Low blood sugar symptoms, not diabetic

[TheseDaysGoBy]

Hello, I know this is the Diabetes thread but I'm not sure where else to post this. I was just wondering if anyone else who is not diagnosed as diabetic gets symptoms like I do.

I'm now almost 30, always been in the healthy BMI range, tend to have a healthy diet, healthy lifestyle, don't drink or smoke, no sugar in drinks, limit the junk foods. Since my early twenties, most days just a couple hours after breakfast and before lunchtime I have had symptoms of dizziness, seeing stars, nausea, lightheaded, shaky, increased heart rate, sweating, clumsiness, unable to think clearly - symptoms of low blood sugar when I check the NHS website. I feel too scared to go more than a couple of hours without at least snacking on something else I start to get the symptoms and I don't understand how anyone can go more than a few hours without food or forget to eat because I suffer physically! I had a blood test about 3 years ago as I was concerned with these symptoms and it came back clear but the test was taken when I felt fine in that moment. I have been considering buying a glucose meter to test myself when I have these symptoms to see what the reading says.

I also have constant low blood pressure readings since I was in my late teens with all the associated symptoms on standing from sitting, crouching or lying down e.g. seeing stars, dizziness, etc

Just wondering if anyone else has the same experience and isn't diagnosed diabetic but gets worried about these symptoms even though blood tests have come back normal?

I'll be interested in any replies too, as my DD is like this.

I can be the same sometimes but interested to hear ideas. I am worse when I haven’t drank enough too.

By all means get a BM machine, they cost peanuts, but you'll need to get some advice on what to make of the results of course. I find if my BP drops I get dizzy, and that tends to happen if I'm a bit dehydrated.

I used to get symptoms like this. One day I was actually working in A&E when it happened, and the Charge Nurse had me on a trolley and being checked out really quickly!

I definitely needed lunch but hadn't been able to go due to demands of the workload at that time.

I expected to have a low blood sugar but it was normal. Think I just feel like that when I get extra hungry.

What are you eating/drinking for your breakfast? If you're not diabetic, then a sudden drop in blood sugar like this would suggest you're eating a very high carb meal.

There are lots of different conditions causing low sugars.
Def worh getting a monitor
Have you looked into autonomic dysfunction

I get this. I had all sorts of tests and checks and it seems I just have reactive hypoglycaemia.

It's usually breakfast which triggers it for me, especially cereal. What do you have for breakfast?

You need to increase protein and reduce carbs if possible.

I make sure to drink plenty through the day but I still get the low blood pressure symptoms so I think maybe it's just something normal for me and the symptoms quickly resolve in seconds, just unpleasant. I suppose my breakfast is quite carb heavy as I usually have a bowl of flavoured porridge for breakfast or 2 slices of wholemeal toast because these are easy to eat at work. But I sometimes get these symptoms later in the day between lunch and dinner, althought it's more common between breakfast and lunch. I have eaten mostly vegetarian throughout my 20s and became fully vegetarian at the end of 2021 and there's been no change in the symptoms but I suppose the nature of the diet can be quite carb heavy and less protein. Could it be that I need to increase my protein intake?

More likely that you need to focus on getting the carbs down (which will result in a higher protein component).

Try having a breakfast based around eggs - e.g. a cheese omelette, or scrambled eggs (without the toast!). Or, full fat natural/Greek yoghurt with a few berries and/or nuts. (Use these sparingly, more like a topping)

For lunch, avoid the usual sandwich/crisps/bar of chocolate combination, and again go for something lower carb - a decent salad with a good protein component. (Pret do some great salads that would work here).

What are you drinking? If you're drinking fruit juice - avoid that at all costs! (Ditto full sugar squash or fizzy drinks). Switch to plain water.

Just try that for a few days and see if it helps you.

I'm like this and it's reactive hypoglycemia. Try moderating carbs (a lot) except when exercising

I'm beginning to think it could be reactive hypoglycemia. It does tend to happen worse when I've had sugary cereal. I don't have sugar in any of my drinks, I have sugar free diet options and like my squash very weak but I think it may be high carbs so I will try to cut down on those and have more protein, especially for breakfast. Egg meals would be less practical to have at my work but the yoghurt with fruit and nuts sounds good! Thanks everyone for your suggestions