Re: Re: Sunny...hypoglycemia

[Guest guest]

Kristie

Thank you for taking the time to share. I will check out those sites

asap. And your comment about heat and humidity was very helpful. They

bother me a lot, and I never thought to connect that feeling to blood

sugar. A good thing for me to try to observe patterns there.

While I am sorry that so many of us have problems with hypoglycemia,

it is good to know that it is probably part and parcel of the mito

condition, and to try to look at in the big picture is helpful for me.

Regards,

Sunny

> Sunny,

> Sorry for the delay.  I am on digest so it may take a couple of days

> to hear back from me. 

>

> I am tube fed so unfortunately a lot of my nutrition comes in the

> form of carbohydrates.  My nutritionist doc has me add Pro Source (a

> Rx protien powder) to my feedings in hopes of keeping things level,

> but it has not been working lately.  I find that when my body is under

> additional stress (for me this can me just the high heat and humidity)

> my blood sugars are really difficult to manage.  Of course it doesn't

> help that I don't eat by mouth.

>

> To manage the hypoglycemia I am now tube feeding 24/7.  When my

> feeding is done I'm running electrolytes.  This seems to be helping

> some.  When my sugars dip I use Clif Shot (sports gel..brown rice and

> corn starch based  http://www.clifbar.com/eat/eat.cfm?location=shot)

> to bring my numbers up quickly.  Then I go back to tube feeding to get

> some added protein which should help keep the  numbers up.  If that

> fails then I bolus coke into my tube...sometimes this works for

> me...sometimes it doesn't.  Failing that it is an injection of

> Glucagon

> (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682480.html) 

> and a trip to the ER.

>

>

> Hope that helps.

> Kristie

>

>

> Message: 5        

>    Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2004 16:15:01 -0400

>    From: z39z@...

> Subject: Re: Sunny...hypoglycemia

>

> Kristie

>

> How are you careful? Anything else besides watching the carbs?    I

> already posted that I restrict them severely now.   My doc just said

> to

> take a small amount of sweet when I feel bad, but that does not help

> me

> at all; if anything it makes it worse.  I don't  think the docs really

> know or take it seriously.  Mayo Clinic has a very disappointing

> attitude towards it.  I forgot exactly how they put it, but almost

> saying it was emotional or exaggerated, or something.  I don't think

> so!!!

>

>

> The GTT was one of the most frightening experiences I ever had. No one

> told me how I might feel.  I was crawling out if my skin with

> discomfort. Everything bothered me to the

> extreme...noise....,light......  I could not concentrate to read a

> light magazine article. It took all my will power to just do the

> appropriate things and get myself home. Like I wasn't me.  An

> extremely

> bad feeling,  hard to describe.  Later, I realized I feel like that

> some other times too, and really got motivated to try to minimize it. 

> It is still an open question for me, what causes it, and what to do to

> minimize it.

>

> Thanks for your post, Kristie

>

> Sunny

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kristie,

I like the idea of jelly beans also. I may have to get some. Just today I

walked by them at the department store that has the jelly belly in bins

where you can get any flavor you want.

Janet Sample

Sunny...hypoglycemia

>

> I am a non insulin dependent diabetic. I start to have problems when my

blood sugar readings go below 85. They are noticeable problems, even at

that point. In my last hospital stay, they were monitoring my readings

regularly and when the reading hit 85, the rushed to get me a snack. If my

blood sugar becomes lower than 80, I feel the stupor you are describing.

Last winter, I was going thru some problems with my sugar readings and the

lowest it got was at somewhere around 50. It was all I could do to put my

thoughts together enough to find something to eat and it took a very long

time to get it there.

>

> For someone who is having these problems there are a few suggestions I can

think of off hand. Orange juice is usually a good way to bring it back up

safely. Getting some protein in your system immediately is a good idea and

what they've lately recommended for me is cheese or peanut butter and

crackers so I keep a block of cheese in the refrigerator for that need.

You can also purchase glucose tablets in the diabetic section of the drug

store which are specifically made to raise your sugar from a hypoglycemic

level. I keep these in my purse. It's also a good idea to make sure you

don't fast for an length of time. The best personal treatment would be to

eat 6 small meals a day - spacing them evenly and making sure you have one

of these close to bedtime.

