Diets for managing Diabetes/Sugar levels
bemyyfriend0918
Posts: 241 Member
Hello all,
While I have been tested and my glucose levels came back normal (91 fasting), I can't help but feel like I am diabetic, or at least in the pre stages. Whenever I eat certain foods I feel very dizzy and tired. I often have blurred vision after consuming specific things. My doctor says I do not have any issues at this time, and I am not even in the pre-diabetic category yet, but I know something is wrong. I cannot even have a slice of bread without feeling as though my heart is racing and getting very tired/dizzy to the point of passing out.
Are there any diabetes food plans that may be helpful? Any other recommendations?
While I have been tested and my glucose levels came back normal (91 fasting), I can't help but feel like I am diabetic, or at least in the pre stages. Whenever I eat certain foods I feel very dizzy and tired. I often have blurred vision after consuming specific things. My doctor says I do not have any issues at this time, and I am not even in the pre-diabetic category yet, but I know something is wrong. I cannot even have a slice of bread without feeling as though my heart is racing and getting very tired/dizzy to the point of passing out.
Are there any diabetes food plans that may be helpful? Any other recommendations?
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Replies
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It sounds more like an emotional/psychological issue to me. Many people think "carbs" really are the devil.12
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Have you been tested for food intolerances/allergies?2
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kommodevaran wrote: »It sounds more like an emotional/psychological issue to me. Many people think "carbs" really are the devil.
I don't think carbs are the devil lol, I love carbs. I just seem to get exhausted to the point where it becomes an issue when I eat them...although, it more so seems to happen with carbs like bread/bagels than pastas...
Could be a food intolerance. I have not been tested for any of those....0 -
Get a second opinion.5
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bemyyfriend0918 wrote: »Hello all,
While I have been tested and my glucose levels came back normal (91 fasting), I can't help but feel like I am diabetic, or at least in the pre stages. Whenever I eat certain foods I feel very dizzy and tired. I often have blurred vision after consuming specific things. My doctor says I do not have any issues at this time, and I am not even in the pre-diabetic category yet, but I know something is wrong. I cannot even have a slice of bread without feeling as though my heart is racing and getting very tired/dizzy to the point of passing out.
Are there any diabetes food plans that may be helpful? Any other recommendations?
What specific foods do this to you?0 -
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Does that happen when you eat an apple? Carbs there too3
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snickerscharlie wrote: »bemyyfriend0918 wrote: »Hello all,
While I have been tested and my glucose levels came back normal (91 fasting), I can't help but feel like I am diabetic, or at least in the pre stages. Whenever I eat certain foods I feel very dizzy and tired. I often have blurred vision after consuming specific things. My doctor says I do not have any issues at this time, and I am not even in the pre-diabetic category yet, but I know something is wrong. I cannot even have a slice of bread without feeling as though my heart is racing and getting very tired/dizzy to the point of passing out.
Are there any diabetes food plans that may be helpful? Any other recommendations?
What specific foods do this to you?
So here are some of the most recent times I've noticed it happened:
1. This morning for breakfast I had some hash browns (probably 1 cup, pan fried). About 10 minutes after eating them I felt like I could pass out. I was extremely dizzy and felt really crappy.
2. Yesterday for dinner I had some grilled chicken and macaroni salad. I was pretty tired for a while and had to lay down because it felt as though I did not have energy to stand.
3. For lunch I had a salad with berries and chicken, I did not feel sick/tired.
4. For breakfast I had oatmeal and a banana. I did not feel sick tired.
5. On Sunday for dinner I had a Subway 6" with turkey, cheese, and green peppers (nothing else on it). I was out shopping and had to lay in my car for 20 minutes because I was exhausted/dizzy/sick.
As far as apples go, I'm not sure. I haven't had one recently....they tend to hurt my teeth so I don't eat them often.
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Wow thanks! This is perfect
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I was going to mention this too. It's sometimes called reactive hypoglycaemia.
It is not such an immediate reaction, as far as I know. Perhaps it could be.... I gave this. If I eat carbs, by BG starts rising and then when my insulin finally kicks in it goes overboard and drops BG down below where it started. It never actually goes too low though - it's just the rapidly falling BG that leads to feelings of hypoglycaemia. It was always worse in the late afternoon and evening.
It can be a sign of early insulin resistance. The body is starting to need to release too much insulin to handle the carb load.
I went very low carb to deal with rising fasting blood glucose. Once my body became less reliant on carbs for fuel, my reactive hypoglycaemia went away. No more shaking, headaches, fatigue, light headedness or hangries.
