a normal level afterwards?

10.) What do you eat for a quick fix if you are out and need something easy and fast? Gluten free organic kids rice bars--sorta like rice krispie squares

11.) For those who test their blood sugar, what highs/lows have you had and what triggered them (ie. protein/carb content, type of food, time between meals, etc.)? Carbs and fruit wuill net higher sugar levels than proteins.

12.) Have you seen an endocrinologist or other doctor for blood sugar symptoms, and how have they helped you (if you found it beneficial)? I see one for my diabetes.

13.) Do you feel you have a good grasp on controlling your blood sugar and symptoms related to it? Yes

14.) Have you found this has improved, gotten worse, or received no affect from going on a gluten-free diet?

Have found it difficult combining a sugar and gluten free diet. i never cheat on the gluten will overlook sugar content in favour of gluten free.