Help with low blood sugar

clmorris80
clmorris80 Posts: 10
edited September 19 in Food and Nutrition
Does anyone else have a history of diabetes in their family? I have a family history of diabetes on my biological mom's side which I found out recently. I'm not suprised because sometimes I feel shaky and crave sugar or carbs.

So I've come to the conclusion (although no doctor's confirmation) that I might have problems with low blood sugar. I know it can be harder for people to lose weight with low blood sugar so I wanted to know if anyone has the same problem or has tips on how to keep blood sugar stable while dieting and reduce cravings. So far, I think fruits help me.

Replies

  • clmorris80
    clmorris80 Posts: 10
    Does anyone else have a history of diabetes in their family? I have a family history of diabetes on my biological mom's side which I found out recently. I'm not suprised because sometimes I feel shaky and crave sugar or carbs.

    So I've come to the conclusion (although no doctor's confirmation) that I might have problems with low blood sugar. I know it can be harder for people to lose weight with low blood sugar so I wanted to know if anyone has the same problem or has tips on how to keep blood sugar stable while dieting and reduce cravings. So far, I think fruits help me.
  • guntherma
    guntherma Posts: 115 Member
    My family is rittled with borderline diabetes. My sister and I have been lucky enough to end up with hypoglycemia which is also fun. It is easier to keep under control by having several small snacks throughout the day - 100 calorie snack packs are helpful. My sister has actually passed out from it - I have been lucky enough to get to a pack of crackers before going down. Definately, fruits won't do you wrong no matter what your health issues, I would keep an orange and a pack of crackers somewhere in reach. Stay on top of it though - you don't want to find out while you are driving on the interstate at 70 mph that oops you didn't keep your sugar levels even.

    Take care
  • Jackie_W
    Jackie_W Posts: 1,676 Member
    Hi
    I have a history on my mom's side too - but mine is high blood sugar levels.
    Might be an idea to ask you doctor to take a fasting blood test - although, mine, although I always felt that I would be diagnosed, wasn't picked up until 2 years ago.
    If your sugar is dropping too low then you need to get it confirmed sooner than later.
  • MrsTomy
    MrsTomy Posts: 504 Member
    Small, frequent snacks help. Avoid white rice and white bread (they spike your blood sugar high, then it falls). Whole wheats, fruits, and vegetables in small servings every few hours should help. Its also a good idea to keep a honey packet or two in your bag (keeps for a long time, quick acting) just in case you need it. Some of the symptoms of hypoglycemia are: fatigue, insomnia, mental confusion, nervousness, mood swings, faintness, headaches, depression, phobias, heart palpitations, a craving for sweets, cold hands and feet, forgetfulness, dizziness, blurred vision, inner trembling, outbursts of temper, sudden hunger, and crying spells. I suggest that you see your MD just to be sure you don't have any other medical issues that can cause similar symptoms! Good luck!
  • Fab140
    Fab140 Posts: 1,976 Member
    I have the same issues. Especially if I was drinking the night before or I have just had a "meal replacement" shake.

    I have noticed that avoiding foods packed with bad carbs and sugars, I don't have the spike in blood sugar and the hot sweats, the shakes, the lighteheadedness and the nausea that I would. It takes a while for you to get it out of your system, but if you avoid alcohol, anything with processed sugars and carbs, you'r body will regulate and you won't crave those things anymore.

    One thing that gives you guidelines to "clean" eating and gives you a "clean out" phase, that lasts about two weeks, is the South Beach Diet. (I hear groans from here!!!) It isn't a NEVER-ANY-CARBS-AGAIN diet. The first two weeks are, but after you've re-trained your body to accept energy from natural foods, you'll start re-incorporating complex carbs like whole grains and fruits.

    It's been formulated to help those with blood sugarproblems and it is the only thing that keeps mine normal.

    :flowerforyou:
  • tresa1234
    tresa1234 Posts: 796 Member
    You should be careful of just eating snacks with carbs, especially simple carbs (white flour, potatoes, for example) & sugars (even fruit), because they can cause your blood sugar to spike, which causes extra insulin to be released, and then you end up back maybe even lower than you were.

    I have this problem too, and I do better when I add some kind of protein to every snack ... a few almonds or other nuts/nut butter, a cheese stick, boiled egg, etc. Protein with your snack keeps your blood sugar from rising to high too quickly and helps keep that surge of insulin from dropping your sugar even further. Making the carb part of your snack a whole grain or something else with a good amount of fiber (like fruit) helps slow down the rise in blood sugar, too. You want slow and steady to help keep your levels even.
  • Akasa
    Akasa Posts: 25
    As the posted above me mentioned make sure to have protien with your snacks. Snacks with some carbs is good fro the emergency get your blood sugar up, but you have to have the protien to keep it steady.
    So something like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole grain bread would be good. Also you can eat fruit when you start to get the feeling. I know you know what I mean by feeling if you deal with low blood sugar. The not yet the shakes, but if you ignore it you will get the shakes w/ in 30 min feeling. It gives you the sugar you need but in a more complex form than procesed carbs.
    Get in the habit of carrying around a piece of fruit. Its good for you to eat fruit a few times a day any way and its better for you than carrying around crackers(which are processed carbs).
    They now have little tubs of peanut butter. A good habit of mine i getting that peanut butter and carrying around an apple, the peanut butter, and a plastic knife. I put the peanut butter on the apple and eat it as a treat like that. :wink:
  • shorerider
    shorerider Posts: 3,817 Member
    Diabetes is not about low blood sugar but about high and/or the inability to regulate blood sugar.

    Also, you shouldn't make any changes to your diet based upon something that you "feel."--Have it checked by a doc and go from there.

    I'm diabetic and when I get "low"--I don't crave sugar, so don't assume that's a sign of low blood sugar. There are many things that can create those same feelings.
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