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Original poster

Low blood sugar symptoms but not diabetic

53 replies

Lockdownmum1010 · 22/03/2023 19:30

Any insights welcome please. For the past few months I've been having regular incidences of what I think is low blood sugar - feeling weak and shaky, feel better after eating or drinking something. I had some bloods done at Christmas which showed mild anaemia but that's it. I wasn't tested for diabetes but don't think I'd be getting low blood sugar symptoms with that anyway as would be high? Anyone got any ideas, GP appointments are like gold dust around here so would like to go in with some ideas!

OP posts:

BrennieGirl · 22/03/2023 21:17

I have this too. As others have said, eat little and often. Even if you don't feel hungry force yourself to eat something small. If you find that you forget to eat because you're very busy, set an alarm on your phone. Before exercise eat something.

It's also important to keep yourself well hydrated. And as you've said yourself, keep a snack or cereal bar or similar near by. I keep a small bag of mixed nuts in my bag.

HowardKirksConscience · 22/03/2023 21:28

I’ve had this throughout my life. One of my kids has it too. I need to eat food which releases energy slowly and steadily. If I ate (for instance) a chocolate bar for breakfast, I’d have a huge blood sugar drop about half an hour later and end up shaking and feeling faint. I’m using an extreme example there - no one recommends chocolate for breakfast- but I had to give up eating cornflake-type cereals with sugar, and instead go for something like porridge.

You need to find out what foods have a high glycaemic index and what foods don’t.

runforyourdog · 22/03/2023 21:29

So snacks are defo good in this situation?

My in laws say I should get her to eat her meals and then it won't happen but I can't really force her!

davegrohll · 22/03/2023 21:30

When this was happening to me (admittedly in pregnancy) it was because my blood pressure was too low. It felt just like low blood sugar though, weak, shaky etc

Stomacharmeleon · 22/03/2023 21:33

Crohn's specialist told me 6-8 smaller meals a day is better than two.
It's just not super practical and I find all food goes through me super fast.

MyNewNewlife · 22/03/2023 21:33

Check your B12 levels, I had similar issues and my B12 had dropped too low. Also D3

Stomacharmeleon · 22/03/2023 21:34

Two 'supers' sorry :/

Azandme · 22/03/2023 21:36

I get this when my B12 is low.

Starryskiesinthesky · 22/03/2023 21:40

I think this is one of these things that some people get and so totally understand what you are talking about and others just dont get at all. I am in the get camp!

The only people who I know who get it are thinner and so I am not sure if it is related to that but I know mine is related to carbs but not 100% sure how! Think I get it if I dont eat enough carbs though and I am someone who is better eating little and often.

JumbleSailor · 22/03/2023 21:49

I've had this my whole life. It used to happen every couple of months. The symptoms were: shaky, sweaty, hot/cold, needing to eat, feeling weak, feeling faint. I think I've learnt to manage it now.
-Eating regularly, 3 square meals a day, never skip a meal
-Protein rich meals and snacks make the biggest difference (no meals without protein)
-No coffee/sugar by itself
-Always carry a food in bag for emergencies
-Try not to let my weight drop too low

SunnySideDownBriefly · 22/03/2023 21:53

Yes, that sounds like reactive hypoglycaemia. You can buy continuous glucose monitors (CGM) so you can work out what foods/amount of carbs are causing it. Everyone is different and it's worth running as an experiment - you always hear that porridge is good but some people actually react badly to it and will have a crash like I do.

You've almost got to live like someone with diabetes as you need to avoid high levels of carbs as that will make your sugars go high - the reactive hypo part is to do with your reaction to insulin which is produced when your blood sugars are high...this causes a crash which will take a while to pick up on it own. Diabetics are recommended to have a snack of no more than 15g carbs, like a small glass of milk or a digestive biscuit, then wait 15mins and you should feel better.

Check out the Glucose Goddess for her experiments with a CGM and also Dr Tim Spector who is behind the Zoe app which is all about your gut biome and can recommend foods for you after you submit some data...you do tests by eating different muffins they've prepared and you reaction to these is monitored - it's expensive though but very thorough.

SunnySideDownBriefly · 22/03/2023 22:07

I also agree there is a link to low weight or a lower % of body fat. When I saw the endocrinologist, he said that I would do a lot better with another stone of weight on me but didn't really explain why. Must be a hormone regulation thing I think.

Original poster

Lockdownmum1010 · 22/03/2023 22:34

davegrohll · 22/03/2023 21:30

When this was happening to me (admittedly in pregnancy) it was because my blood pressure was too low. It felt just like low blood sugar though, weak, shaky etc

I have blood pressure issues too (used to faint a lot so had a load of tests which showed my blood pressure was prone to dropping suddenly). This is different though and solved by eating which is what is making me suspect its blood sugar related...

