Reactive hypoglycemia?

==N== · October 2012

So I failed my 1 hr glucose and took the 3, the results were that my fasting levels were fine, 1 hr was high, 2 hr was high and 3 hr tanked. The nurse said I have reactive hypoglycemia, it doesn't seem overly difficult to manage but she said I just have to really have to pay attention to my body and try to eat so it all evens out, less sugars and carbs, more fiber and protein etc.

Has/does anyone else have this? Any tips or anything on managing it to share?

littlemaybaby · October 2012

I have severe (and much more sudden) reactive hypoglycemia to the point that I no longer have to take oral glucose tolerance tests - because they make me so sick.

I was referred to a nutritionist in my first pregnancy for this issue - even though it's definitely not GD in my case (my levels are NEVER high) - because reactive hypoglycemia is largely managed through diet in a way very similar to diabetes. Since simple carbs/sugar cause my body to overproduce insulin, I just have to be very cautious in how many simple carbs I'm eating, how frequently I'm eating them, and what I'm eating them in conjunction with.

I always keep a small pack of nuts with me, so I don't go too long between meals/snacks, and I also keep hard candy with me too. The hard candy (while not a great option for a reactive hypoglycemic who is feeling well) is critical for the times when my blood sugar is tanking and I need an instant bolt of sugar to keep my levels from getting low enough that I will pass out. I then have to quickly follow up the candy with something of a more balanced meal/snack so that the cycle doesn't continue with the candy causing another surge of insulin.

It's definitely manageable, but there have also been times were I have been very very close to passing out and probably should have been managing it better.

ETA: Can you feel a difference when you sugars are high vs low? Mine have never been high, so I can't speak to that, but I for sure know when they are dropping. If you aren't able to discern from physical symptoms which way your levels are going, then I agree with PP - I'm surprised they aren't having you track your sugars.

==N== · October 2012

Thanks for your help, they made it sound easy enough to manage, Im just worried about eating the wrong stuff and Im getting more and more worried about it as I think more about it. Ive never really had to pay attention to what Ive eaten before.

PrivacyWanted:

I would ask your careprovider if you can be referred to either a GD program or endocrinologist to help manage it...at the very least you should be given a glucose monitor to be tracking your sugar

I am seeing an endocrinologist for my thyroid issues anyway, I didnt realize that I would see the same dr for something like this. I will definitely ask him about it at my next appointment and see if he thinks I should be doing more.

littlemaybaby:
ETA: Can you feel a difference when you sugars are high vs low? Mine have never been high, so I can't speak to that, but I for sure know when they are dropping. If you aren't able to discern from physical symptoms which way your levels are going, then I agree with PP - I'm surprised they aren't having you track your sugars.

I cant tell when theyre high but I can definitely tell when theyre low. I felt it sometimes before but I didnt know why I felt that way, ya know? The actual ob wasnt in today so I saw the nurse practitioner. I'll definitely be asking for more info that I didnt think of when I see the dr next. Im glad I got switched to two week appointments now so that I can ask the dr about it sooner rather than later.

tsweet16 · October 2012

I haven't taken the GD test yet, but pre-pregnancy for the last 11 years or so I've been a diagnosed hypoglycemic. Basically as the PP said you can/should be maintaining your blood sugar levels with food intake. IF you can't distinguish the difference of high vs. low I would definitely recommend tracking your sugar. For me when it's low prior to the whole passing out part, I feel like I've been drugged with a sleeping pill, a little woosy and cloudy feeling (this is a lot - cause I like cupcakes), when it gets really bad I start sweating/my stomach gets really upset/I see spots. I rarely get to the "really bad" stage but fyi if that starts happening lay down and have someone feed you something.

tsweet16 · October 2012

and obviously avoid eating stuff like cake while drinking a mountain dew on an empty stomach

littlemaybaby · October 2012

tsweet16:
and obviously avoid eating stuff like cake while drinking a mountain dew on an empty stomach :

To add onto this avoid your sugary indulgence of choice mine was cupcakes with my son before driving anywhere or going somewhere you can't easily sit down ie the grocery store.

Nothing will freak you out more than being stuck driving a car in the midst of falling blood sugar. And nothing will freak other people out like seeing a pregnant woman trying to sit with her head between her legs on the floor of a store.

==N== · October 2012

littlemaybaby:
tsweet16:
and obviously avoid eating stuff like cake while drinking a mountain dew on an empty stomach :
To add onto this avoid your sugary indulgence of choice mine was cupcakes with my son before driving anywhere or going somewhere you can't easily sit down ie the grocery store. Nothing will freak you out more than being stuck driving a car in the midst of falling blood sugar. And nothing will freak other people out like seeing a pregnant woman trying to sit with her head between her legs on the floor of a store.

See, I wish I had known this all sooner! That totally happened to me in the middle of court the other day and I didnt know why. Luckily I had a co worker with me that I was training for my maternity leave so I was able to go sit somewhere.

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