Hypoglycemia Help

[jenna2]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 5:54pm

I know I shouldn't be seeking medical advice on here, but...

I saw my doctor today and he's 99% sure that I have hypoglycemia (I'm going for blood tests on Friday to confirm), but he didn't give me much information on what it is exactly (just that it will likely involve a massive lifestyle change). He said that we can go over all the details once I'm officially diagnosed, but I'd really like to know what I might be getting into.

Does anyone on the boards have hypoglycemia and might you be willing to share some diet tips/insights? Thanks guys!

Updated On: 5/7/08 at 05:54 PM

[Robos89]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 5:56pm

http://diabetes.webmd.com/tc/hypoglycemia-low-blood-sugar-topic-overview

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 5:58pm

I have it but it doesn't involve much of a life change for me. All I do is make sure I ALWAYS have something to eat in my bag.

[jenna2]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 6:00pm

Wow, thanks Robos! I tried googling for information, but kept getting freaked out by the word "diabetes" followed by medical jargon (or pages and pages of information). That website was pretty straightforward and actually made sense.

[Robos89]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 6:02pm

WebMD.com!

Told my friend she was pregnant...she's also a virgin. Hahaha

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 6:04pm

Yeah, thanks Robos. I hadn't read that before. Now I know I have the moderate level.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 6:16pm

My hypoglycemia is postprandial so I don't know if it will be the same for you, but I haven't felt my lifestyle change too much. I just have to be more aware of what I eat and when I eat it. I have to eat way more often now, and I have to be very conscious of getting plenty of protein and not so much of quick-absorbing carbohydrates. If I am going to eat something like bread or potatoes, candy, etc. it better be with a protein source or the hypoglycemia is going to act up on me.

It has taken me about a year to really figure out what I can and cannot eat, and even still I occasionally forget and mess up (example: today I was PMSing which means crazy chocolate cravings. I ate some chocolate on an empty stomach and I started feeling the hypoglycemic symptoms).

[jenna2]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 6:16pm

I'm pretty sure that's where I'm at too, Jane. And it's good to hear that it might not be as life-altering is my doctor hinted at. I think, above all, I'm going to have remember the little things... like breakfast.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 6:20pm

I also carry food with me at all times. I always have one of the little Mott's Apple Sauce cups in my purse. People will laugh at me because I bust out my apple sauce in the most random places, but sometimes I can just tell that if I don't eat something soon I am pretty much going to fall asleep.

[Jane2]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 6:21pm

Jenna, mine is hardly life changing at all. With me it's pretty simple-if more than a couple hours goes by without me eating, well, I get disoriented, extremely irritable, dizzy, and in general, I just can't go on. All I have to do is eat something-almost anything will do.

But that's just my story-I don't mean to give you advice except for some hope that it doesn't require too much of a life change on your part.

[jenna2]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 6:28pm

I guess it'll totally depend on what type I have and how severe it's ruled by my doctor when I go back next week -- but thanks for letting me know what it's like for you, Jane and Colleen.

Like I said, I just kept seeing "DIABETES!" everywhere I looked and got really scared; I've seen the lives of friends and family members completely changed by diabetes and couldn't really think past that.

(But it's a good thing I love apple sauce! )