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Dropping sugar levels

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wiggal | 22:13 Wed 19th May 2010 | Body & Soul
20 Answers
Hey all!

Ok, so I seem to have problems with my sugar levels, and I really dont like it!

At work sometime after lunch, I can feel my energy go, my eyes get teary, my eyes start to roll up and my voice slurs. Basically I look drunk!

I have had it every so often for a few years, and it is a horrible feeling as I dont really know what I am doing. I have tried all sorts to sort it out, but when I drink coke or eat chocolate it gets worse which seems really backwards as that would surely pick me up?

Any ideas people?!

Ta!
Wiggal x
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Have you seen your GP about it hon? Had proper tests such as blood sugar monitoring and such done?

Is it definitely blood sugar related?
Question Author
Hey jenna,

A few years ago I went to the Dr and was tested for diabetes which came back ok.

I have kind of just gut used to when it happens, but really hate it. I cant think, I can hardly see let alone keep my eyes open. In my old job they used to have to take me off the phones because I couldnt form a sentence and sounded like I had been for a session down the pub at lunch time!

The Dr before said it was most likely blood sugar related, and I kind of put it down to that as it is really like I can feel my energy drain away then feel like I am going to pass out.
It sounds awful!

I'd be going back and asking them to look into it properly and find out why it is happening, they shouldn't just be assuming when it is affecting you so much x
Question Author
I'm thinking I may have to get it looked into further as I will be needing to find a new job soon.

When I was training for the job I have now, I had the lady training me asking me if I was Ok as I looked half asleep, and had to explain, but luckily I knew her before hand so all was ok.

Just seems weird that if it is my sugar levels, drinking a bottle of coke would surely make me feel more normal, but it seems to make me worse!
Could it be something you have eaten triggering some kind of response?

How often does it happen?
Question Author
I have IBS and am wheat intolerant, but that doesnt seem to fit in with it.

It happens alot less often these days then it did before, probably 3 or 4 times a month now, but has happened the last 3 days after lunch at work. My mate who sits opposite me can tell and says to me that I am crashing because he can tell by my eyes.

Once I have my eyes and normal voice back it takes me a while to feel normal again, like today I just felt really drained.

My problem is I have kind of given up on Drs, and very much have the approach of get on with it!
Go and get another diabetes test. What are you eating at lunchtime? Are you eating something with a low GI that will give you sustained energy throughout the afternoon or are you eating a high sugar lunch that will send your sugar levels sky high (like the coke) which then plummet again? If not already doing it, take a lunch of something like a salad with brown pasta or rice and see if there`s any improvement
I don't think cola can necessarily resolve this! I felt a bit like that this morning, I drank two bottles of Lucozade and that bucked me up. However I find I have to eat - I get drained quite quickly if I don't - and having something like pasta for lunch keeps my energy levels OK at work (and this is the woman who can fall asleep anytime anywhere given half the chance)
Question Author
Everyday for lunch I have a sandwich and a packet of crisps. Normally always drink water because I dont want to risk bottles of coke!

So it cant be what I have to eat.

There is one thing that I guess may have an input but dont really know.
Try us hon, you never know and instinct is a powerful thing.

I was having horrible daily headaches for a while until I sussed it was artificial sweetners I'd switched to to try and be healthier. I stopped them and the headaches cleared up. Could be something random.

Do you eat breakfast? Going over your diet might shed some light as you're only a tiny thing aren't you?
Question Author
I dont eat breakfast, but then I havent for the last 10 years. Cant do eating in the early morning!

Although I have cut down drinking, I still drink 3 or 4 pints of Strongbow and black every week night. probably dont wont to me admitting that, but dont know if it has something to do with it.
lucozade or Redbull will energise you....less alcohol than beer. The beer may be tiring you as it has less caffeine.

Hope you feel better soon.
If it might be contributing then worth raising.

Going all day on a sandwich and some crisps is not much. What do you eat for tea, especially with the alcohol consumption? I'm not judging but it doesn't sound like you are giving your body much to go on and could have longer term health implications along with the alcohol.

Are you able to balance things out a bit?

I'm not good at eating first thing but have been making the effort to get into a routine, even getting into work early and having something there or at least something midmorning.
You need to see your GP re. blood tests for Diabetes and underactive thyroid.
Yes go back to the doc but here are some things which might help.

First thing would be to get away from the caffeine and sugar combo. That will give you a fast sugar rush hit then make the levels drop like a stone. If you can't do breakfast then take a high fibre high carb snack to work and eat it at 11's or earlier, make sure your lunch is similar and have a mid afternoon snack too, same as the 11's one.
good examples of snacks would be something hig carb fibre and or wholemeal,eg ryvita type crackers or a banana. Switch to wholemeal bread if you can bear too, vegetable soup if you can take a hot lunch. This will give you a slower more long lasting release of sugar into your blood. Try and stay off high caffeine drinks stick to water or tea or decaff.

Not to criticise your drinking habits at all,,,but strongbow and black is again very sugary and the alcohol in it will make your blood sugar drop too. If you don't want to cut the amount then switch to something less sugary and eat a high carb low sugar snack with it.

hth
Hi Wiggal
I have suffered with this all my adult life (now in 50s). Many diabetes tests, all neg. About 8 years ago I got myself one of those cheap blood sugar monitors from Lloyds Pharmacy and monitored my sugar levels over a week. Swings between 7 and 2.5 mmols - the lower ones when having this kind of 'hypo' event.
At around the same time, I found a website that described my experiences exactly (website has since disappeared) and the way that the writer had managed it - I have tried it and it works for me.
The three basics for me are protein intake, high roughage/ low sugar, and exercise. So if I do not have some good lean protein at breakfast time and at lunchtime, I will inevitably experience a hypo in the afternoon. If I don't have vegetables and keep on the move, it is more likely than less likely that I will hypo, but the protein is the key.
Taking in sugar, in coke, chocolate or dried fruit gives a brief lift but just makes it all more likely to happen, overall.
In fact the only time I was able to diet and lose weight successfully was by following the Atkins regime - I wouldn't advise it, but it was noticeable that for the first time I could go without food for long-ish periods and not have a hypo.
I try to stick with small, regular meals with high protein and roughage, low sugar content - and this means the hypo's don't happen. Give it a whirl and see if it does the same for you - but also see your GP as others suggest.
Once any medical reason is eliminated the answer is probably going to be an overhaul of your eating habits, If you do need to lose weight as well and had relief from your symptoms on Atkins you might find one of the newer GI based diets that are lower-carb higher protein work for you. I had similar problems for a long time and giving up sugar and processed foods has made a huge difference, I have a lot more energy and don't doze off in meetings any more.
I lost weight on Atkins but found I got too floaty on it...found adding in slow release carb helped a lot
Question Author
Hi all, thank you very much for your replies.

I don't need to lose weight, I am 5ft 8 and around 9 and half stone, and am pretty happy with my size after a long battle to put weight on!

AI dont eat breakfast, but normally eat lunch around 1pm which is normally a sandwich of some sort and crisps, then dinner. I tend not to snack between meals as have had some eating issues and now I have got into a routine I tend to keep to it, although sounds like I may need to be altering it.
some metabolisms just can't manage on three eats a day. I had a mate at work who had to be careful with her blood sugar as she got headaches if she didn't snack....then she got pregnant and the headaches turned into full scale fainting,,,you don't have to eat any more or any less, just split it up a bit and cut out the sugar/caffeine hits.

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