To worry that I keep going weak and shakey?

[nursetobee]

I keep going weak and shakey around 3 hours after eating lunch, with my hands physically shaking and legs feeling like jelly. I'm in my 20s and slightly overweight but otherwise healthy. Type 2 diabetes does run in my family, but recent blood tests have shown no signs of diabetes.

Today I had full fat yoghurt, strawberries and blueberries and granola for lunch (fancied something cold for lunch) and 3 hours later I'm feeling like I'm going to collapse with my legs feeling like complete jelly. It happens before I experience any physical signs of hunger.

Do you think it's normal or should I go to the GP about it?

Is it just hunger? That doesn't sound like much for lunch, is that usual?

Sounds like reactive hypoglycaemia- Google symptoms to see if they align.

This is an indicator of pre diabetes.

I actually think your lunch sounds very sugary.

That's not a lunch!

Have you read up on low GI foods? Release sugar into your bloodstream gradually to avoid the peaks and troughs.

You probably should follow a pre diabetic diet to try and avoid developing diabetes?

Are you taking any medication such as statins?

Need more protein. That's hardly any lunch so does it still happen on a day when you eat more?

Does it happen if you purposely eat low glycaemic index meals?
E.g. porridge and nuts for breakfast
Protein (meat, fish, cheese, beans) plus salad or veg and a brown rice salad
For lunch

Same sort of thing again for dinner

Concentrating on lots of protein, veg first, fat then, and sugar or starch last

I thought with it being a full fat Greek yoghurt it would have fat and protein in it? I'm vegetarian and find it hard to eat enough protein

Not enough food?
I feel the same if I’ve not had enough calories

Do you eat fish OP? If so add fresh fish, (tinned occasionally), to your meals. Also consider having an omelette (maybe with cheese, sautéed mushrooms, asparagus etc). Add a handful of unsalted, unroasted nuts (almonds are a great snack, or Brazil or walnuts) as snacks. Reduce simple carbohydrates, focus on small amounts of whole grains, together with healthy fats, eg avocados. 🌹

Only after lunch? Not at any other point in the day? What are you doing in the afternoon? How does lunch differ from your other meals?!

I get like this regularly regardless of what I've eaten. In 40s and not overweight (BMI 20). Following (it's awful, I often have to go and have a lie down for fear of collapsing)

You didn't have enough to eat OP! It's not rocket science!

If that's the case, why wouldn't you get it checked out? There are a few causes including low blood pressure & iron deficiency that are readily resolved.

I have type 2 diabetes and used to crave cold things, like yoghurt and ice lollies before I was diagnosed. I also had a shakey feeling.

I actually eat yoghurt and berries for breakfast everyday now , high protein full fat greek yoghurt with strawberrys and blueberries. The low fat version has higher sugar and doesnt make you feel full

Lunch time is something high protein and low carb, I managed to get into remission by following this diet without meds, if you follow a low carb (less than 130g a day) and high protein meal plan with healthy fats you may find this helps

Reactive hypoglycaemia? I was diagnosed with this a few months ago with the same symptoms. I had a blood sugar monitor and my blood sugar was really low when this was happening - much lower than would normally be expected. The consultant did say that it can be a pre-diabetes sign but not always (he didn't think that was the case with me, he thought it was because I am quite underweight)

I get this when I'm dehydrated or eat too many carbs / sugar.

What was the granola you had? And how much of it did you have?

I feel like this if I haven't eaten enough or the meal is lacking carbs.

It has always happened to me but I am quite small.

I have to eat regularly rather than a huge meal at once

I would get this checked out, as even though you are not overweight you can get late onset type 1 diabetes or type 3 which will mean whatever you eat you will still not feel full and be hungry as without insulin your body wont be able to make use of the sugar you eat and you will still feel hungry. It tends to be type 2 that are overweight, like me as they still produce insulin but too much as your pancreas cant cope with the intake of sugar and makes more of the stuff which causes the weight gain. In type 1 your beta cells are destroyed and dont make insulin so you can lose weight rather than gain.

I would feel the same if I'd had that for lunch. Not enough and too much sugar.

You could have a free trial of a Freestyle Libre or similar to see if there is a link with blood sugar.

I feel like that if I haven’t had enough carbs.

Try increasing complex carbohydrates and reducing sugars.

Sounds like hypoglycaemia!

I used to get this! I am a bit overweight and at the end of March decided to try the Fast 800 way of eating. I was very doubtful that I would be able to hack it because of the fainty shakey symptoms I would frequently get between meals and 800 calories didn't seem enough to sustain a mouse! For those who don't know the Fast 800 is low carb and medium protein, plenty of non-starchy veg and you avoid fruit with too much sugar, eg pineapple, mango etc. I have not had a single episode of faintness or shaking and I'm sure it's because I am fuller for longer from the protein. I can go much longer between meals and on fewer calories compared to my previous carb heavy diet plus I've lost nearly 1.5 stone!

Low blood sugar, low iron?

It was a perfectly fine quantity to eat, but unfortunately mostly sugar.