Can someone recommend a multivitamin that doesn't low blood sugar?

Multivitamins and excercise trigger my hypoglycemia leading me to overindulge in sugars and carbs. I have upped my protein. Incidence has reduced but it still happens.

Best Answer

  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,356 Member
    edited January 19 Answer ✓
    Yes talk to your doctor especially if your on medication. Not sure in your diabetic, pre diabetic or have insulin resistance but generally this is the demographic where it happens the most.

    This is my basic understanding of the situation and I'm not trained in nutrition or have credentials, so like I said this is my basic understanding, which was something I had to deal with as well.

    To mitigate (stop) hypoglycemia the need to raise blood sugar to a normal range relies on the immediate consumptions of quick absorbing carbohydrates, which has been the advice from most sources including the ADA. They'll say to consume sugary liquids, gummy bears etc.

    When we exercise the body uses more glucose for energy and when combined with the heightened insulin sensitivity from exercise which also increases the demand for glucose this can lead to hypoglycemia, especially if you haven't eaten anything (carbs) before hand.

    Basically what is considered a balanced diet with 45-65% from carbs, especially if they're fast absorbing from the amount of processed foods people consume that will elicit a very large insulin response in order to reduce that blood sugar and consequently will create a quick removal of glucose from the blood reducing it far below base line which is hypoglycemia territory, and the requirement for more carbs and quickly absorbed ones, like sugar. Do you see any theme developing here? This is basically the description of that roller coaster ride that ensues.

    In order to help reduce the effects of hypoglycemia, authorities will advice to consume more whole foods from lean proteins, whole grain, vegetables, nuts, seeds and fruit. If the protein and fat is consumed first then the carb load is consumed after, it will be absorbed slower in the intestines which when incorporating a more whole food diet with an increase in protein will reduce the insulin response, basically insulin is released slower which is likely the scenario that helps (prevents) the big drop in blood glucose and fewer episodes of hypoglycemia. Fewer is the operative word, because it will still happen, people aren't perfect and consuming mostly a whole food diet is a big ask simply because people don't want to give up the foods they love, which again are all those yummy processed ones.

    On a personal note and where other factors like my problem with sugar consumption lives, I decided after some research to reduce my carbs, at first it was around 100g's a day and now it's generally in the 20-50 range that is pretty much a ketogenic diet. This resolved 95% all my hypoglycemic episodes, which was indicated in the research but actually feeling it and living it was an eye opener and reduced my A1C and out of the pre-diabetic range as well and the other unexpected benefit was when playing hockey or lifting weights was the pretty much absent lactic acid burn in the muscles which was nice, really nice.

    Because the ketogenic diet is pretty much void of starchy carb and sugar my blood sugar never rose much above my base line to begin with and this was confirmed wearing a continuous glucose monitor, and my base line reduced from 106 to now in the mid to low 70's and never moves over 90 unless I'm consuming something sweet like a chocolate croissant, lol. Anyway, because my blood sugar really doesn't move much the insulin response is also very low to absent and therefore no reduction in blood sugar below my based line happens so there are no hypoglycemic episodes.

    Unfortunately the support for a ketogenic diet isn't supported very much even though a low carb diet is on the ADA website, it's usually a last resort or not very well described which has to do with the dogma and ideology that animal protein causes us to die really fast and the WHO believes it's a carcinogen, so it's the carb diet that your going to get and continue to get. While the ADA say diabetes is a progressive disease and support medication as a first line for defense and in their website says no diet will stop this progression but of course if you can do any kind of research you'll find the ketogenic diet actually reverses diabetes and most people come completely off their medication. It's why it's important that you just don't believe me or any authority and do your own research.

    I suspect when you say protein, you've increased in in the hopes of helping your situation, which it will but it's more complicated and hopefully I've helped you understand why that might be. I'm not advocating a low carb diet, just saying how it effected me. I would say to increase whole foods and consuming your protein and fat before carbs. Anyway good luck

Answers

  • sollyn23l2
    sollyn23l2 Posts: 1,839 Member
    That's a good question for your doctor
  • SweatLikeDog
    SweatLikeDog Posts: 322 Member
    Weird. Why don't you try taking your vitamins with meals. Most vitamins are fat soluble, meaning they absorb better when taken with food. Also, take high quality vitamins.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,553 Member
    Do you need a multivitamin? Have you been tested for deficiencies? This is definitely a question for your doctor, you may be taking something, spending money, and experiencing issues with your blood sugars for something you don't even need.