OP posts:

eatsleeppaddle · 22/03/2023 22:37

I have this if I eat sugar or lots of carbs. When I went low carb it completely disappeared. I have a thyroid issue but had the blood sugar dips long before that from being a child. Would always get v shaky and need a drink of vimto.

Rebel2 · 22/03/2023 22:49

eatsleeppaddle · 22/03/2023 22:37

Same. I once had porridge and a banana for breakfast then some Jaffa cakes as a snack mid morning and passed out at work with really low blood sugar. I'm better with low carb

My dad gets it too

Longy95 · 22/03/2023 23:06

Thank you all for posting, I thought I was alone with this. I have had this for years, but the last few months it’s been happening several times a week. I got a blood glucose monitor, it happens about 3-4 hours after I have eaten, I start to get symptoms once blood glucose dropped to low 4’s.
keeps happening at end of day at work, trying to go low carb as suspect reactive hypoglycaemia. Dr is giving me more tests. Currently have low vitamin D. Causing me anxiety, feel like living against a clock.

icecreamisforwintertoo · 22/03/2023 23:11

I get this too, I’m not diabetic and nor am I underweight. I found eating a low GI diet helps. If I eat sonething with simple carbs for lunch I get it. And sometimes in the night if I’ve been drinking. It’s not very nice but have had it for years and doesn’t seem to have been a symptom of anything else.

TheBirdintheCave · 22/03/2023 23:33

Yeah I've had this since my teens except I've never been able to catch a blood sugar drop on a monitor, I just have all of the symptoms of one.

I usually describe it as feeling totally empty even though I've just eaten lunch. Then I get very weak, hot, shaky and feel kinda spaced out. The feelings last until I eat another full meal.

I went to a doctor about it once and all she said was 'Well, I don't know what that is'.

I've looked into postprandial hypoglycaemia (a dumping syndrome) too.

Butterfly44 · 23/03/2023 00:19

Definitely not diabetic. That would only ever be high blood sugars.
Addisons? Test cortisol/adrenal function.

Coffeeanytime · 23/03/2023 07:21

I get this too. I completely dismissed it being blood sugar related because my bloods were normal. Mine is fine any other time of the day apart from after lunch at work.
So usually 3-4pm I get a headache, I feel sick, dizzy and I sweat. I try to make sure I’m hydrated but it doesn’t happen every day. The only thing I can think of this that it must be what I’m eating for lunch. I will keep a snack in my bag for the journey home, and will see if that improves the symptoms. I can’t believe the GP didn’t pick up on reactive hypoglycaemia. I hope you find the answers you are looking for too.

Coffeeanytime · 23/03/2023 07:22

I also had an ex partner who told me that he would get this too, but felt better after drinking a can of coke.

LuubyLuu · 23/03/2023 07:40

It's really common, can be driven by loads of factors, but good that you've had blood tests to rule anything major out. Mine is a fault of a slight overactive thyroid gland / high metabolism.

I've had this since a teenager, so have learned to manage it. I always carry back up food around with me, and if I feel a massive crash coming, have a sweet drink as the most quickly absorbed sugar.

The best thing is to learn what your triggers are and to eat in a way that doesn't spike your blood sugars. So (obviously) pure sugar not great, but also unrefined (white) carbs are bad too. If you're having sugar or carbs, make sure you're eating them alongside protein or fats to slow their release. Eat regularly and don't ever skip meals. Alcohol in moderation. Don't exercise without eating in advance.

My levels are relatively stable now, but still get thrown by stress, being over-tired, and drinking too much alcohol. The periods when I was breast-feeding were bad - I had to eat constantly.

Stomacharmeleon · 23/03/2023 12:37

Saw my GP regarding mine this morning. My HBai (?) was low (30) so he has told me to eat freely and put more sugar in my coffee.

It's a bit catch 22 as I can do those things but my gut will be in huge distress. I have lots of things wrong and I think they are all interconnected. He said to come back in six weeks and they might have to give me something and then laughed and said 'sugar'.

It's quite distressing and I have other issues as I have said including thyroid and lymph node cancer.

BaffledOnceAgain · 23/03/2023 18:34

OP are you hypermobile? The sudden drops in blood pressure made me think of POTS. Both my boys and I have connective tissue issues along with our hypos. Look it all up and see if it sounds like you.

Original poster

Lockdownmum1010 · 23/03/2023 18:51

BaffledOnceAgain · 23/03/2023 18:34

OP are you hypermobile? The sudden drops in blood pressure made me think of POTS. Both my boys and I have connective tissue issues along with our hypos. Look it all up and see if it sounds like you.

I'm not no - I was tested for POTS when I was having my fainting issues as also have quite a fast heart rate but it was ruled out...

OP posts:

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