>

> Now - if you are seeing doctors who take readings in the low 30's lightly,

it's time to keep searching because those are dangerously low readings.

When your blood sugar goes that low, it is affecting your brain. I hope you

are taking your blood sugar readings at home regularly as you need to

monitor what is happening over time. If you don't have a meter now, it

would be a good idea to get one from Wal-Mart or where you would shop for

medical supplies. Readings should be taken 2 hours after a meal. Since you

are dealing with low blood sugar, you should probably test first thing in

the morning and just before going to bed also. Keep in mind that protein is

the best source of regulating sugar - not sugar. Sugar makes it rise too

fast. Normally seeing your blood sugar readings consistently low means that

you will be diabetic eventually as I've been told that when your blood sugar

repeatedly goes low, your system is using up all the insulin. Whether

that's true of not - I!

> 'm not sure.

>

>

http://www.mybloodsugar.net/bloodsugarlevels.htmhttp://www.mybloodsugar.net

/bloodsugarlevels.htm>

>

> (if my link comes up with something between <> - please delete it all

before trying to get to the site. I still haven't figured out why this keeps

happening but I keep picking up double sends on the links and those don't

work)

>

> Here, I found a chart which is apparently what they use for determining

where normal is but my own personal experience tells me that what they show

as normal here is low for me. I can't stress how strongly I feel about

finding the right doctor who will listen and then help you get this under

control. The doctor needs to look at the whole picture and listen to the

patient and how he or she feels. My PCP has taken total responsibility for

my blood sugar issues as she knows my case and is willing to listen. When I

book an appointment with her, I always ask for a longer one than normal

(usually a half hour) so that there is time to talk without being rushed.

>

> One more thing. If you are on the mito cocktail and taking alpha lipoic

acid, you should probably stop taking it as ALA causes blood sugar to lower.

If yours is already low, you don't want to be taking something that makes it

worse. Another supplement that can do the same thing is Chromium so look at

what you are taking and see if you are getting something into your system

that could be the cause of this problem.

>

> Alice

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kristie,

I like the idea of jelly beans also. I may have to get some. Just today I

walked by them at the department store that has the jelly belly in bins

where you can get any flavor you want.

Janet Sample

Sunny...hypoglycemia

>

> I am a non insulin dependent diabetic. I start to have problems when my

blood sugar readings go below 85. They are noticeable problems, even at

that point. In my last hospital stay, they were monitoring my readings

regularly and when the reading hit 85, the rushed to get me a snack. If my

blood sugar becomes lower than 80, I feel the stupor you are describing.

Last winter, I was going thru some problems with my sugar readings and the

lowest it got was at somewhere around 50. It was all I could do to put my

thoughts together enough to find something to eat and it took a very long

time to get it there.

>

> For someone who is having these problems there are a few suggestions I can

think of off hand. Orange juice is usually a good way to bring it back up

safely. Getting some protein in your system immediately is a good idea and

what they've lately recommended for me is cheese or peanut butter and

crackers so I keep a block of cheese in the refrigerator for that need.

You can also purchase glucose tablets in the diabetic section of the drug

store which are specifically made to raise your sugar from a hypoglycemic

level. I keep these in my purse. It's also a good idea to make sure you

don't fast for an length of time. The best personal treatment would be to

eat 6 small meals a day - spacing them evenly and making sure you have one

of these close to bedtime.

>

> Now - if you are seeing doctors who take readings in the low 30's lightly,

it's time to keep searching because those are dangerously low readings.

When your blood sugar goes that low, it is affecting your brain. I hope you

are taking your blood sugar readings at home regularly as you need to

monitor what is happening over time. If you don't have a meter now, it

would be a good idea to get one from Wal-Mart or where you would shop for

medical supplies. Readings should be taken 2 hours after a meal. Since you

are dealing with low blood sugar, you should probably test first thing in

the morning and just before going to bed also. Keep in mind that protein is

the best source of regulating sugar - not sugar. Sugar makes it rise too

fast. Normally seeing your blood sugar readings consistently low means that

you will be diabetic eventually as I've been told that when your blood sugar

repeatedly goes low, your system is using up all the insulin. Whether

that's true of not - I!

> 'm not sure.

