h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have suffered from depression for a few years now and feel as though I appear to be a hypochondriac and do not like to go to the doctors with other things incase it's all in my mind.
BUT, sometimes, and it is becoming more and more often recently, I get the skakes, get very hot and sweaty, go weak and relieve these problems with glucise sweets or chocolate bars.
I have never mentioned this to my doctor because of the fear or humiliation if I am wrong about it being a hypo.
Could I just be eating at the wrong times and eating the wrong stuff? Or not eating enough?
I dunno what to do.

Anyone had a similar experience?

Let me know.

Thanks. aManda

Hi,

It sounds like hypoglycemia to me. It's also called 'reactive hypoglycemia'. I've suffered from it for many years. However, most doctors don't know anything about it and won't be helpful. They'll say that it's very rare or doesn't exist at all and tell you that you're just suffering from stress or that it's all in your mind. If you want to discuss it with a doctor you have to find one who has experience in diagnosing and treating it.

An important point is that people can suffer from the symptoms of hypoglycemia if their blood sugar level drops quickly, even if it still stays within the normal range. So if a doctor just checks your blood sugar level once, they probably won't detect it. If they do a four hour glucose tolerance test, checking your blood sugar level every half hour, then they can diagnose it. I've heard that there's a test they can do to check your insulin levels too.

Some people (like me) suffer from the adrenalin type of hypoglycemia. After their blood sugar level drops, their body produces adrenalin to raise it again. Then it drops again. So the glucose tolerance test shows it going up and down. The adrenalin gives them a dry mouth, makes them feel restless, makes them shaky etc. But sometimes it can make them feel good too (excited, energetic).

The only treatment for hypoglycemia is to change the type of foods you eat and eat small meals frequently instead of large meals infrequently. Some people say that taking vitamin/mineral supplements can help too, but different people have different opinions as to which ones to take. Sugar's the worst thing to eat because your body overreacts to it by producing too much insulin and dropping your blood sugar level too low again. It's better to eat other types of carbohydrates with protein and/or fat. There are a lot of contradictory opionions out there as to what type of diet is best, and if you change your diet, it can take a long time (weeks or months) to take effect. But if you don't do something the problems gradually get worse over the years.

Some doctors say that hypoglycemia, untreated, can lead to type two diabetes later on in life. The two theories that I've heard are that your pancreas eventually becomes exhausted from producing too much insulin for all those years and stops producing enough, or that your cells gradually become insulin resistant so the insulin stops being effective.

I suffered from hypoglycemia for about ten years before I found out what it was (unfortunately, that's not unusual). It had gradually been getting worse over the years. I had seen a few doctors who weren't helpful at all, but then I found a doctor who diagnosed it. I stopped eating sugar and started eating frequent snacks, every two and a half hours, on his advice. That helped to prevent or relieve the symptoms. After three years of that (yes, three years), I found that I didn't suffer from hypoglycemia as frequently or severely anymore, and could go longer without eating.

You can find more information about hypoglycemia on the Internet if you use the search engines. There might be a hypoglycemia association in your country too which could help you. There's one in the USA and in Australia.

EchidnaZ

Thank you for your reply.
I actually went to my doctor this morning, and have been for some blood tests.
He wanted me tested for blood sugar and a range of other things including thyroid problems, renal probs etc etc. I did not actually say the word Hypoglycemia to him, but kind of went around it quoting all of my symptoms and he kind of drew his own conclusions and did actually mention blood sugar, so you never know, the test may show something.
If I am clear on all the other things, but he does not suggest hypoglycemia, I will have to mention it to him.
I am sooooooo tired lately, have no enery and keep craving nasty sugary things.
I have gained weight as well, which he acknowledged, so you never know, we might get a diagnoses out of him.
I had considered stress, but I have a great job and family life is ok, so stress is not really a factor I dont think.

Thanks again, I will let you know how I get on, if that's ok.



Amanda

Hi Amanda,

I hope your doctor is helpful. A lot of them say you don't suffer hypoglycemia if your blood sugar level is in the normal range, yet you can suffer the same symptoms as if your sugar level was too low.

Is there a reason why whoever wrote that article on hypoglycemia didn't submit it for peer review? I think it would be a good addition to the edited guide. Would it be all right for one of us to click the 'peer review' button? Because I noticed that option's available to anyone, not just the author.

EchidnaZ

erm.. pass. I dunno if other people can submit something for review, but we could try I spose.
I get the results of my blood in about 3 days,
I am a bit worried.
I am sure it will all be ok.

Speak to you soon,

Amanda

I just sent an e-mail to the author, since he included his email address in the article. I don't know if he's still using H2G2.

EchidnaZ

I noticed a lot of people use this place a lot to start off with but then seem to lose interest. Including myself.

aManda

Well, you're still here, so that's a good sign

Hi Amanda,

So how did things go with your doctor and the blood tests?

The guy who wrote the article hasn't replied to my email.

Chris

Hi, I am almost a year lat replying to this message, for which I can only apologise.
(In the unlikely event you look)
The doctor reckons I am fine. Fit as a fiddle. Still having symptoms, worse if anything.
Have given up on doctors and have not been back for about 8 months.
Grrr

O ... Hi

Opps - sorry I fell asleep for a few years - must have crashed after the sugar high

Sorry I didnt reply to you both! Thanks for writting though and I apologies for my ignorance!



Paul

Talk about backing yourself into a corner! Just because I posted a load of information about my hypoglycaemia, I didn't think I would end up being an agony aunt for hypochondriacs - Jesus! Sorry if I seem unsympathetic.

Have you ever heard the saying ... just because your paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out to get you!! I think you should think about that and the path might be clear to you.

Humiliated if you’re wrong? Surely everyone is (at one time or another). Fear - why do you fear being wrong - have you lived your whole life being right all the time then!! If you’re so scared about asking your doctor, how can you ask me so easily, and post it on a public web site? Sorry if I seem unsympathetic, but your just not right!

Anyway - glad you went to see your doctor and glad you are fine! May be you need to read some Freud entries next