Low Sugar 2Hours following Meals

Leopassion7 · 01-25-2008, 04:39 AM

So now I'm noticing that my sugar drops 2hrs after meals. I've been dealing with hypoglycemia for a few years now, but couldn't afford to do anything much about it. I admit, I've neglected my body and deprived it of 3 meals a day over the past years, but last year I started drinking water and since 2008 began, I've begun to eat 3x a day at least. But I've cut back on portion sizes because I eat throughout the day. The bad thing is, now I HAVE TO eat all day and night, because my sugar is dropping two hours following meals and I don't understand that.

When I ate one meal a day (which was usually McDonald's or something because I was a truck driver), it wouldn't drop as frequently...only maybe once a month. Now, it drops literally EVERY SINGLE DAY and I fear I've damaged my body beyond repair. It's so used to getting food around 1 or 3pm that now when eating at 10am and then again at 1pm, it's starving again by 3pm....

I keep hearing from people that I'm probably diabetic now? I've never been dx with IR or diabetes, but then again....the docs at the ER kept saying I just needed to lose weight and that I didn't have diabetes. I only peed in a cup for this dx.

My mom had diabetes so I knew I was prone to it.....but I always just thought I was just hypoglycemic. Help ladies! Can anyone relate to this? And what's going on with my sugar?

sarahgmac · 01-25-2008, 10:53 AM

I had hypoglycemia as a kid. Hypoglycemia is a sign of insulin resistance. You need to see a Dr and maybe get on some sort of medication. When I was a teenager I ate 5 small meals a day to keep my blood sugar in check. I also stayed away from sweats or too much carbs. I would also recommend eating whole grain carbs instead of white flour ones.

Again I would highly recommend seeing a dr because it could be diabetes and not insulin resistance.

Leopassion7 · 01-26-2008, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahgmac

I had hypoglycemia as a kid. Hypoglycemia is a sign of insulin resistance. You need to see a Dr and maybe get on some sort of medication. When I was a teenager I ate 5 small meals a day to keep my blood sugar in check. I also stayed away from sweats or too much carbs. I would also recommend eating whole grain carbs instead of white flour ones.

Again I would highly recommend seeing a dr because it could be diabetes and not insulin resistance.

Thank you so much for responding to this post. Yeah, my recent research has yielded some helpful advice similar to yours. I read something about eating more "whole-grain carbs" but what exactly would that be? I think of whole-grain and wheat bread comes to mind. I hope to see my doc this year sometime. Unemployment has kept me from doing so last year. And what about the tea? It's caffeine...do I really have to give it up? And can I ever get rid of hypoglycemia? I had no idea it was a side effect of IR....wow! Learn something new everyday.

sarahgmac · 01-26-2008, 12:01 PM

Eating better would keep the hypoglycemic episodes away. I am not sure if it would get rid of it, but I know it sure helped me.

Whole Grain breads, whole grain pasta, no white flour. Also yam or sweet potatoes over white potatoes.

I never cut out caffeine, but everything is better in moderation.

You should get in to see the Dr.

Leopassion7 · 01-26-2008, 02:46 PM

Yes I will agree to that. Awww....I hate sweet potatoes...unless it's a sweet potato pie! Yum yum. And I just started liking those a few months ago. I should be fine on the caffeine because I've cut back on that a whole lot. I used to drink tea and sodas all day everyday. Now I only allow myself one glass of tea with dinner. I drink iced water throughout the day now. Yeah, I'll be seeing doc soon as I get money.

sarahgmac · 01-26-2008, 05:37 PM

Good luck with this! I hope it is just insulin resistance and not diabetes.

Leopassion7 · 02-02-2008, 04:40 AM

As it were, I've conducted more research and have found that my hypoglycemia is reactive--meaning if I eat the wrong kinds of foods my sugar plummets within 1 to 3 hours following any and every meal, which is exactly what's been going on. You can have reactive hypoglycemia and not have diabetes. It's usually do to an endocrine problem (hence the PCOS) or meds (I take none) so I know it's related to this pcos ordeal. Diabetes does run in my family and my mom had it for a while, but she no longer suffers from diabetes so....hopefully I can tackle this before it becomes type II.

