Are These Hypoglycemic Attacks

[Guest Addicted2Gluten]

After being on a gluten challenge for the past 3 months, about 10 days ago I started to feel very achy, thirsty, and fatigued. I went to the doctor and found out that my blood sugar was very low. They ran tests for Addison's Disease and Thyroid disease which were all normal.

After finding out that my blood sugar was low, the next day I went back on a gluten free diet. About 2 days after starting the gluten free diet, I woke up in the middle of the night with severe cold sweats and uncontrollable shaking which lasted most of the night. The next night, the same thing happened, only this time it was worse. Then I started to get these cold sweats during the day but they weren't that bad and it seemed like they were going away.

But then yesterday afternoon, I started getting these cold sweats and uncontrollable shaking. I felt as if I was going to break into a seizure. I also got another attack this afternoon. It seems that these attacks are also accompanied by a headache, nausea, and diarhhea. I am finding that if I start eating a lot of sugar the shaking subsides.

I am getting really worried though because the shaking and sweating is getting so intense that if I don't continually eat sugar, I start uncontrollably shaking and sweating. I've read some things online and it looks like I could be having hypoglycemic attacks and since my blood sugar was really low the other week when it was tested, it seems more likely. I also at first thought that this could be a sign of gluten withdrawal but I find it odd that it isn't gradually getting better but seems to come and go.

Has anyone experienced similar symptoms? I plan to go to the doctor tomorrow.

[tarnalberry]

Being truely hypoglycemic can be dangerous, so keep following up with your doctor on these symptoms. In the case of a problem with low blood sugar, just eating sugar is NOT the best route - you'll get your blood sugar up, but it'll crash again a short time later. You need to balance the carbs - perferably complex and NOT simple (so, no sugar) - with plenty of fat and protein. (I'm talking on the order of 60% or less of your calories coming from carbs in a day - and most of those from complex carbs.) Of course, if you need some sugar to get out of the initial problem, that's one thing, but relying on simple carbs to deal with the problem will only make it worse as your blood sugar rollercoasters. It can send you to the hospital - or worse.

[Guest Addicted2Gluten]

Thanks for your response. I understand that eating a high amount of sugar will not be good in the long term, but I'm not sure what I should be doing in the short term. I have been shaking and sweating tonight about every 2 hours after I eat. I looked online and it said that for a hypoglycemic attack I should eat sugar, chocolate, and non-diet sodas and that people with very severe hypglycemia should take glucagen shots. I have been trying to frequently have small snacks throughout the night such as raisins and orange juice and rice bread and only having a true sweet if it gets very bad. Hopefully, I will be able to find out more of what is going on tomorrow.

[tarnalberry]

The raisins, orange juice, and rice bread are all contributing to the problem because they are simple carbs - the first two mostly sugar. It might help for an hour or two - and that's very important if you're blood sugar is dangerously low - but you need to follow that with something with the sustained energy of fat and protein. So, when you feel that happening, immediately eat the have the orange juice but have some cheese or yogurt after you finish it, or have that rice bread, but put peanut butter on the second slice so you don't feel the same way in four to six hours. And definitely don't snack on carb-rich items if you're not already feeling bad!!!

[Nadtorious]

The advice to eat sugary foods for a hypoglycemic attack usually only apply to diabetics. I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia in January and am just now finally getting it under control. Complex carbs plus fat and protein every 2-3 hours really seem to get me under control. I have a glucometer, but I don't really use it that much anymore because I've been feeling so much better. Also, the more reactions I have, the worse my blood sugar seems to go up and down. I've been reaction free for 3 weeks now (knock on wood) and my blood sugar has stablized to the point where I went 6 hours without eating today-and I was riding my bike the whole time (woohoo!).

Good luck-

Nadia

[plantime]

Thanks for the advice. I have been wondering how to eat for my own blood sugar problems. It doesn't spike up high, so my doc just said to lose weight. She didn't tell me anything about balancing proteins and carbs, or the different effects of simple vs complex carbs.

[Meadow]

addicted, you should get a glucometer and some test strips from your local pharmacy and TEST when you feel symptoms of hypoglycemia. If your blood sugar is low, maybe below 70, then the "Rule of 15" kicks in. 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates every 15 minutes until your blood sugars rise. Glucometers are pretty cheap, and I bet you doc would write a presciption for one if you asked.

plantime, if you have type 2 diabetes, you should make arrangements to meet with a dietician and/or certified diabetes educator (CDE) to develop a diet and exercise plan to meet your needs. I don't know much about celiac disease but I do know quite a bit about diabetes, enough to know that elevated blood sugars should never be taken lightly as they will certainly cause devasting complications over time. Fasting blood sugars should be below 110 and 2-hours after meals your blood sugar should be below 140. If you don't meet these parameters, you need to modify your diet, increase exercise, and/or start taking medications.

Best wishes,

Meadow

[plantime]

The last blood test showed my sugar level to be normal, but my insulin levels as high. When I try to cut back on fats and sweets, I get dizzy and shaky. Doc says I am pre-diabetic, whatever that means. I won't go back to her, whenever I have an illness, she says that all I have to do is lose weight to get better. She prescribed Lexapro for a headache that went from my shoulder through my ear to the top of my head. It didn't go away until two months later when a different doc looked in ear and gave me a round of strong antibiotics to clear up the infection that was trying to set in. I can't get help from the new doc with the sugar issue because I can't afford to have the tests run again, so she has nothing current to go by. >sigh< Life!

[Meadow]

hi plantime

Try this site: Open Original Shared Link

I've gone here for years for information. Don't let your doc dismiss this, its very important.

Meadow

[plantime]

Thank you for that wonderful link, Meadow! I have been searching for info on this, and I just kept finding sites where I could buy insulin and such. I really must figure out how to do searches more effectively.

[cdford]

We have two in our family whose blood sugar seems to swing widely. Before going gluten-free we kept protein drink powder in the house and car. If we began to feel the shakes and headaches, we would mix up a meal shake. Does anyone know of a good one that is gluten-free?