Low blood sugar but not diabetic?

[ShortnStout]

I’ve been getting some hypoglycaemic symptoms for ages now. I can’t go long periods without eating or I get faint, shaky, cold and sometimes actually faint.

I’ve bought a blood sugar machine to see what’s actually going on. But I can’t find a clear definitive guide for what the levels should actually be..!
Today before breakfast it was 3.8 and I was shaky. Just now I was still feeling shaky, very tired, nauseous etc. Tested and it was 5.7 despite eating all day. I just want to know what it all means!

No point suggesting GP, I’d have more chance of a private audience with the queen. And at least if I can get a few recordings and keep a diary for a few weeks, they might take me more seriously when I actually do manage to get in.

Thank you.

It's perfectly normal to feel like that when your body is telling you it needs food. I get big dips if I've gone carb heavy or too much alcohol. These are the things you need in moderation as well as less sugar in general. It doesn't mean you are diabetic just because you have blood sugar dips. It just means you need to eat, possibly more frequently, and foods that sustain you better.

Watching with interest, I used to get that for years! Cleared up to large extent when I became vegan.
I'm not sure what the answer is but it might be due to needing more protein in the diet.

I get hypoglaecemic episodes too, i think it's a reaction to eating sugar/fast release carbs. Look up reactive hypoglycemia.

I've found it's improved by eating more low GI foods and protein and making sure I have low carb snacks throughout the day. Are you eating enough at breakfast and lunch?

I've read that it can be caused by iron deficiency. I can't comment on the accuracy of that claim though.

How much coffee do you drink? Fresh coffee always makes my blood sugar drop. Tea doesn't though.

Those are normal numbers for a non diabetic- if it was under 2.6 or would be worrying.

Diabetes is high blood sugar not low!

The only reason people with diabetes get low blood sugars is related to treatment they take to make their high blood sugar low - sometimes it goes too low.

A normal blood sugar is below 7.8. So if your blood sugar was 5.7 but you had eaten, that is perfectly normal, your body was doing a good job!

It is perfectly normal for your body to tell you when you need to eat, especially if you only ate fast acting carbs - foods that fill you up for longer would help, probably why the PP who got better by going vegan and so filling up with fibre and wholegrains.

I've got low blood sugar and I keep it in check with eating well. When I have a bump I drink orange juice or eat a banana and then eat properly as soon as I can. I think blood sugar drops are quite common.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome?