Anxiety or blood sugar?

Re: Anxiety or blood sugar?

• alitria member

  February 2016

  As someone who has both anxiety attacks and hypoglycemia even when I'm not pregnant, I can tell you the differences just for me personally but I've heard of quite a bit of variation from person to person in symptoms of both. 
  
  My anxiety attacks seem to be preceded by fixated thoughts or perseverations on things that may or may not be reasonable.  I feel panicked, like the classic fight or flight, but there's not necessarily anything happening to cause that (outside of my own head.)  It also seems to happen most frequently if I'm already on edge about something, stressed, extra tired or in a situation that's making me anxious or uncomfortable.  I also feel short of breath or my chest feels heavy like I may be having trouble breathing.  It does tend to get worse when I'm pregnant as pregnancy tends to make me more hypervigilant and the higher hormone levels do affect moods. 
  
  When I get low blood sugar, it's almost always a physical response.  My first symptom is usually heart palpitations or feeling very warm/flushed.  Shortly after that, I might feel shaky, dizzy, get tunnel vision, feel really sleepy/woozy and feel very slow or detached. 
  
  If it's low blood sugar, you can try eating a snack when you feel the first symptoms.  If do best with something that balances protein and sugar so I get a quick uptick in blood sugar and then have a little protein to help stabilize.  Peanut butter and crackers works well for me, and peanut m&ms have worked before if I'm out and in a pinch.  There are other, healthier ways like an apple and cheese but I usually go for what's fastest then balance out with something healthy once I'm feeling less shaky.   
  
  

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• KaylaR628 member

  March 2016

    I also have generalized anxiety/panic disorder and hypoglycemia when not pregnant, but for me both of these things look very similar: shaking, racing thoughts, tunnel vision, rapid heartbeat, trouble breathing.  The one main difference is I usually become warm before a hypo episode, but this also sometimes happens with anxiety.  Also, sometimes being hypo causes an anxiety attack for me!
    This all being said, I usually don't know which is which but treating them the same helps both.  So I'll grab a snack and rest for a few minutes while using breathing techniques.  It also really helps me to "stay ahead of the hunger", especially during this pregnancy.  I basically eat something every 2 hours, even just a banana, because my hunger goes to shaking hypo rage in two seconds if I don't.  Knowing I ate recently also helps being anxious about low blood sugar .  

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• Boonhilde member

  March 2016

  Hi. I also have anxiety and hypoglycemia when I'm not pregnant. So my question is how sick do you get? Do you have to lie down so you don't pass out? Do you feel better without sugar? With hypoglycemia you wouldn't feel better without eating. 

  
  
  

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• purplefan1 member

  March 2016

  Two birds one stone: when you are feeling any of the symptoms, don't try differentiating-sit down, eat a small healthy snack, drink a big glass of water, and breathe in and out for 5 minutes while thinking positive thoughts about your pregnancy. Added bonus points if you rub your belly bump and tell baby sweet stories about all of the fun things you are going to do together soon. Should resolve many anxiety symptoms as well as help raise a low blood sugar.  :-)

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• hokiejenn member

  March 2016

  The same thing was happening to me, and I talked to my doctor because I've never had anxiety attacks during the day (only at night). The doctor said my blood pressure was really low, and that can give you the shakes and a flushed feeling. My blood pressure is usually on the low side of normal, but then I guess your blood pressure goes down during pregnancy (mine was its lowest at 20 weeks). I usually feel better if I eat a small snack and sit for a bit. 

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• ucfgemini member

  March 2016

  Thanks, all.  I feel better just knowing I'm not an oddball (at least because of this symptom).  Getting closer!!!  Happy March!

  
  

  

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