How to lose weight when hypoglycemic?

AngeleyesJo

I'm trying to lose weight but through stress and anxiety I appear to be having non diabetic hypoglycemic episodes, I wondered what the best way to diet is in this situation?

Sabine_Stroehm

Keep your blood sugar as stable as you can: Don't eat a lot of foods that raise it. Choose lower glycemic carbs over higher glycemic ones. Eat fat and protein with each meal. Snack (on protein/fat) regularly. Stay hydrated.

ruqayyahsmum

Little and often remaining at your daily calorie goal

Have you been diagnosed or just guessing?
Mine was diagnosed after the hospital watched me have what i called an episode and found my blood sugars were 1.1

AngeleyesJo

Had blood tests that show normal but I know with stress fatigue like I've got the body struggles to regulate your blood sugar yet lab tests are usually normal.

Unknown

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AngeleyesJo

Feeling sick, hungry, extremely tired and drowsy with muscle aches

megs_1985

I have had similar symptoms but never diagnosed and my glucose levels were never less then 70 at fasting. I find it happens with large sudden drops in blood glucose. Usually happens if I eat highg glycemic carbs without eating it with a slower digesting protein or fat. Solutions is easy. Just eat carbs with a protein or fat (nuts or cheese are usually my choice). Also avoid large amounts of high glycemic carbs (baked goods, white potatoes, white rice, bread, etc). Also keep a snack with you at all times like nuts or a protein bar.

Hamsibian

What are your stats - age, height, Current and goal weight? How aggressive is your deficit?

kwindert1

While feeling very hungry and very drowsy can be symptoms of low blood sugar, more common symptoms to watch for are sweating, dizziness/lack of coordination, shaking/tremor, a feeling of disorientation or confusion, and other people may perceive you to be 'drunk' (speaking as a Type 1 diabetic over 25 years.......had hundreds of episodes of hypoglycemia).

The best ways to avoid hypoglycemia but stay in your goals is to make sure you are not eating a lot of simple carbs that raise your blood sugar quickly but don't have 'staying power' in keeping your blood sugar from dropping low later (simple carbs are things like white rice, white potatoes, white bread(notice a theme? ha!)) - instead if you are eating carbs opt for more complex carbs like whole grains. Protein and fat are very necessary too - protein has a smaller impact on blood sugar than carbohydrates, but it definitely has an impact and will help you keep your blood sugar from dropping. Fats slow the absorption of carbohydrates so if you are eating simple carbohydrates it's important to mix it with healthy fats so your rise and fall in blood sugar is less dramatic.

When you do have an episode of hypoglycemia the best way to treat it is with a fast-acting sugar (4-6 oz of fruit juice is usually enough!) and pair it with a protein source (some string cheese or a spoonful of peanut butter are my go-tos).

I have a section in my food diary for 'low blood sugar corrections' so anything I eat to correct a low blood sugar is logged and counted as part of my day - though I realize my way of handling things is different as for me it is really just reactive and because you don't have diabetes your actions will need to be much more proactive.

AngeleyesJo

I did feel ever so slightly disoriented. I have a job that can be a bit physical at times. I had tended to snack on popcorn, cereal bars, malt loaf, choc pretzels by go ahead etc.

sunny_d22

I was recently diagnosed with hypoglycemia and am not diabetic I'm working with my doctor to figure out why. In my experience, it does have an impact on weight loss, making it harder to lose weight, likely due to overproduction of insulin. I'm making dietary changes to try and reduce my low blood sugar occurrences. I'm working on eating more protein and fat and avoiding foods that have added sugar.

AngeleyesJo

I have previously lost 2 stone, so would I be producing too much insulin like you?

cmriverside

AngeleyesJo wrote: »

I did feel ever so slightly disoriented. I have a job that can be a bit physical at times. I had tended to snack on popcorn, cereal bars, malt loaf, choc pretzels by go ahead etc.

Well these are high-carb foods. ^^

Snack on lower carb stuff and you won't get those insulin spikes. Nuts, cheese, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese and vegetables, unsweetened cereal with milk, like plain Cheerios or Bran flakes. Celery with peanut butter. Cucumbers and hummus. Beef jerky, slices of deli meats, a hard boiled egg.

Whitezombiegirl

I have this condition. I've lost over 30lbs. I find low carb is a great way to manage it and I find Glucose tablets a life saver.

I find if I eat carby food it sets off a blood sugar spike and then a dip. It's best to avoid them all together for me.

AngeleyesJo

Have i somehow become carb sensitive since losing weight?

dsboohead

Stay away from those carby items you mentioned. 1/2 PB sandwich....1/2 lunchmeat sandwich. Always have a carb with protein.

collectingblues

AngeleyesJo wrote: »

Feeling sick, hungry, extremely tired and drowsy with muscle aches

That can indicate almost anything. Go to the doctor and actually get a diagnosis, instead of just deciding that you must be hypoglycemic.

dsboohead

Your foods must limit sugars and hi carb. Even your carbs with protein.
Popcorn...choco pretzels, malt loaf (??) REALLY?!