Btrflybeetle · 02-02-2008, 04:48 AM

Hi Leopassion,

If you mix those whole grains, breads and healthy carbs with a healthy portion of protein, the carbs will last longer in your body and reduce the low blood sugars. Thats what they have been telling me for years. I get them all the time...

Leopassion7 · 02-03-2008, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Btrflybeetle

Hi Leopassion,

If you mix those whole grains, breads and healthy carbs with a healthy portion of protein, the carbs will last longer in your body and reduce the low blood sugars. Thats what they have been telling me for years. I get them all the time...

By protein I hope you are not implying just meats only? I've cut back on the amount of meats I eat. Could you suggest a good combination then because I'm lost. My family keeps bugging me to see an endocrinologist but I'm unemployed and a full-time college student. And I have no idea where there's a free clinic in my state, so that limits my options until I receive my pell grant money back next month.

katieaero · 02-04-2008, 12:39 AM

a lot of universities and community colleges have clinics that come by once a week or that are located somewhere on campus. Designed for the broke college student

Renee3600 · 02-06-2008, 03:27 PM

Leopassion7 - I have reactive hypoglicemia and am not IR or diabetic. I've taked the glucose tolerance test and my sugar stays within normal ranges, but I felt it drop 2 and a half hours after drinking the sugar drink and sure enough my 3 hour draw revealed low blood sugar. One thing I've noticed is that caffeine really makes my blood sugar crash for some reason. I switched to decaf coffee and sodas and it was so worth the switch. I haven't felt my sugar crash since I gave it up.
Good luck
Renee

Leopassion7 · 02-07-2008, 03:05 AM

Really? Oh wow! Someone else who has reactive hypoglycemia. Yeah, well I'd been reading about caffeine not being good for hypoglycemia, but I'd think that would apply to ALL of us who suffer from endocrine disorders: hypoglycemia, diabetes, and IR. Anyway, I don't drink coffee...despise the stuff, but I may be able to switch to decaf Tea. I hope it yields some results. Tea is not the only "reactive" factor. Starchy foods high in carbs affect it as well. Thanks for the input.

CaliGirlinOR · 02-12-2008, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leopassion7

By protein I hope you are not implying just meats only? I've cut back on the amount of meats I eat. Could you suggest a good combination then because I'm lost.

Hope you don't mind my chipping in here...

A great source of protein is PHYTOPROTEINS - beans, legumes, soy. If you are cutting back on meat, its a great way to get additional protein into your diet.

I agree that you need to look at the balance of your meals (don't assume wheat means WHOLE GRAIN) and then you will find the evenness you need in your day.

When you are watching your sugar/carb intake, you also have to look at the "good carbs" too -- fruit, etc.. and make sure you are not eating too much of that either.

I had a lot of ups and downs until I started paying attention to the glycemic index (it works for me). I watch the rating on the foods I eat (it registers the sugar/glucose levels of food). For example, peas are a green veggie but higher in glucose -better than a chocolate bar, but Broccolli would be better). Corn is another item that is high on GI but a better choice than a slice of bread. Does that make sense? It rates commonly eaten food. You can google Glycemic Index and tons of stuff will come up.

And be careful cutting out meat all together -- you need LEAN PROTEIN. Chicken, turkey and fish are all good choices here.

Good luck!

Leopassion7 · 02-13-2008, 04:02 AM

Oh wow, thanks. No I don't mind you chipping in at all. I welcome the added advice. I need it. Yeah, that all makes sense somehow and I shall "google" it to find out more. I just thought I was supposed to avoid high starchy foods and high carbs. I don't know anymore. I just know I have that and indigestion/heartburn. Sometimes, I'll go for an apple as a "quick-pick-me-upper" when I feel the sugar getting low, and 15mins later, it'll be dropping again so I'm pretty sure I did something wrong. Hmmmm