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What does a "sugar high" (hyperglycemia) feel like?
EccentricDad
Posts: 875 Member
Can someone explain what a "sugar high" or hyperglycemia feels like to me. After a banana and orange juice breakfast I had a glass of orange juice, sugary apple sausage from al fresco, a nectarine, and baby carrots lunch and now I am feeling classical ADHD symptoms (something I was diagnosed with) but is this really clinical ADHD if I only experience inattentiveness and hyperactivity when I overdose on sugar? Or is this the feeling of a typical person's blood sugar getting too high too fast before it crashes down and gives me a lull where I reach for more sugar? I normally associate this feeling with my gluten sensitivity but now I'm thinking it's something else....
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Replies
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Yup it's probably a sugar high. I get those symptoms and some others. Post a little later and let us know if you're feeling drained, sluggish, or heavy in a couple/few hours... that would be a sign that the sugar high is wearing off and your blood sugar is dipping low.0
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I can definitely feel like whatever I just went through is coming down.... Crazy because I eat a TON of fruit and it doesn't give me the response that juice does.... Can't drink milk cuz I'm intolerant, same goes for soy; almond would be an option but they put vitamin D2 in it and not D3. So in an effort to still get calcium and vitamin D I added this juice..... Worst. Idea. EVER!
I'll let you know if I crash
BTW, I looked at your profile and you have weight goes that go up, are you trying to gain or lose? Just curious.0 -
I can definitely feel like whatever I just went through is coming down.... Crazy because I eat a TON of fruit and it doesn't give me the response that juice does....
The lack of fibre in the juice means the sugar hits your bloodstream much faster.0 -
Google it.0
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You really should eat more than 1200 cals a day0
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I can definitely feel like whatever I just went through is coming down.... Crazy because I eat a TON of fruit and it doesn't give me the response that juice does.... Can't drink milk cuz I'm intolerant, same goes for soy; almond would be an option but they put vitamin D2 in it and not D3. So in an effort to still get calcium and vitamin D I added this juice..... Worst. Idea. EVER!
I'll let you know if I crash
BTW, I looked at your profile and you have weight goes that go up, are you trying to gain or lose? Just curious.
Yup, the fiber in the fruit helps slow the absorption of the sugars. Fruit juice spikes your blood sugar about as fast as high fructose corn syrup. I drink coconut milk as a base for smoothies, etc. - I think it's So Delicious that does an unsweetened version. Not sure if it's fortified or not.
To answer your question - I'm trying to gain weight.0 -
Can someone explain what a "sugar high" or hyperglycemia feels like to me. After a banana and orange juice breakfast I had a glass of orange juice, sugary apple sausage from al fresco, a nectarine, and baby carrots lunch and now I am feeling classical ADHD symptoms (something I was diagnosed with) but is this really clinical ADHD if I only experience inattentiveness and hyperactivity when I overdose on sugar? Or is this the feeling of a typical person's blood sugar getting too high too fast before it crashes down and gives me a lull where I reach for more sugar? I normally associate this feeling with my gluten sensitivity but now I'm thinking it's something else....
My youngest son had to have a low sugar diet because when eating lots of sugar, he had quite a few ADHD symptoms that were not otherwise present. He was like a junkie looking for his next fix, and he suffered from 'gobby teenager syndrome' lol. After quite a few years with a restricted intake, it doesn't seem to affect him any more, he's not very interested in sugar now.0 -
If you had a glass of juice for breakfast, you're not getting a sugar high from it now. Sugar highs don't take most of a day to hit you. I'm going to say you don't have a sugar high. You're probably getting it from something else.0
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You really should eat more than 1200 cals a day
^^THIS and not 1201 either....Kthanks0 -
I don't know about hyperglycemia, but I know about hypoglycemia: sweaty, fast heart rate, sudden fatigue and desire to lie down, and a desperate need to eat your way out of the horrible feeling by bringing your blood sugar up. Of course, this can turn into a vicious cycle.0
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You really should eat more than 1200 cals a day
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm trying. I don't want to put my stomach in shock though. I'm going up to 1600 today and then up to 1800 on Wednesday. I ate 1800 recently and I was bloated most that night from the shock of eating more than I normally do.0 -
You really should eat more than 1200 cals a day
^^THIS and not 1201 either....Kthanks
Stay On Topic You Two!!!! (And they say I have adhd)0 -
If you had a glass of juice for breakfast, you're not getting a sugar high from it now. Sugar highs don't take most of a day to hit you. I'm going to say you don't have a sugar high. You're probably getting it from something else.