The worst foods were the ones with the most glucose (starches, noodles, baked goods, sugar) and the least fibre.2 -
bemyyfriend0918 wrote: »snickerscharlie wrote: »bemyyfriend0918 wrote: »Hello all,
While I have been tested and my glucose levels came back normal (91 fasting), I can't help but feel like I am diabetic, or at least in the pre stages. Whenever I eat certain foods I feel very dizzy and tired. I often have blurred vision after consuming specific things. My doctor says I do not have any issues at this time, and I am not even in the pre-diabetic category yet, but I know something is wrong. I cannot even have a slice of bread without feeling as though my heart is racing and getting very tired/dizzy to the point of passing out.
Are there any diabetes food plans that may be helpful? Any other recommendations?
What specific foods do this to you?
So here are some of the most recent times I've noticed it happened:
1. This morning for breakfast I had some hash browns (probably 1 cup, pan fried). About 10 minutes after eating them I felt like I could pass out. I was extremely dizzy and felt really crappy.
2. Yesterday for dinner I had some grilled chicken and macaroni salad. I was pretty tired for a while and had to lay down because it felt as though I did not have energy to stand.
3. For lunch I had a salad with berries and chicken, I did not feel sick/tired.
4. For breakfast I had oatmeal and a banana. I did not feel sick tired.
5. On Sunday for dinner I had a Subway 6" with turkey, cheese, and green peppers (nothing else on it). I was out shopping and had to lay in my car for 20 minutes because I was exhausted/dizzy/sick.
As far as apples go, I'm not sure. I haven't had one recently....they tend to hurt my teeth so I don't eat them often.
It sounds like wheat / gluten could be a trigger for you, I was much like this a few years back and constipation, my doctor was convinced I had celiacs but I don't, but I have terrible symptoms. I used to eat oats but now those do it too1 -
bemyyfriend0918 wrote: »Hello all,
While I have been tested and my glucose levels came back normal (91 fasting), I can't help but feel like I am diabetic, or at least in the pre stages. Whenever I eat certain foods I feel very dizzy and tired. I often have blurred vision after consuming specific things. My doctor says I do not have any issues at this time, and I am not even in the pre-diabetic category yet, but I know something is wrong. I cannot even have a slice of bread without feeling as though my heart is racing and getting very tired/dizzy to the point of passing out.
Are there any diabetes food plans that may be helpful? Any other recommendations?
Bread made from regular wheat flour makes me sleepy, but I have no problem with bread made from sprouted grains from brands like Ekezial/Food for Life or Alvarado St Bakery. I can find one brand or the other in the frozen section of all the supermarkets near me.
Might want to get some food allergy testing done.0 -
The bread you mentioned, is it white bread or whole wheat 100%? How long after when you feel bad?0
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bemyyfriend0918 wrote: »snickerscharlie wrote: »bemyyfriend0918 wrote: »Hello all,
While I have been tested and my glucose levels came back normal (91 fasting), I can't help but feel like I am diabetic, or at least in the pre stages. Whenever I eat certain foods I feel very dizzy and tired. I often have blurred vision after consuming specific things. My doctor says I do not have any issues at this time, and I am not even in the pre-diabetic category yet, but I know something is wrong. I cannot even have a slice of bread without feeling as though my heart is racing and getting very tired/dizzy to the point of passing out.
Are there any diabetes food plans that may be helpful? Any other recommendations?
What specific foods do this to you?
So here are some of the most recent times I've noticed it happened:
1. This morning for breakfast I had some hash browns (probably 1 cup, pan fried). About 10 minutes after eating them I felt like I could pass out. I was extremely dizzy and felt really crappy.
2. Yesterday for dinner I had some grilled chicken and macaroni salad. I was pretty tired for a while and had to lay down because it felt as though I did not have energy to stand.
3. For lunch I had a salad with berries and chicken, I did not feel sick/tired.
4. For breakfast I had oatmeal and a banana. I did not feel sick tired.
5. On Sunday for dinner I had a Subway 6" with turkey, cheese, and green peppers (nothing else on it). I was out shopping and had to lay in my car for 20 minutes because I was exhausted/dizzy/sick.
As far as apples go, I'm not sure. I haven't had one recently....they tend to hurt my teeth so I don't eat them often.
It sounds like wheat / gluten could be a trigger for you, I was much like this a few years back and constipation, my doctor was convinced I had celiacs but I don't, but I have terrible symptoms. I used to eat oats but now those do it too
The data certainly doesn't lead to that conclusion. Two meals with wheat (#2, dinner with macaroni salad and #5, dinner with sandwich on sub roll). The first meal caused the problem, the second did not. It would be helpful if OP weighed in to confirm, but most people would eat a smaller amount of wheat in the macaroni (or certainly not larger) in the meal that caused the reaction than they would in the sub roll that didn't cause the reaction.