>

>

http://www.mybloodsugar.net/bloodsugarlevels.htmhttp://www.mybloodsugar.net

/bloodsugarlevels.htm>

>

> (if my link comes up with something between <> - please delete it all

before trying to get to the site. I still haven't figured out why this keeps

happening but I keep picking up double sends on the links and those don't

work)

>

> Here, I found a chart which is apparently what they use for determining

where normal is but my own personal experience tells me that what they show

as normal here is low for me. I can't stress how strongly I feel about

finding the right doctor who will listen and then help you get this under

control. The doctor needs to look at the whole picture and listen to the

patient and how he or she feels. My PCP has taken total responsibility for

my blood sugar issues as she knows my case and is willing to listen. When I

book an appointment with her, I always ask for a longer one than normal

(usually a half hour) so that there is time to talk without being rushed.

>

> One more thing. If you are on the mito cocktail and taking alpha lipoic

acid, you should probably stop taking it as ALA causes blood sugar to lower.

If yours is already low, you don't want to be taking something that makes it

worse. Another supplement that can do the same thing is Chromium so look at

what you are taking and see if you are getting something into your system

that could be the cause of this problem.

>

> Alice

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kristie,

I like the idea of jelly beans also. I may have to get some. Just today I

walked by them at the department store that has the jelly belly in bins

where you can get any flavor you want.

Janet Sample

Sunny...hypoglycemia

>

> I am a non insulin dependent diabetic. I start to have problems when my

blood sugar readings go below 85. They are noticeable problems, even at

that point. In my last hospital stay, they were monitoring my readings

regularly and when the reading hit 85, the rushed to get me a snack. If my

blood sugar becomes lower than 80, I feel the stupor you are describing.

Last winter, I was going thru some problems with my sugar readings and the

lowest it got was at somewhere around 50. It was all I could do to put my

thoughts together enough to find something to eat and it took a very long

time to get it there.

>

> For someone who is having these problems there are a few suggestions I can

think of off hand. Orange juice is usually a good way to bring it back up

safely. Getting some protein in your system immediately is a good idea and

what they've lately recommended for me is cheese or peanut butter and

crackers so I keep a block of cheese in the refrigerator for that need.

You can also purchase glucose tablets in the diabetic section of the drug

store which are specifically made to raise your sugar from a hypoglycemic

level. I keep these in my purse. It's also a good idea to make sure you

don't fast for an length of time. The best personal treatment would be to

eat 6 small meals a day - spacing them evenly and making sure you have one

of these close to bedtime.

>

> Now - if you are seeing doctors who take readings in the low 30's lightly,

it's time to keep searching because those are dangerously low readings.

When your blood sugar goes that low, it is affecting your brain. I hope you

are taking your blood sugar readings at home regularly as you need to

monitor what is happening over time. If you don't have a meter now, it

would be a good idea to get one from Wal-Mart or where you would shop for

medical supplies. Readings should be taken 2 hours after a meal. Since you

are dealing with low blood sugar, you should probably test first thing in

the morning and just before going to bed also. Keep in mind that protein is

the best source of regulating sugar - not sugar. Sugar makes it rise too

fast. Normally seeing your blood sugar readings consistently low means that

you will be diabetic eventually as I've been told that when your blood sugar

repeatedly goes low, your system is using up all the insulin. Whether

that's true of not - I!

> 'm not sure.

>

>

http://www.mybloodsugar.net/bloodsugarlevels.htmhttp://www.mybloodsugar.net

/bloodsugarlevels.htm>

>

> (if my link comes up with something between <> - please delete it all

before trying to get to the site. I still haven't figured out why this keeps

happening but I keep picking up double sends on the links and those don't

work)

>

> Here, I found a chart which is apparently what they use for determining

where normal is but my own personal experience tells me that what they show

as normal here is low for me. I can't stress how strongly I feel about

finding the right doctor who will listen and then help you get this under

control. The doctor needs to look at the whole picture and listen to the

patient and how he or she feels. My PCP has taken total responsibility for

my blood sugar issues as she knows my case and is willing to listen. When I

book an appointment with her, I always ask for a longer one than normal

(usually a half hour) so that there is time to talk without being rushed.

>

> One more thing. If you are on the mito cocktail and taking alpha lipoic

acid, you should probably stop taking it as ALA causes blood sugar to lower.

If yours is already low, you don't want to be taking something that makes it

worse. Another supplement that can do the same thing is Chromium so look at

what you are taking and see if you are getting something into your system

that could be the cause of this problem.

