to have no sympathy for people who suffer from low sugar

[roisin]

OK, here's the scenario. Perfectly medically fit and healthy person claims they are trying to lose weight, but every 2 hours or so they 'have to eat' something high-sugar because otherwise their 'blood sugar levels drop' and they feel unwell.

Now in my rudimentary understanding of the biology of weight loss your blood sugar levels have to drop, as that is precisely the point at which your body realises it needs to start converting body fat to sugar to supply energy; so that is exactly the point where you will start losing weight. And if you eat at that point then you won't lose weight.

Clearly I don't suffer from low blood sugar levels. As I generally have 3 meals a day, and rarely snack at all inbetween those meals.

So AIBU? Is this something 'real' that I should have some real sympathy for?

I definitely suffer from it. I don't eat the right things to make sure it doesn't happen, i.e. low G.I. foods etc. If I don't eat for more than 3 hours I feel dizzy, lightheaded, I can start to feel sick. Obviously blood sugar levels but I know I could eat better to prevent it.

from the sound of those people they are just saying it too be able to eat something and thehn blame their lack of weightloss on it

If I go 9 hours without food and I'm on the move or using alot of mental strength and energy then I will start to shake, feel cold and sick and I know that it because my blood sugar levwels have fallen below what is the normal range.

they are talking shite

Oh God roisin you could be talking about my dh. He does suffer from low blood sugar - gets all stroppy and clumsy but he won't feckin listen when I tell him he should be having something like banana instead of 5 chocolate digestives.

Yes, it makes you feel very unwell and is a common syndrome. Would you have smpathy for a diabetic whose sugar levels were not properly managed?

If this affects you, you need to learn what foods keep your blood sugars stable and won't be able to lose weight without this knowledge. EG porridge is a good breakfast. For me, eating bread, especially white bread, for lunch is going to make me feel ill around 4-5pm. When your blood sugar drops you really do need to eat and this is a medical reality.

YABU

Ahhh, I know what this is. I suffer from reactive hypoglycaemia and have been told to eat little and often, so roughly 2/3 hours. If I don't my blood sugar drops and I get stroppy, irritable and find it difficult to drive. But something high in sugar is the last thing I should snack on.

This sort of routine does help me lose weight so long as I stick to low/medium GI foods.

So for me you are being unreasonable but depends on the circumstances I think. Snacking on a mars bar or something every 2 hours clearly would be no-no.

YABVU.

There are people who suffer from a hyper/hypo (can't remember which) glycemia. SO yes it is a real condition. And yes some have to eat every couple of hours to stop themselves getting ill (a friend of mine has it and will faint if she doesn't eat as well as getting nauseous and other symptoms like shaking etc).

You can make changes in diet to control it better, but often still have to eat something every couple of hours.

Why the fuck does it bother you? Seriously, not very nice.

Low blood sugar is real and affects me, but you don't need high sugar stuff to combat it. You just need to eat more sensibly, little and often, not binge on biscuits as saggermakers says.

Sorry, I have just re-read this about needing to eat high sugar foods...when your blood sugar is low you need to bring it up...but the real answer is to manage your diet such that you do not get these lows and that is perfectly possible if you know how.

Ahem, language Armadillo.
The OP is asking if this is real.....

Do people really have to eat every 2 hours then?

Are these people who are borderling diabetic? Or at risk of developing diabetes. Or can perfectly medically fit and healthy people have these issues?

So what foods are good to prevent blood sugars dropping? Some people have mentioned porridge, what else?

If you ate the right foods, could you then cut down the snacking completely?

Oh i agree Roisin.
Self indulgent shite.
I bet they're overweight too.

tbh my initial reaction was similar to Armadillo, OP is v fortunate not to have to deal with this

the problem being - a lot of people don't know how to do that Darth

I only just found out 6 weeks ago when I saw my nutritionist and personal trainer - from cutting out all wheat, most carbs and raising protein intake (and excersise) I have lost 1.5stone in that time

The sugar lows come when insulin dips - it needs stabilising in order to maintain a healthy body/weightloss but not many people realise that the likes of the slimming world diet etc (pasta all day, if you want) are actually bad cos they raise insulin dramatically, thus making the reverse happen when it wears off a few minntes later...

Normally at higher risk of developing diabetes as this is insulin resistance. Eating the right foods means you can go without food for approx 5 hours but it is healthier to have a snack in this period - the key is to eat and snack on the correct foods to maintain stable blood sugars.

i suffer too it is real

Foods to cut down insulin peaks/lows are foods that are on the Low GI list: white meat, fish, fruit, veg, porridge oats (home made museli from such) nuts, dried fruits - nothing exotic (bananas, pineapple, kiwi etc) and stuff like that

Eliminating wheat, added sugar and salt (ie from cooking) and caffeine will go a long way to help too

Well, the consultant endocrinologist who diagnosed it in me after a battery of tests certainly believed that it is real.

I went for tests because I was tired all the time, run down, my periods were a mess and I couldn't get pregnant. She also told me that I have PCOS so the low GI diet is good for that too.

Generally now that I eat properly I am less tired (although my 1 year old has scuppered that) and my concentration levels are much better. I have porridge for breakfast instead of skipping it and make sure that I keep time aside for lunch at work. I also keep snacks in the car just in case.

my friend has always been thin and finds it incrediably difficult to put on weight - actually most the people I know who have it are the same.

SLow burning foods are best, rather than say chocolate bar - but quick sugar foods are useful in emergency (i.e. before you faint and crack head nastily on floor).

SOrry about swearing - this friend is very close mate of mine adn has put up with lots of shite about it all being put on etc, by people and it really pisses me off.

DOn't get me wrong I am sure there are plenty who put it on, but it is a real medical condition.

Agree with Lewis

Generally the less processed a foodstuff the better.

but not every 2 hours might i add but if i miss a meal or ge over hungry i feel unwell dizzy and spacey

My liver does not function normally. If I miss a meal, I will start shaking. If I get into this situation, I will eat ANYTHING!

What do you think now,OP?

But you don't need high sugar snacks and I would think the colleague was an idiot too.
My stepdad is an insulin dependant diabetic who has real issues to deal with and he managed not to let if affect his family through learning to manage it (and trying to avoid us when having a hypo ). I had no idea of the true impact of diabetes and fluctuating sugar levels because we were protected from it for years.
Colleague is being ridiculous and needs some education so would piss me off.

this should explain it

People feel faint if there blood sugar level drops too low.

It can be diagnosed with a prolonged glucose tolerance test.

For diabetes, if they have hypoglycemia (eg from injecting too much insulin) they need an energy boost, so i think can have high gi food.

For someone with reactive hypoglycemia, high sugar stuff would bring immeadiate relief, but soon would feel even worse.

YANBU/YABU depending on context. Hypoglycemia is often over diagnosed, but can be a real condition.