Low blood pressure / Low blood sugar - Thoughts?

SnowWhite824

All morning I've felt off. Extra dizzy and light headed, blacking out more than normal when I get up. I also black out when I get up because of my low blood pressure, but I'm feeling extra "off" this morning. I've been cleaning and cooking all morning, and haven't eaten much yet, other than a glass of OJ.
The OJ didn't do it, so my "cure" for this is coffee with real sugar. I'm worried that I have low blood sugar aka diabetes or something like that. But the low blood pressure may be the culprit... Any one else ever deal with this? Any suggestions?

TIA

thekacers

I don't know much about low blood pressure, but I used to get low blood sugar regularly. Your sugar drops and you get shaky, irritable, sweaty, increased heart rate, etc. If you are fainting, that is a big deal. Although I have dealt with low blood sugar for a decade, I have never fainted from it. That sounds serious.

Also, OJ is just a quick way to increase your blood sugar, but it won't keep your blood levels even. You also need to eat protein with some carbs/sugar, in order to help keep your blood sugar stable. If you just ingest sugar, it will raise your blood sugar levels, but you run the risk of crashing again.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001423/

All morning I've felt off. Extra dizzy and light headed, blacking out more than normal when I get up. I also black out when I get up because of my low blood pressure, but I'm feeling extra "off" this morning. I've been cleaning and cooking all morning, and haven't eaten much yet, other than a glass of OJ.
The OJ didn't do it, so my "cure" for this is coffee with real sugar. I'm worried that I have low blood sugar aka diabetes or something like that. But the low blood pressure may be the culprit... Any one else ever deal with this? Any suggestions?

TIA

comogirl

Well I have not dealt with this but as a nurse have extensive experience with it. Neither condition is normal. Your first step is to consult your doctor. Having low blood sugar does not mean that you have diabetes. You could just have hypoglycemia which is a condition where people experience only low blood sugar levels. Or is could be that you are not eating enough. Do you take a multivitamin? If you are not getting proper nutrients(or certain necessities) you could have similar symptoms. Dehydration could also be the culprit. Low blood pressure can be made worse by dehydration. Your physician should be worried by these symptoms and want to investigate it further. In the future is is a good idea to invest in a blood pressure cuff and measure your blood pressure when you are feeling "off" as well as when you feel fine. I hope this helps. Hope you get to feeling better soon!

SyntonicGarden

If the OJ didn't help, then probably not a bad idea to get checked out by a doctor, especially if you're blacking out. A doctor can tell if it IS low sugar, a possible pregnancy, a hormonal disturbance, something with your vision (prescription is off) or something else that might need more attention.

I get the whole low BP thing. I tend to run low, to the point where sometimes they feel compelled to check it again, just to make sure... And sometimes, if I get up too fast, or if I'm not hydrated enough, I'll get a little off balance. I've never blacked out though. And the "more than normal" part of blacking out doesn't sound good. I'd definitely get it checked out at either an Urgent Care or with your family doctor, if you can.

Hope it's something simple to fix and that you feel better.

SunnyAndrsn

Un diagnosed diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar, fatigue, excess thirst, and frequent urination. HYPOglycemia, low blood sugar, is what you are describing. Diabetics get low blood sugar when they have too much insulin in their bodies in relation to their blood sugar.

Another cause could be because of an electrolyte imbalance (possibly low sodium-I'm SUGGESTING ONLY, not diagnosing). I'd suggest frequent, small meals throughout the weekend (every 3 hours) with a protein and complex carb. The simple sugars will make you feel better faster, but something that takes your body longer to break down will last longer and sustain blood sugar longer.

If you know a diabetic, see if they have an extra blood glucose meter for you to borrow when this happens to monitor the data.

As for low blood pressure, change your positions very slowly, stay well hydrated, and don't worry about sodium content. I typically have low blood pressure (freaked my nurses out after my surgery in May--despite telling them that my blood pressure in the 120's in the ER was very high for me) and won my self a couple of fluid boluses post-op. Made me pee a lot, but my BP only came up to the high 90's over 50's. It's always been low, and I do have to watch out for postural hypotension.

Make an appointment on Monday to see your primary!

olymp1a

I have had low blood pressure all of my life, many days blacking out. Of all my experience there are 4 things I can suggest. Well actually the most important thing is number 1, the rest 3 is advice you will hear from your doctor:
1. Go see some doctor. The soonest possible. This way you will find out if there is something wrong.
If nothing is wrong and this is just the way your body functions then
2. Always get a good sleep and rest well, do not wear yourself out.
3. Do not undereat, do not go around with an empty stomach for long hours and especially in the morning. Eat nutritious foods.
4. Check your sodium intake, might be too low. If it is too low up it a bit, it will help with the low blood pressure. I always have a little salt with me in case I feel like blacking out. However since I started doing the above I hadn't have an incident for a very very long time.


Regarding low sugar, you have to take some medical tests and check with your doctor. I suffered too and have started a low carb diet the last month or so. Haven't had a single incident since then, low carb diet means that the carb intake is low enough so that insulin levels are stable and thus you do not experience low blood sugar.

Again, the BEST thing to do is check with your doctor.

Best of luck.

SnowWhite824

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm eating a PB&J right now, and am feeling a bit better. I do have a PB cuff, and when I took it earlier, I was 105/60. The last time I had it taken by an actual nurse (before giving blood about 2 weeks ago) I was 90/70. I don't know what is making today worse than other days, I'm not really doing anything different other than the fact that I'm cleaning and cooking a lot - On the move more I guess.
My MIL was just here, and I asked her if she was still doing the finger prick, hoping I could borrow one but unfortunately, she is not. Guess that means I'll have to make an actual appointment soon. I agree, I don't think I'm diabetic, but the HYPOglycemia sounds about right. Again, I will of course get it checked out by my regular Dr.

Thanks again everyone!