I'm drinking this juice like it's my milk (since I'm dairy and soy intolerant) so I had it with breakfast AND lunch. Clearly, I can't do that any more without a very fibrous item to go with it. I'll be going back to almond milk or I can do coconut milk as well (both unsweetened). And sugars CAN work that way if the source has a high glycemic load.0 -
I don't know about hyperglycemia, but I know about hypoglycemia: sweaty, fast heart rate, sudden fatigue and desire to lie down, and a desperate need to eat your way out of the horrible feeling by bringing your blood sugar up. Of course, this can turn into a vicious cycle.
Interesting. You see, I don't get any sugar lows (which proves to me I'm not diabetic); but I do get sugar highs sometimes (which is why I avoid candy and baked goods). I can see how the hypo to hyper could be a vicious cycle though.0 -
I can definitely feel like whatever I just went through is coming down.... Crazy because I eat a TON of fruit and it doesn't give me the response that juice does....
The lack of fibre in the juice means the sugar hits your bloodstream much faster.
Makes sense. Just a shame that I react this way to juice. I just bought two 1/2 gallons of this hoping to solve my milk problem with it... :indifferent:0 -
Can someone explain what a "sugar high" or hyperglycemia feels like to me. After a banana and orange juice breakfast I had a glass of orange juice, sugary apple sausage from al fresco, a nectarine, and baby carrots lunch and now I am feeling classical ADHD symptoms (something I was diagnosed with) but is this really clinical ADHD if I only experience inattentiveness and hyperactivity when I overdose on sugar? Or is this the feeling of a typical person's blood sugar getting too high too fast before it crashes down and gives me a lull where I reach for more sugar? I normally associate this feeling with my gluten sensitivity but now I'm thinking it's something else....
My youngest son had to have a low sugar diet because when eating lots of sugar, he had quite a few ADHD symptoms that were not otherwise present. He was like a junkie looking for his next fix, and he suffered from 'gobby teenager syndrome' lol. After quite a few years with a restricted intake, it doesn't seem to affect him any more, he's not very interested in sugar now.
Would you believe my ENTIRE family is this way (including my wife which isn't even blood related)? I can't believe how much diet has to do with behavior, it's crazy!0 -
I doubt it is hyperglycemia as that is typically only felt by diabetics. But while your body may eliminate the sugar from your blood that doesn't mean it won't cause you feelings related to it's digestion.
I'm a diabetic and can try to describe it. Thirst that can't be quenched, muscle pain/cramps - especially in the legs and calfs, loss of appetite, increased heartbeat, lower energy. It's hard to describe. But really you shouldn't be feeling it. Non-diabetics usually never have elevated blood sugar - if you do you are no longer a non-diabetic.0 -
I'm borderline hypoglycemic so not sure of the difference between the symptoms. I don't get a sugar high but I certainly get a sugar crash. With either hyper or hypo it's recommended you eat something every 3-4 hrs. LOL! preferably not sugary! :bigsmile:0
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I doubt it is hyperglycemia as that is typically only felt by diabetics. But while your body may eliminate the sugar from your blood that doesn't mean it won't cause you feelings related to it's digestion.
I'm a diabetic and can try to describe it. Thirst that can't be quenched, muscle pain/cramps - especially in the legs and calfs, loss of appetite, increased heartbeat, lower energy. It's hard to describe. But really you shouldn't be feeling it. Non-diabetics usually never have elevated blood sugar - if you do you are no longer a non-diabetic.