ETA: @bemyyfriend0918 have you tried comparing the macros for the meals that triggered the incidents with those that didn't? Is it possible you were getting a higher ratio of fat in the meals that made you sick? Because that's what it looks like from the descriptions, but of course I have no idea of whether there was a salad dressing with the chicken and berries, or whether you put a lot of butter or cream on your oatmeal.0 -
Get a 2nd opinion from a doctor who will give you additional tests. Doctors are not perfect. Ask around to people who can refer you to one. My Dr. told me my blood tests were fine. I asked for a copy and I went ballistic. I shared it a friend of mine who was a Dr. and they gave me better advice than my Dr. I began a healthy eating regiment and improved my numbers to my satisfaction.0
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I also vote for hypoglycaemia. Low blood sugar. You could be having enough high blood sugar moments to fool the A1C (an AVERAGE measurement).
The diet for hypoglycaemia is essentially the same as for a diabetic. Eat on a routine and eat about every two hours during the day.
Don’t ever eat carbs alone. Always have with protein.
A diabetic meal is very healthy with a portion of protein, veggies on the side, and a portion of carbs/fats.
Low blood sugar is dangerous. You can faint. Carry an energy/protein bar with you in case of emergency.0 -
Thanks everyone! I am going to have some more tests done. I am leaning towards some type of hypoglycemia.0
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Also...for those asking what type of bread I had....
It was white bread. I normally do not eat wheat breads, but I may start to see if that helps anything.0 -
You might have celiacs. Get a test done for that too.0
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You may be hypoglycemic. I've had it for a while now, what really helped me was increasing my protein every day and trying not to eat too many simple sugars and carbs. Try drinking a 30g protein shake everyday for a week and see how you feel. They taste like garbage but it's so amazing not having those problems anymore!!!0
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Ask what your A1c was... I assume this was taken since the doctor said you are not prediabetic. If it wasn't, ask for it. Fasting glucose alone is not sufficient to rule out diabetes.
It does sound like reactive hypoglycemia but it's unusual for it to be so constant. I used to get it after a lot of carbs and no protein on an empty stomach - say, pancakes with syrup in the morning. Hope you figure it out soon!
The other thing that comes to mind is anemia or a heart problem which affects you when blood goes to your digestive tract. Especially since the very high carb banana / oatmeal combo was not an issue.0 -
It could be a number of things but it doesn't sound like hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose). Oatmeal is very carb dense and would definately trigger it. All carbs break down into glucose and fruits break down into fructose , these both affect your glycogen.
I'm type 1 diabetic. When I run hyperglycaemic (high BG) I get blurred vision, mania, tired and fidgety legs and a brain fog (can't think properly). Passing out whilst hyperglycaemic is very unlikely unless you develop ketones in your blood (an acid) which then puts you at risk of diabetic ketoacidocis , this is more of a coma than passing out - I've only had it twice and each time it was like I was high on drugs , I would hallucinate, stare in wonderment at everything, smell and see differently.. you can buy a simple pee stick test to check for ketones if you're worried.
When I run hypoglycaemic I feel like my blood is draining away, I feel slow and drunk, I'm really shaky. This is when I can pass out. This is low blood sugar and can only really be a danger in a diabetic that takes too much insulin or a rediculous amount of excercise without any glucose or fructose in your system to fuel you.
Pre-diabetes is an indicator for type 2 diabetes which is when the body becomes resistant to insulin (but the pancreas can still produce it). Generally this can be found by a blood test looking at your liver lipids. Most cases of type 2 diabetes stem from obesity with visceral fat surrounding the internal organs (mainly pancreas and liver). Another thing you could do if you're worried is get a liver ultrasound or a DEXA scan - if you don't have much internal fat then it's again unlikely that you're pre-diabetic.
To me it sounds like you have a different food based intolerance and not an auto immune disease.
I hope you quickly find the cause!
To learn more about diabetes visit diabetes.co.uk2 -
It sounds more like gluten intolerance to me. I get reactive hypoglyceamia and it comes on later than you seem to have your reaction. It is all just guesswork here though, see a doctor.1
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bemyyfriend0918 wrote: »Hello all,
While I have been tested and my glucose levels came back normal (91 fasting), I can't help but feel like I am diabetic, or at least in the pre stages. Whenever I eat certain foods I feel very dizzy and tired. I often have blurred vision after consuming specific things. My doctor says I do not have any issues at this time, and I am not even in the pre-diabetic category yet, but I know something is wrong. I cannot even have a slice of bread without feeling as though my heart is racing and getting very tired/dizzy to the point of passing out.
Are there any diabetes food plans that may be helpful? Any other recommendations?
There are more than one type of tests they can do. There's a quick fasting test which they usually do, but there's also a 6 or 7 hour test to diagnose things like hypoglycemia. Insist they give you the longer test. My wife has hypoglycemia. If she eats a lot of carbs or sugar it used to get her drunk. After having it for years it now just makes her sleepy but when she was younger she didn't need alcohol. Took the longer test to diagnose it. They give you glucose/sugar water to drink over a period of hours and test your reaction.
Just FYI.
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