Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: charliegirl on June 02, 2013, 04:17:25 PM
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Hi again, this is for Hurdity, many thanks for your replies could you just tell me where low blood sugar comes into all this, at times if I dont eat i can literally feel myself fading away worried i might go into a coma or something!! :'(
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Low blood sugar can cause adrenaline surges, nausea, light headedness.
It happened for me in the 10 days prior to my period. Suddenly. Caused high anxiety. NAPS advised me to eat every 3 hours, throughout the month.
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Hi charliegirl
Sorry - yes I did see your question in the other thread and then it changed tack along the lines of what the OP was asking so I didn't want to change it back! Was going to pm you.
I can't remember how the subject came up and why we were discussing it but like CLKD, when I was pre-menstrual and peri-menopausal especially, I got really really bad attacks of low blood sugar. I knew what they were because I had had them in the past now and again throughout my life.
It definitely used to happen sometime in the second half of the month and for me I think the few days before a period - and linked to the rapid drop in progesterone - of course when my periods went erratic I would never know when this would happen.
It used to be worst in the mornings - and I would go from mild hunger to apparent hypoglycaemia within a few minutes. I am sure you know the symptoms -sweating, shaking, exceptional irritability and desperation to eat. I used to carry glucose tablets, and then found I was fine as long as I had a large bowl of muesli or porridge for breakfast - and if I was going to be active, then more than that eg an egg or something. It still happens now if I don't have enough breakfast (eg ordinary cereal) and then do something active -so usually I am found with a banana in my bag!
I found it so unnerving that I went to doc and they gave me a kit thing to test blood sugar - in case there was something wrong but it looked OK to me - but it was coloured strips so not very accurate.
So as CLKD says - eat regularly and make sure all meals/snacks have something with low glycaemic index ie release carbs slowly. There is plenty of info on the web about this - but it's common sense once you understand the principles.
Hurdity x
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Also one needs to apply the principals ::) - when I felt well I forgot to eat regularly then woudl be surprised when my blood sugar levels dropped, again and again and ........... DH would quizz me as to when did I last eat and reminded me that it was because my body was hungry but as an anorexic-type, I never recognised when my body required susteancne .......... Dextrose tablets were my best friend for years, I also carried packets of dried fruits and nuts as quick energy boosts. Easy to carry and so long as I remembered to open them before the performance began, convenient when in a trapped situation ;)
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I know what true hypoglycemia looks like.
My OH has Type 1 diabetes and believe me the ordinary persons glucose levels do not drop low enough to be considered hypoglycemic.
Slightly low sugar levels will make you feel the way some of of you have described.
We need to put fuel in when we want to be active. Some people can go for many hours with nothing. Others need to keep topped up to not have the slight dip that we can all experience.
Please ladies don't think it's a hypo because it's most definitely not.
The last true hypo my husband had his glucose levels had dropped to 1.3. He was incoherent,could not stand or barely communicate. He was saturated in sweat. I had to dial 999 for help. I now have emergency glucose that I can inject him with. I had to go for lessons on how to deal with this.
Sorry for the rant but I do think we need to understand the major differences here.
Honeyb
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Understood honeybun - thanks for pointing out - that's why I said "apparent hypoglycaemia" because I knew it wasn't actually dangerously low, but is most certainly more than normal hunger or even ravenous hunger - that's what is different about it.
These symptoms - the sweating, shaking and irritability can be very alarming to anyone who experiences them for the first time and doesn't know what they are - and could be confused with something serious or a panic attack, which is why I mentioned it, rather than suggesting someone might have something seriously wrong.
I think the apparent hypoglycaemia symptoms that occur pre-menstrually and in peri-meno are caused by a sudden lowering of blood sugar and the body's regulation mechanisms are delayed for some reason connected with our hormones - but I haven't read up in detail on this - and I think it's quite complicated!
In my case I measured them as I mentioned and they always were on the lowest end of normal - but dramatic and unpleasant all the same, although of course not dangerous.
