Hypoglycemia and my diet...

bpayne78

I've been going through some things medically (won't go into the long details) and had to have some blood work done. My Non-Fasting blood sugar was 92, and while that is technically in the "normal" limits, it's low for having just eaten within 2-3 hours of the blood being drawn (which ideally should have been about 120-130 - I hit my sister up for that answer as she's been diabetic for 25 of her 29 years of life!!)

I need to start protecting my pancreas NOW, rather than LATER, to prevent type 2 diabetes. I'm trying to adjust what I eat to try to keep my blood sugar/insulin levels at an even, normal keel. BUT, I'm a little overwhelmed. I know lean protein with veggies and some fruit would be best, but as for specifics when it comes to carbs, I'm lost. I am an admitted Carboholic and a sweet tooth and neither of those help in any way shape or form, and I have an internal fight with them on a DAILY basis.

What suggestions do any of you have for the types of carbs should I be looking for. Any specific brands that anyone has come across that are not only healthy but doesn't taste horrible either? Books? Websites? Anything.

On a side note.....when I left my doctor a message asking about getting a script for the whole glucometer and strips package to check my blood sugar I kinda got the blow off by his nurse that called me back. I'm going to be remedying that with the doctor soon but I want to be proactive in the meantime.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have.

fightingthebulge

I get times when I feel my sugar is low although my doc said it was fine at 80 while fasting. But when I workout I get dizzy so I make sure I keep glucouse tabs handy just in case. or some thing that will raise my sugar. ALWAYS keep something handy on you cause you never know when you will need it.

bpayne78

Your fasting levels at 80 are right on the money (the range is 75-100). Whenever I do a fasting glucose level it's almost always 90/91, still normal. But the fact that I ate so close to the test and was still with in "normal" means that my pancreas is working to hard and putting out too much insulin in reaction to what I've eaten. So I need to change how I eat so that it won't do that but I'm overwhelmed on the carbs (which tends to be the culprit in affecting blood sugar)

Edestiny7

Whole grain carbs are the way to go. They take longer for your body to break down and are great for diabetes compared to simple carbs like sugar. You may want to ask your doctor to schedule you for a nutrition consultation. That is what I did through my urologist for my seven kidney stones, which I have to limit protein and sodium for.

gurgi22

Check out the American Diabetes Association website, there should be some good recommendations there. You may also want to talk to a nutritionist or dietician who works with diabetics and hypoglycemics. Also, be sure too keep fast acting simple sugars around incase your blood sugar goes low and you may also want to have something like peanut butter crackers to keep it up once it is normalized.

Ge0rgiana

Whole grains, sweet potatoes, and fruit. I wouldn't go crazy with them, either. I'm hypoglycemic as well, and I find my sugar stays steadier when I control my carb intake. I think you have to figure out what works best for you. I don't know if you really need to go crazy with a glucose meter or think that you're turning diabetic. I think that's a bit extreme. From what I've seen and heard over the years of researching for my own purposes, the best remedy for hypoglycemia is eating whole foods, eating at least every 4 hours, and leaning heavily on protein. The best my blood sugar has ever behaved was doing strict low carb. I don't do it any more for practical reasons (life tends to be easier when you're eating a little carb here and there). These days I do South Beach, which has me eating lots of beans (which are a FANTASTIC food choice), milk, and yogurt. Again, you have to figure out what works for YOU. More than anything else, I would emphasize leaving anything refined or processed alone, especially simple white sugar.

If you'd like to get your carb cravings under control in addition to your blood sugar, I do recommend South Beach. That's what it's designed for. A big part of the reason you're having the carb attachment is your blood sugar isn't right. SBD does fix that. It teaches you to gradually add in good carbs and see how your body responds to them. It's an extremely healthy way to eat, which is what I love about it. Lots of lean protein, healthy fats, veggies, etc. :happy:

YogaRunner

Check out the American Diabetes Association website, there should be some good recommendations there. You may also want to talk to a nutritionist or dietician who works with diabetics and hypoglycemics. Also, be sure too keep fast acting simple sugars around incase your blood sugar goes low and you may also want to have something like peanut butter crackers to keep it up once it is normalized.

This is an excellent answer. The American Diabetes Association is a great resource. In addition, the American Diabetes Association just endorsed Shakeology, the nutrition shake created and produced by Beachbody. It has been shown to assist with managing blood sugar due to the numerous healthy ingredients. More info about this will be coming out soon from Beachbody. Please feel free to contact me for any info on it. Good for you for taking proactive, preventative measures.
Risa

aproc

I know how your feeling. I'm worried as well about my diet and getting on track. I haven't been to the doctor but I get dizzy and weak frequently. The owner of my gym gave me a blood sugar test kit to do in the morning and when I woke up and did it, it read 65. I can't go very long without eating something or it happens. Even at night I get up and barely make it to the door. The American diabetes website has guidelines I believe on what your diet should look like.

bpayne78

The owner of my gym gave me a blood sugar test kit to do in the morning and when I woke up and did it, it read 65.

65?! That's about 10 less than the minimum number in the normal range (75-100). If I were you I would definitely talk to my doctor and have them check that out.

bpayne78

gtrigg,

It's not that I'm worried I'm turning diabetic BUT when my mom was reading up back in the day when my sister was diagnosed diabetic, hypoglycemics were at a greater risk of developing Type 2 later in life. This is due to the pancreas overworking itself and giving out. I would like to have a meter to better see what the foods are doing to my sugars, that way I can scale back or eliminate the ones that affect it the most/worst. Like I said, my sister has been insulin dependent diabetic for 25 years, my dad is Type 2, my mom's sister is Type 2, and I had a cousin that was Type 2. I have a family history and I just want to "head it off at the gate" now in my early 30s before it gets bad.