I always thought that people who eat high glycemic index foods to a point that puts a heavy glycemic load on the blood sugar would have a problem with blood sugar (temporarily) whether they are diabetic or not. And the only reason I come down from my hyperglycemic response is because my insulin is working but my blood sugar went up way too fast to produce enough insulin to keep the sugar from affecting me cognitively. I could be wrong and I might be a closet type 2 diabetic for all I know; I just know that I have an apple shape while in the healthy bmi range and it's being stubborn to fall off.0 -
I'm borderline hypoglycemic so not sure of the difference between the symptoms. I don't get a sugar high but I certainly get a sugar crash. With either hyper or hypo it's recommended you eat something every 3-4 hrs. LOL! preferably not sugary! :bigsmile:
Something not sugary! That's blasphemy! :noway:
Seriously though, I do need to cut sugar out. I just don't understand how the dietary fat or protein would function as energy if I axed most of my fruit intake and limited myself to non-gluten grains (quinoa and corn).0 -
Hi, just in here to offer my 2 cents.
I have ADHD and dyslexia. My parents noticed that my symptoms were alot worse if I had eaten a sugary snack or meal.... I made alot more mistakes in reading and writing and had much more trouble focusing on my schoolwork or sitting down. They put me on a low processed sugar diet for most of my childhood, no cake, ice cream, ketchup, jelly, etc. I was, however, allowed to eat as much fruit as I wanted, with the theory being that the fiber in the fruit slowed down the sugar absorbption and didn't make me nearly as symptomatic.
As an adult, I can totally tell the difference in my performance at work if I eat too much proccessed sugar (including drinking juice). I make alot more mistakes, and incredibly fidgety, not patient at all, etc. I have to monitor my own processed sugar intake to time it to when it won't make a huge difference to my performance at work (eat dessert on Friday or Saturday night). I also have alot of trouble sleeping if I eat too much sugar during the day.
I have had a ton of doctors tell me it's all in my mind, and that is ok. I'll continue to monitor it myself and help myself do better.0 -
I'm borderline hypoglycemic so not sure of the difference between the symptoms. I don't get a sugar high but I certainly get a sugar crash. With either hyper or hypo it's recommended you eat something every 3-4 hrs. LOL! preferably not sugary! :bigsmile:
Something not sugary! That's blasphemy! :noway:
Seriously though, I do need to cut sugar out. I just don't understand how the dietary fat or protein would function as energy if I axed most of my fruit intake and limited myself to non-gluten grains (quinoa and corn).
Anything with calories is used by the body for energy (a calorie is by definition a unit of energy). You should be able to get plenty of carbs from non-gluten grains and vegetables. You don't need to drink juice, milk or almond milk - drink water.0 -
I don't know about hyperglycemia, but I know about hypoglycemia: sweaty, fast heart rate, sudden fatigue and desire to lie down, and a desperate need to eat your way out of the horrible feeling by bringing your blood sugar up. Of course, this can turn into a vicious cycle.
Interesting. You see, I don't get any sugar lows (which proves to me I'm not diabetic); but I do get sugar highs sometimes (which is why I avoid candy and baked goods). I can see how the hypo to hyper could be a vicious cycle though.
a) A diabetic would be SUGAR HIGH not low
b) How do you know your sugar is high? Have you tested it on a meter or are you pulling this out of your *kitten*?0 -
I always thought that people who eat high glycemic index foods to a point that puts a heavy glycemic load on the blood sugar would have a problem with blood sugar (temporarily) whether they are diabetic or not. And the only reason I come down from my hyperglycemic response is because my insulin is working but my blood sugar went up way too fast to produce enough insulin to keep the sugar from affecting me cognitively. I could be wrong and I might be a closet type 2 diabetic for all I know; I just know that I have an apple shape while in the healthy bmi range and it's being stubborn to fall off.
I doubt high blood sugar has a major cognitive affect. If you think about it - the sugar is in your blood not your brain so why would it have a large affect on your brain? If we assume the sugar went directly from your blood to your brain (all your cells in fact) this would seem like a more plausible explanation for the ADHD symptoms. IE The sugar spike in your brain is affecting you not the sugar spike in your blood (which is probably not occurring anyway).0 -
I always thought that people who eat high glycemic index foods to a point that puts a heavy glycemic load on the blood sugar would have a problem with blood sugar (temporarily) whether they are diabetic or not. And the only reason I come down from my hyperglycemic response is because my insulin is working but my blood sugar went up way too fast to produce enough insulin to keep the sugar from affecting me cognitively. I could be wrong and I might be a closet type 2 diabetic for all I know; I just know that I have an apple shape while in the healthy bmi range and it's being stubborn to fall off.