>

> Alice

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have to eat a lower carb diet *normally* or I feel terrible. It keeps my

hypoglycemia under control as well. I personally think my family falls

under the area of carb problems, not the fat problems some people with mito

experience. I also need around a 120 grams of protein to be at my

optimum. Now, mind you, I dont usually get that much, unless I have just

eaten a 12 ounce steak, but I feel better when I can achieve it. I do best

with carbs if I stick to below a hundred of them a day, and 50 is better. I

have eaten far less than that a day, and did well too. For the first time

in my life, on low carb, I developed actual muscle tone easily (compared to

what I did on a regular diet anyway! nothing is ever easy, with mito).

Ok, so in actuality, people would look at me and say, okay, you still dont

have that much, but for me it was definitely noticeable! I have to

exercise twice as much as a normie, and eat vast quantities of protein, in

order to achieve any real muscle tone. I can only exercise like that when

a: I dont do much else in a day and b: I am not in a crash.

BTW, I am on an Atkins-like diet (regular feeding, not tube), and I

find my hypoglycemia symptoms are almost gone. But I do have to be

careful to get enough protein and fat - if I try to eat only veggies,

I almost pass out. Just had a hot dog and homemade low carb chili

(very little tomato paste and no fillers).

I have to mention that my mito doctor didn't recommend the Atkins

diet, she said that mitochondrial problems can mess up fat digestion,

but I am doing well on it (I am weird even for a mito patient). I am

*still* waiting for a bunch of tests to be scheduled for me and my

son, to see if my labs are negatively affected by the diet.

Take care,

RH

[Guest guest]

I have to eat a lower carb diet *normally* or I feel terrible. It keeps my

hypoglycemia under control as well. I personally think my family falls

under the area of carb problems, not the fat problems some people with mito

experience. I also need around a 120 grams of protein to be at my

optimum. Now, mind you, I dont usually get that much, unless I have just

eaten a 12 ounce steak, but I feel better when I can achieve it. I do best

with carbs if I stick to below a hundred of them a day, and 50 is better. I

have eaten far less than that a day, and did well too. For the first time

in my life, on low carb, I developed actual muscle tone easily (compared to

what I did on a regular diet anyway! nothing is ever easy, with mito).

Ok, so in actuality, people would look at me and say, okay, you still dont

have that much, but for me it was definitely noticeable! I have to

exercise twice as much as a normie, and eat vast quantities of protein, in

order to achieve any real muscle tone. I can only exercise like that when

a: I dont do much else in a day and b: I am not in a crash.

BTW, I am on an Atkins-like diet (regular feeding, not tube), and I

find my hypoglycemia symptoms are almost gone. But I do have to be

careful to get enough protein and fat - if I try to eat only veggies,

I almost pass out. Just had a hot dog and homemade low carb chili

(very little tomato paste and no fillers).

I have to mention that my mito doctor didn't recommend the Atkins

diet, she said that mitochondrial problems can mess up fat digestion,

but I am doing well on it (I am weird even for a mito patient). I am

*still* waiting for a bunch of tests to be scheduled for me and my

son, to see if my labs are negatively affected by the diet.

Take care,

RH

[Guest guest]

I have to eat a lower carb diet *normally* or I feel terrible. It keeps my

hypoglycemia under control as well. I personally think my family falls

under the area of carb problems, not the fat problems some people with mito

experience. I also need around a 120 grams of protein to be at my

optimum. Now, mind you, I dont usually get that much, unless I have just

eaten a 12 ounce steak, but I feel better when I can achieve it. I do best

with carbs if I stick to below a hundred of them a day, and 50 is better. I

have eaten far less than that a day, and did well too. For the first time

in my life, on low carb, I developed actual muscle tone easily (compared to

what I did on a regular diet anyway! nothing is ever easy, with mito).

Ok, so in actuality, people would look at me and say, okay, you still dont

have that much, but for me it was definitely noticeable! I have to

exercise twice as much as a normie, and eat vast quantities of protein, in

order to achieve any real muscle tone. I can only exercise like that when

a: I dont do much else in a day and b: I am not in a crash.

BTW, I am on an Atkins-like diet (regular feeding, not tube), and I

find my hypoglycemia symptoms are almost gone. But I do have to be

careful to get enough protein and fat - if I try to eat only veggies,

I almost pass out. Just had a hot dog and homemade low carb chili

(very little tomato paste and no fillers).

