Hypoglycemia?

VeganOne · 12-04-2002, 01:05 PM

I posted this before on the newbie issues board. Soemone suggested I try this one. To make a long story short and sweet I went to an endo thinking I might have PCOS. I have many symtpons: thinning hair, facial hair growth, "abdominal" weight gain (I have always been very pear shaped), migraines, weird periods. I went in for a 3 hour glucose tolerance test, free testosterone, estrogen, cholestrol, etc. He said everything was normal except for my blood sugar, and estrogen they were too low. (My fasting insulin was 9) And diagnosed me as reactive hypoglycemic. I'm so confused! He said that my body's on and off switch for insulin is all screwed up and sent me on my way. Does this mean I'm insulin resistant? He told not eat sugar and to try to eat every hour! Does this sound right? Should I get a secon opinion?

BeckTTC#1 · 12-04-2002, 01:47 PM

That's interesting. I wish I had some information for you, but I don't really. I think you should call your dr back and tell him you're confused.
How high is your testosterone? That's a big one for most of us and different labs have different "normal" ranges. I forget what your level should be under so you might want to check out this website (www.fertilityplus.org/faq/hormonelevels.html).
In my case, my testosterone was very high, and my lh:fsh level was 4:1 (should be 1:1), and my cholesterol levels were high. My fasting insulin was only 4 which is very good.
Despite my insulin level being good, I was given an rx for met since it seems to help those of us with PCOS regardless of being IR and it appears to help the high testosterone levels. Since being on it, I have noticed my hair loss has decreased, my acne has decreased, and the hair on my legs comes in much more slowly. My hirsutism hasn't reduced though.
If I were you, I would request a copy of your labwork and compare your results to normal ranges you can find online. Also, read some of the articles posted on this site, especially those by Dr. Glueck.
Oh yeah, do try and eat something every hour or two. Several small meals a day do seem to help keep our body from going into "shock" like 3 big meals do. Also, you might want to keep away from sugar and high carb foods since those cause your insulin to spike and may result in your sugar levels going low and causing you to be hypoglycemic.

Hope this helps. I'm not an expert though, so definately call your dr back and do some internet research!

Becky

DianaG · 12-09-2002, 06:25 PM

I would definitely get a second opinion!! I do not think that you are IR because IR would result in higher blood sugar readings.

I am a little confused by your post. A fasting insulin is different than a fasting glucose. Fasting insulin measures how much insulin your pancreas is producing and fasting glucose is how much sugar is in your blood. Hypoglycemia is when your blood .glucose is low, not your insulin.

According to this link http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/hormonelevels.html

A normal fasting insulin is <30. It also mentions a fasting insulin of 10-13 indicates some insulin resistance and levels above 13 show a greater insulin resistance. I guess that would mean that 14-30 is greater insulin resistance, but still considered normal.

Your 9 then is not really that low if it is right before the insulin resistance starts.

Did he tell you what your 3 hour gtt results were? Even if they are in the normal range I would want to know.
Also, as Becky said in her post, some labs have different measures of what is normal.

I am also leary of any doctor who tells someone Hyper or Hypo glycemic to avoid sugar! It is way more than that! You can eat some small amounts of sugar, and have to be careful with carbohydrates such as breads, pasta, dairy and potatoes. I rarely ate sugar before I was diagnosed diabetic, so if all I did was avoid sugar the way he explained it to you I would have still eaten tons of starches, milk etc...and would still have high readings.

However, his advice on eating a little every hour sounds good if you are also experiencing low blood glucose levels. Having enough fuel for your system in you all the time keeps your blood sugar levels even so you avoid high and low spikes and many small snack/meals over fewer spaced out large meals is much better in keeping those levels flat.

If at all possible. I suggest you get a second opinion about your test results or at least talk to a nutricionist about what you can do to keep from developing diabetes in the future.
Best Wishes and I hope the link helps you,
Diana

Kate721 · 12-19-2002, 03:47 AM

Vegan, Definately, get a second opinion. there's a lot about your evaluation that is confusing.
I myself was just diagnosed with a Pancreas that over produces Insulin and hence my blood sugar drops.
I have been put on anti diabetic medication.
1,500 mg of Metaformin.
This is my ist full week on the medications.
After an initial bout with naausea I am now feeling much better.
The brain fog that I thought was from my hysterectomy seems to clear with the new meidcation.
Take Care and give your self the benefit of a second opinion.
It's your body and your life.