AngeleyesJo

collectingblues wrote: »

AngeleyesJo wrote: »

Feeling sick, hungry, extremely tired and drowsy with muscle aches

That can indicate almost anything. Go to the doctor and actually get a diagnosis, instead of just deciding that you must be hypoglycemic.

I am diagnosed with generalised anxiety and I know this can be part of that. Though I do seem to have hypoglycemic reactions.

dsboohead

Okay....I looked up malt loaf.....again......REALLY?!?! NO wonder your blood sugar drops like bricks off of a 20 story building! You need quality carbs not the things you mentioned with your condition.

collectingblues

AngeleyesJo wrote: »

collectingblues wrote: »

AngeleyesJo wrote: »

Feeling sick, hungry, extremely tired and drowsy with muscle aches

That can indicate almost anything. Go to the doctor and actually get a diagnosis, instead of just deciding that you must be hypoglycemic.

I am diagnosed with generalised anxiety and I know this can be part of that. Though I do seem to have hypoglycemic reactions.

Then get a glucose meter and check your blood sugar when you think you're low. This isn't rocket science.

Here's the thing: Hypoglycemia is an actual thing with actual lab values. It's super trendy to claim that you're hypoglycemic, when you're actually just hungry, or you've got something else going on. And for those of us who do struggle with severe hypoglycemia (I'm talking waking in the middle of the night with blood sugars of 45 [2.5] or having EMS come to your house because you're not responsive), it is annoying as all get out for people to just claim that they're hypoglycemic without actually *being* hypoglycemic.

dsboohead

A doctors visit with an entire work up with complete bloodwork is in order. Look into fasting bloodwork along with an A1C.

AngeleyesJo

I'm sorry if I offended you.

AngeleyesJo

collectingblues wrote: »

AngeleyesJo wrote: »

collectingblues wrote: »

AngeleyesJo wrote: »

Feeling sick, hungry, extremely tired and drowsy with muscle aches

That can indicate almost anything. Go to the doctor and actually get a diagnosis, instead of just deciding that you must be hypoglycemic.

I am diagnosed with generalised anxiety and I know this can be part of that. Though I do seem to have hypoglycemic reactions.

Then get a glucose meter and check your blood sugar when you think you're low. This isn't rocket science.

Here's the thing: Hypoglycemia is an actual thing with actual lab values. It's super trendy to claim that you're hypoglycemic, when you're actually just hungry, or you've got something else going on. And for those of us who do struggle with severe hypoglycemia (I'm talking waking in the middle of the night with blood sugars of 45 [2.5] or having EMS come to your house because you're not responsive), it is annoying as all get out for people to just claim that they're hypoglycemic without actually *being* hypoglycemic.

I'm sorry if I offended you.

Maxxitt

Stay hydrated - feeling weak, tired, drowsy, and "off," as well as having muscle aches, can also occur if you are not drinking sufficient fluids.

whitpauly

I have anxiety too and I'm not sure I'm hypoglycemic but when I start getting that shaky,dizzy,hot,disoriented feeling and I eat a little something I feel better,I think a good carb/protein ratio helps ward off the yuck

klenz525

Type 1 diabetic here.. been through plenty of hypoglycemic episodes and it can be frustrating when you're trying to lose weight. I'd recommend eating as low carb as possible, at Keto levels if you can, in order to stabilize your blood sugars. You should be able to reduce the frequency of having low blood sugars. And when you do go low, choose low-calorie options like juice to bring your blood sugar up. I have a problem of choosing heavy things like peanut butter or Snickers bars and then I feel like I've messed up my weight loss progress :P

PAV8888

Only a doctor who sees you in person can run objective tests to figure out if what you're feeling is an offshoot of your already diagnosed condition or is precipitated by a different health problem.

In the first case a medication or coping strategy adjustment may be the fix you need.

In the second case you may be dealing with a physiologically different problem.

Not sure that either you or the internet are in a good position to diagnose.

yirara

AngeleyesJo wrote: »

Had blood tests that show normal but I know with stress fatigue like I've got the body struggles to regulate your blood sugar yet lab tests are usually normal.

Actually, I thought I had suhc a problem for 20 years! I usually felt miserable in the morning/early noon and only recovered at dinner time in the evening. Yet all tests were always normal. Turns out it wasn't a glucose problem, but salt!

For me it makes sense as well: when I get this problem I eat everything in reach, the stuff usually available at work: bread, yoghurt, fruit, veggies, a candy bar or a tin of soda. what's missing and what I only get at dinner in subsantial amounts? Salt! It's difficult though to consider this option if your brain is completely absent during such episode.

Hamsibian

You're reaching for foods that have little nutritional value. All of the suggestions you have received are great, so put down the loaf, eat a well balanced diet with adequate protein, fats, and fiber. Check your sugar levels if you want to, but it's hard to tell what's really going on (you haven't given us your stats or rate of loss).