Form what I've read, some medications and conditions can also cause actual hypoglycaemia, as well as diabetes.
Hurdity x
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Symptoms like you describe really should be investigated fully.
To me,after watching my OH learn to manage diabetes for the past six years is a truly terrible thing. Hypos are something that sneaks up on you. One minute fine and the next on the brink of being life threatening. His is quite well managed but I hate to think what's it's like for someone who is unstable.
If anyone suspects that they have this kind of thing coupled with thirst then they should be checked out.
Honeyb
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Thank you so much for your replies, willnoe carry glucose tablets and bananas with me!! it is unpleasant and could be mistaken for anxiety but at least i know what it is now a hormonal imbalance!!!
Charliegirl.
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hormones cause the axniety surges ........
There are assistance dogs which can anticipate hypoglycaemia by electrical impulses apparently. Really useful for those living alone.
Must remember to put bananas, fruit and nuts, energy bars and drinks to one side - ready for our cycle rides now that the weather is finer.
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He does not need a dog he has me. ;D
They are working on a new form of insulin that will be a slow release once a day injection.
That would be wonderful.
Honeyb
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That would certainly help patients! Less to remember.
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Just to clarify for anyone wondering about diabetes and maybe confused.
The dangerous levels of hypoglyacemia (excessively low blood sugar) like honeybun is describing - usually only occurs in diabetics who are being treated with insulin, although there are other less common cauases of hypoglycaemia.
Undiagnosed diabetics will not experience these symptoms but will have the opposite - which is hyperglycaemia - too high blood sugar level, caused by insufficient insulin. This is what would causes the symptoms of thirst that honeybun mentioned, and excessive urination, as well as tiredness and sluggishness. The thirst occurs because the body is trying to excrete (through urine) the excess sugar in the blood in order to reduce it. This can be dangerous if left untreated as very high blood sugar levels can lead to coma - but generally the other symptoms would become apparent earlier. A friends's daughter was diagnosed and through to be drunk..... (the effect of the high blood sugar caused slurring of speech).
Having said that - those who do suffer the low blood sugar we have been discussing, as honeybun says, might want to go to a doc if it occurs very often to be alarming.
Hope you sort yourself out with the bananas charliegirl!
CLKD - re cycle rides - it will happen to me if I suddenly take a lot of exercise while eating the food I normally have when sedentary!
Hurdity x
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:thankyou:
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That is how my hubby was diagnosed. He became increasingly unwell. Tired loosing weight, excessive thirst, could not eat, drinking for his country, being sick.
When I eventually called our doctor they tested his glucose levels and could not even get a reading as he was off the scale. He wad lucky as this can cause organ damage but in his case there was none.
Now it's a balancing act to maintain good levels to keep him healthy.
It's not a case of remembering to inject its the fact he has to do it four times a day. No matter where we are our lives are dictated by diet, eating and injections. If something was available that he could inject once a day then life could be more normal. It's not nice for him having to go to the men's toilet to inject himself. He says it makes him feel dirty but to do it at a restaurant table makes nosy folk even more nosy.
It's hard being a diabetic and not that easy being a diabetics wife.
Honeyb
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Is DH able to use the disabled room when possible, at least there is usually more space? Another aspect of health care which should be brought into the open, somewhere for diabetics to rest, test and inject if necessary. I wonder if he went to a GP Surgery when you are out and about is a possibility? Is it a quick in the thigh syringe?
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He has had comments when using disabled loos so tends not to.
Don't think the GPs surgery would be practical. Would have to find one in every town and then explain.
The injection sites vary.....thigh, tum, top of legs. If you use the same places all the time it gets sore. Same as doing the blood test....makes his fingers sore.
Miserable thing to have really. It's the teens that have it that I feel very sorry for.