I have to mention that my mito doctor didn't recommend the Atkins

diet, she said that mitochondrial problems can mess up fat digestion,

but I am doing well on it (I am weird even for a mito patient). I am

*still* waiting for a bunch of tests to be scheduled for me and my

son, to see if my labs are negatively affected by the diet.

Take care,

RH

[Guest guest]

Hi, RH

Thank you for sharing your experience with hypoclycemia and a low carb

diet. I try to stay on a similar diet, and I think it is agreeing with

me.

Thanks again

Sunny

> BTW, I am on an Atkins-like diet (regular feeding, not tube), and I

> find my hypoglycemia symptoms are almost gone.  But I do have to be

> careful to get enough protein and fat - if I try to eat only veggies,

> I almost pass out.  Just had a hot dog and homemade low carb chili

> (very little tomato paste and no fillers).

>

> I have to mention that my mito doctor didn't recommend the Atkins

> diet, she said that mitochondrial problems can mess up fat digestion,

> but I am doing well on it (I am weird even for a mito patient).  I am

> *still* waiting for a bunch of tests to be scheduled for me and my

> son, to see if my labs are negatively affected by the diet.

>

> Take care,

> RH

>

>

>

>

> >

> > > Sunny,

> > >  Sorry for the delay.  I am on digest so it may take a couple of

> days

> > > to hear back from me. 

> > >

> > >  I am tube fed so unfortunately a lot of my nutrition comes in

> the

> > > form of carbohydrates.  My nutritionist doc has me add Pro Source

> (a

> > > Rx protien powder) to my feedings in hopes of keeping things

> level,

> > > but it has not been working lately.  I find that when my body is

> under

> > > additional stress (for me this can me just the high heat and

> humidity)

> > > my blood sugars are really difficult to manage.  Of course it

> doesn't

> > > help that I don't eat by mouth.

> > >

> > >  To manage the hypoglycemia I am now tube feeding 24/7.  When my

> > > feeding is done I'm running electrolytes.  This seems to be

> helping

> > > some.  When my sugars dip I use Clif Shot (sports gel..brown rice

> and

> > > corn starch based  http://www.clifbar.com/eat/eat.cfm?

> location=shot)

> > > to bring my numbers up quickly.  Then I go back to tube feeding

> to get

> > > some added protein which should help keep the  numbers up.  If

> that

> > > fails then I bolus coke into my tube...sometimes this works for

> > > me...sometimes it doesn't.  Failing that it is an injection of

> > > Glucagon

> > >

> (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682480.html) 

> > > and a trip to the ER.

> > >

> > >

> > >  Hope that helps.

> > >  Kristie

> > >

> > >

> > >  Message: 5        

> > >     Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2004 16:15:01 -0400

> > >     From: z39z@a...

> > >  Subject: Re: Sunny...hypoglycemia

> > >

> > >  Kristie

> > >

> > >  How are you careful? Anything else besides watching the

> carbs?    I

> > >  already posted that I restrict them severely now.   My doc just

> said

> > > to

> > >  take a small amount of sweet when I feel bad, but that does not

> help

> > > me

> > >  at all; if anything it makes it worse.  I don't  think the docs

> really

> > >  know or take it seriously.  Mayo Clinic has a very disappointing

> > >  attitude towards it.  I forgot exactly how they put it, but

> almost

> > >  saying it was emotional or exaggerated, or something.  I don't

> think

> > >  so!!!

> > >

> > >

> > >  The GTT was one of the most frightening experiences I ever had.

> No one

> > >  told me how I might feel.  I was crawling out if my skin with

> > >  discomfort. Everything bothered me to the

> > >  extreme...noise....,light......  I could not concentrate to read

> a

> > >  light magazine article. It took all my will power to just do the

> > >  appropriate things and get myself home. Like I wasn't me.  An

> > > extremely

> > >  bad feeling,  hard to describe.  Later, I realized I feel like

> that

> > >  some other times too, and really got motivated to try to

> minimize it. 

> > >  It is still an open question for me, what causes it, and what to

> do to

> > >  minimize it.

> > >

> > >  Thanks for your post, Kristie

> > >

> > >  Sunny

> > >

> > >

> > >