I've been having these health problems for the last few months and my doctor thinks that it may be hypoglycemia. We haven't gotten to the glucose/blood testing yet, but will soon. Right now I'm basically keeping a journal of when I eat and excersize, how I feel, symptoms, etc.
Right now I can't go very long without eating. If I wait more than, say, three hours to eat I get really lightheaded and my insides feel shaking. I'm also hungry a lot and I feel like I have to eat right away or I might faint.
Anyway, it is kind of scaring me because it just feels like my head isn't on straight. I've checked a bunch of health forums, but most of them aren't very active. I was wondering if anyone had any advice or experience with this?
I've been dealing with it for a few years now. I usually don't get the 'Hungry!' signal before I start to feel bad - very spacey, out of it, lethargic, like I'm thinking in a fog. I just make sure I eat meals on about the same schedule everyday and always make sure I have something to eat in my purse - a Clif bar, baggie of nuts and dried fruit, something.
Also, exercise helps quite a bit. Your body releases blood-sugar-stabilizing chemicals during exercise, and they stay in your system for about 48 hours.
My doctor actually wanted me to consider using a blood sugar monitor like a diabetic would, but I didn't really understand the point since I can feel it when my blood sugar starts to dive - I don't need a little digital number to tell me that!
ETA: I've also found that certain BC pills seem to make my symptoms worse. Have you started/switched to a new pill recently?
-- Edited by Elle at 16:07, 2006-08-16
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Maybe another thing could be if youre anemic (sp?). Its were you have low iron count in your blood I think. This was happeing to me in HS a lot. If I didnt eat I would get lightheaded and feel really dizzy. I'm sure once you get the blood test results youll know whats going on. Hope everything turns out ok.
I always have something with me, in my purse or in my car. Granola bars, little individual packs of peanut butter & crackers, an apple, etc.
I try to eat on a regular schedule, but sometimes that's not always possible with my work. So I make sure I have a little something around for when those times hit.
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I am mildly hypoglycemic. I think I eat too often sometimes because, like Elle, I usually don't get hungry beforehand and it's quite scary -- I shake visibly and get cold sweats. But as long as I have some type of food with me at all times it's OK.
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