Honeyb
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There's a niche in the market here ;) .......... it might be worth while asking the Diabetic Society how others manage? Maybe 'drop in' NHS Centres would have a room? Might be worth mentioning it to the GP Patient Forum? ........ mind's working over-time now ::)
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May work for others but not for him. He is a very private person. In fact very few of his friends actually know he is diabetic.
He is a no fuss about anything type.
Typical man.
Honeyb
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DH is the same - keeps his personal issues to himself.
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Unlike us who like to share. ;D
Actually this is about the only place I share. Very inclined to bottle things up which I am not sure is a great idea.
Mind you if I was to start I am not sure when I would stop. My bog standard answer is. Fine thanks.
Honeyb
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honeybun why do we do this i have spoken to 2 different people today and when asked you are you i said the same fine thanks when truth be told my legs and my arm are killing ::)
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I think if I go on too much people will get fed up with me.
I have also found if I mention meno to some I am met with a stony silence.
It's as if I am totally alone in this and as for mentioning anxiety .....well that's a mental illness and not to be spoken of at all.
I do speak a little to my sister and also my hubby. My lovely daughter knows but although she is the one I could open up to I don't as she is i only 18 and a bit of a worrier. Wonder where she got that from.
Honeyb
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yes me too i keep saying to my other half i know your fed up of hearing me moan but he just says he wishes there was a simple answer it was him that made go to the docs with this groin and arm pain and now i have had x rays doc thinks it arthritis and all i can think is thats its then cause there is only pain killers for that and anything stronger than paracetamol upsets me i have citalopram in the cupboard and hrt patches i tried for just a little while and had side effects so gave up i feel so damn low but like you say to the outside world everythings fine :)
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Sorry I butted in too .......... :-[
The title can be altered ......... oh see it has been ::)
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I suffer with bouts of low blood sugar when I will get suddenly weak, irritable etc etc, but I have suffered with this since being a teenager.
I had tests done which showed up nothing. I also had test after test during pregnancy as I constantly had sugar present in my urine , all of which were inconclusive, so my Dr told me I most probably had an over active pancreas which was flushing all the sugar out too fast.
I have to avoid all kinds of sugary treats as much as I can, never miss meals and eat plenty of fruit/ foods containing natural sugar.
If I stick to this (which isn't easy) I must say I do feel much better.
So wondering if maybe this could be the reason the thread starter is suffering.x
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Eating every 3 hours even throughout the night - if one gets up for a bathroom visit, eat a biscuit before going back to sleep!
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I agree with this meno/peri needing to eat. I have always been able to see to everyone else first no matter how hungry I was but suddenly the peri hits & I have to eat on time. Its like being a baby. I get so anxious then I feel so sick so then have to eat feeling dreadful but then it makes you feel better. What I do is have normal meals planned but as back up I have M & S meals that can just be microwaved in 5 mins so if the meal I am making is delayed I don't go into a spiral of anxiety I have a way out. I also have added a fourth meal to the day about 9-10pm nothing much just something easy & what I fancy. I want nothing sweet just savoury, I have no idea what has happened to my chocolate love. I used to be a veggie but now I want meat very strange? B x
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Lots of women find they crave meat ;)
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Just been looking at the posts on this subject. I am prone to low blood sugar episodes, but try to follow advice given by a nutritionist. Eat little, but often, rather 6 small meals than 3 big ones. Always have some protein in a meal. Beware of sugary foods. Sugar may give quick relief and useful if you are desperate, but it's effect does not last long. Then you can dip down even lower. Better eat foods, which release energy slowly. I find that if I have porridge for breakfast, I can last for much longer. Mid morning I may have a piece of homemade HRT cake. Full of good things like seeds and almonds, molasses instead of refined sugar. Not noticed that it helps with menopausal symptoms though. Sometimes, I eat some nuts. I can't eat large amounts of food at one sitting anyway, as it makes me feel rough.
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CLKD chicken!!! or even a dreadful pork pie no sausages!!! I have 5 sausage dogs though I love them. B x