I doubt high blood sugar has a major cognitive affect. If you think about it - the sugar is in your blood not your brain so why would it have a large affect on your brain? If we assume the sugar went directly from your blood to your brain (all your cells in fact) this would seem like a more plausible explanation for the ADHD symptoms. IE The sugar spike in your brain is affecting you not the sugar spike in your blood (which is probably not occurring anyway).
I've read that certain chemicals can break the blood brain barrier. I just assumed adhd people had an impairment that caused the sugar to do this. I am probably wrong but I have all sorts of cognitive issues when I overdose on sugar.0 -
I don't know about hyperglycemia, but I know about hypoglycemia: sweaty, fast heart rate, sudden fatigue and desire to lie down, and a desperate need to eat your way out of the horrible feeling by bringing your blood sugar up. Of course, this can turn into a vicious cycle.
Interesting. You see, I don't get any sugar lows (which proves to me I'm not diabetic); but I do get sugar highs sometimes (which is why I avoid candy and baked goods). I can see how the hypo to hyper could be a vicious cycle though.
a) A diabetic would be SUGAR HIGH not low
b) How do you know your sugar is high? Have you tested it on a meter or are you pulling this out of your *kitten*?
Sorry, not feeding the troll except by saying "how do you know you're drunk and not just an idiot? Do you breathalyzer to make sure you're drunk before you act like an *kitten*?"0 -
I have all sorts of cognitive issues0
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These are the symptoms of high blood sugar:
Frequent hunger, especially pronounced hunger
Frequent thirst, especially excessive thirst
Frequent urination
Blurred vision
Fatigue (sleepiness)
Weight loss
Poor wound healing (cuts, scrapes, etc.)
Dry mouth
Dry or itchy skin
Tingling in feet or heels
Erectile dysfunction
Recurrent infections
Cardiac arrhythmia
Stupor
Coma
Seizures
It doesn't sound like what you're describing. Unless you're a diabetic, it's unlikely that you're suffering any symptoms of high blood sugar.0 -
Can someone explain what a "sugar high" or hyperglycemia feels like to me. After a banana and orange juice breakfast I had a glass of orange juice, sugary apple sausage from al fresco, a nectarine, and baby carrots lunch and now I am feeling classical ADHD symptoms (something I was diagnosed with) but is this really clinical ADHD if I only experience inattentiveness and hyperactivity when I overdose on sugar? Or is this the feeling of a typical person's blood sugar getting too high too fast before it crashes down and gives me a lull where I reach for more sugar? I normally associate this feeling with my gluten sensitivity but now I'm thinking it's something else....
Might I ask are there any other symptoms? is your vision affected at all? My hypo symptoms include an aura of sorts, when this starts I take a dextrose tablet. I have to sit down until it passes, usually 20 mins & I am incoherent during this time. This is when my sugar crashes, I do not experience a sugar high at any time before that. A hypoglycemic has low sugar, when we eat it our sugar goes up but when it starts to wear off the level dips lower than your normal low level, thus causing the symptoms. I have to be very careful if I eat a banana because the natural sugar content affects me.
You had a lot of sugar for the first two meals, how long after did the symptoms actually show up?0 -
I don't know about hyperglycemia, but I know about hypoglycemia: sweaty, fast heart rate, sudden fatigue and desire to lie down, and a desperate need to eat your way out of the horrible feeling by bringing your blood sugar up. Of course, this can turn into a vicious cycle.
Interesting. You see, I don't get any sugar lows (which proves to me I'm not diabetic); but I do get sugar highs sometimes (which is why I avoid candy and baked goods). I can see how the hypo to hyper could be a vicious cycle though.
quote]
Just because you don't get low sugar symptoms does not mean that you are not diabetic. Most likely your right, you're not, but I wouldn't rule it out until you've had it checked. I am diabetic and my sugar would stay high all the time without taking my insulin. Might just be like you said earlier, that you are upping your calories.0
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