Could I Have Diabetes? Hypoglycemia?

[ruddabega]

I have been gluten free for 9 months now, but am still incredibly tired. I seem to feel a lot better right after I eat, but about 30-45 minutes later I crash again. I am urinating a lot, and seem hungry quite often. Does this sound like I might have diabetes or hypoglycemia? I don't know wether my symptoms fit either role...

Help! Thanks!

[tarnalberry]

It could well be a blood sugar problem. Please talk to your doctor about testing to find out which it is, as there are some important differences in treating the two.

[lbsteenwyk]

Frequent urination is a common symptom of diabetes. An increased appetitie without weight gain is also a possible symptom. Other common symptoms of uncontrolled blood sugar are excessive thirst, blurred vision (feeling like you need glasses) and weight loss. People with type 1 diabetes can become very ill quite quickly, so please get your blood sugar checked soon. If you are in school, the school nurse may be able to do it.

[tarnalberry]

Should have noted... in the meantime, please, don't eat any meals that are primarily carbs. Make sure that they all have a decent balance of fat and protein with the carbs, and that the carbs aren't simple ones (like white rice, or the like) to keep from spiking your blood sugar.

[ruddabega]

Thanks you guys. I will try to get my blood sugar tested.

For now, I mostly eat veggies and meat and eggs and plain yogurt etc. I only eat brown rice for grains, and don't eat sugar. But I will be extra-cautious of the simple carbs.

I'll let you know when I get my blood sugar tested.

[skbird]

Hey Camila -

So, you're in Dixon - I've been there. I'm in Chico, the other side of Sac, but still pracitically neighbors!

I'm hypoglycemic and it was by following a low carb diet that I found out I was also gluten intolerant. It does sound like you are following a good diet at this point for either hypoglycemia or diabetes, how much rice are you eating? I had a lot of trouble with rice, brown or otherwise, and had to stop eating it. But after going gluten free I was able to eat it again. Before that point when I ate rice it felt like I'd had about 20 coffees, majorly jittery and manic feeling.

Hormones can also play into blood sugar issues, when I was on the pill it did a number on me.

What finally convinced me of my blood sugar problems (doctors didn't believe me because a test in the office always indicated a normal blood sugar level) was buying a cheap, store brand, blood sugar tester, like what diabetics use. I charted my blood sugar levels for a couple of days, as often as every 15 mins, keeping track of what I ate, etc. I saw my blood sugar drop very low a few times (in the 40's) and that scared me. As a result I don't eat certain sugars and no alcohol, that was the worst one for me. Once I had this proof, I showed a doctor and they started believing me which was a relief - I had been claiming this was a problem for me since I was in high school, and it wasn't until I was 30 that someone believed me.

Look for info on the web about the glycemic index - that should help you with food choices. Low glycemic load foods are the best for everyone, and especially for those with blood sugar problems.

Take care

Stephanie

[emeraldskies]

One of the main genes for celiac disease, HLA-DQ2, is highly associated with diabetes. If you find you don't have high blood sugar or low insulin, it could be diabetes insipidus, a condition with a much different cause than the common diabetes. I have similar symptoms but have never been tested: Open Original Shared Link.