[Christina86]

Chances are that I verge on having diabetes because of weight issues and hereditary/genetic issues.

However, it could also be because my diet sucks (I'm a student who doesn't plan too well). But I'm asking for advice about how to keep your blood sugar level?

I get dizzy spells, nausea, tired, and just generally feel sick for some time until I eat. If it gets really bad, my hand shakes.

Does the 5 small meals a day work? What's a complex carb I can consume that won't make my blood sugar spike? When I feel sick, what types of food should I be aiming for? I know I should cut out the high sugar things in my diet, but sometimes I get bad cravings for it. I'm also trying to watch my sodium intake, which is a lot harder than I originally thought.

Any ideas/thoughts/experiences? Thanks all.

[bebop]

hon if you are getting the shakes before you can eat it might be hypoglycemia rather than diabeties. best to see a dr about it.

[Christina86]

forgive me for asking, but what is that exactly? I've read some webpages, and only managed to get more confused. Youre not the only one who has said it though... but I dont really know what it is (because there seems to be more than one kind of 'hypoglycemia')?

[RozG]

Christina i got told by my practice nurse hypoglycemia means low blood sugar, the opposite of diabetes with high blood sugar. i didn't know there were different types though.

[Perna]

here's a respected site to learn about hypoglycemia:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypoglycemia/DS00198

But hypoglycema isn't an disease (like diabetes is) but just an indication you have a problem and should see your doctor to figure out exactly what is wrong; there can be lots of causes.

You don't ever want to "spike" your sugar; so caffeine, sugar, etc. should be balanced out throughout the day; no coffee and danish for breakfast and nothing else until lunch sort of thing or my husband's favorite, a snack of cake or pie just before going to bed late at night.

Just work on eating "better" and things can correct themselves. Very hard if you're a student though, I understand; my group therapist was into my having hypoglycemia when it was just coming into vogue in the 1970's but I was in my 20's and lived on coffee, beer, and potato chips for 5+ years.

One thing I like to do now is eat an apple a day. That really does work :-) and an apple mid-day will wake you up better than coffee (I accidentally tried it and it works!) and you can carry around carrot sticks/veggies in baggies, etc. It use to be, don't know now, but "nuts" were the thing to help with hypoglycemia, when the energy was lagging, etc. you ate a handful of peanuts or something. I have an unsalted trail mix I like with sunflower, soy, peanuts, hazelnuts, raisins, etc. that I get at my health food store and eat too much of right away so I feel sick, LOL.

[Christina86]

thanks everyone...

I keep forgetting to eat. I just had a dizzy spell, and realized I hadnt eaten since I woke up (4 hours earlier) ... sigh. At least my stomach is telling me Im hungry now... it hasnt done at in a long time.

[ziggy1]

I had a nutrition course when in college. I'm not certified. But

I think I can offer up a few tips...

First of all processed sugar is the worst. It plays on mood swings too.

Unprocessed & raw natural sugars are better. I'm not big on
sugar substitutes in the long run they get a bad rap.

Try foods sweetened with fruit juice or cane juice. Kashi makes
some good snack products high in fiber and protein, low in
sugar.

Fruit fruit and more fruit. All natural juices, read the labels
food companies deceive the consumer all the time. Some juice only
contain 10% real juice hence adding just water and more Sugar!

I know its hard to stay away from the great sugary desserts and
snacks, I go for a 5-10 min walk if I feel like Indulging.

A good rule of thumb if its not in the house then you can't eat it...!!

Hope this has helped some....

[PsyChris]

People that have diabetes can get hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemic (high blood sugar). Diabetes is an inability of the body to maintain blood sugar levels.

You can get hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and not have diabetes. However you have some risk factors for diabetes.

I really think you need to follow-up with a doctor on this. Diabetes is not normally an instant killer but overtime it can cause serious problems with your body.

The most important thing to do is to keep your blood sugar regulated. You need to eat smaller meals throughout the day consistently.

One of the problems with hypoglycemia is that your blood sugar can go low enough to the point you loose conciseness. That's why it is very important to eat regular meals.

If you do have Insulin Dependant Diabetes it may be necessary for you to be on additional medication despite a healthy diet.

Like I said it really is important to follow-up with a doctor. Diabetes is a highly manageable condition and you will be just fine as long as you are consistent with any medication and your eating habits.

[amuseable]

Hi there. I know a great deal about hypoglycemia because I have a kind of severe reactive hypoglycemia most people will never get. It is indirectly caused by surgury I had. I have almost died from it. A lot of the things folks are saying are true. Beware of fruit juices. They raise your blood sugar very quickly. I use them only in emergencies and even then i must eat real food within 20 minutes or end up with a blood sugar level bottoming out. The usual test they use here is the glucose tolerance test. It will depict what your body does with sugar... how it reacts to it. I firmly believe many folks have trouble with unstable/low blood sugars .... it is just a matter of degree. Your family doctor can order the test for you. I have a glucometer .... if you know anyone close who would test your blood for you when you are having symptoms that would be helpful. Cause that will tell you how low you are .... though glucometers are not as accurate with low readings as with high or normal ones. Here in Canada anything below 4 is considered low. People vary as to when they start getting symptoms though. Some people experience symptoms even when their sugar is in a normal range but LOW FOR THEM whereas I can go lower than 4 with less symptoms because my body is adapted to it.

[Christina86]

FRUSTRATED.

I ate. It wasn't full of sugar (aka I had protein, veggies and pretty good stuff... except some apple juice and maybe the potato salad wasnt that good for me)... and I felt fine for some time, and now I feel really dizzy again. I hate my body... HATE IT.

I'm going to try to go to the doc in two weeks... I can this week, have too many other appts and an exam.

[PsyChris]

How long have you had these episode of dizziness?

Does anyone in your family have a blood sugar monitor you could use?

If so, when you start to feel dizzy check your blood sugar. Anything below 70 is considered Hypoglycemia and may warrant a trip to the ER if it's below 55. They can write you some temporary prescriptions until you see a doctor in a few weeks. There is no reason to be feeling bad when you don't have to.

[Christina86]

I don't remember getting this dizzy from not eating for a while now... maybe it's stress that sets it off. It's been happening for a week or two now. I'm going to go see about seeing a doctor tomorrow AM (if possible). I really can't afford to take time out of studying, but if I pass out during my exam it doesnt really do me much good either.

Nobody has a blood sugar monitor anymore. My grandfather (now deceased) got diabetes as a senior and had a monitor... but that doesn't do me much good since we don't have it anymore!

[Perna]

I don't know that a monitor would do you any good at all anyway without a full workup to see what all is going on. There's just so many things it could be. Not eating and stress together could be all it is, doesn't have to be related to your blood sugar specifically. But you do need to take time out from your studies to eat :-)

I was having trouble with nosebleeds during the time when I first took the GRE's back in 1973, and in the middle of the math portion had one. That was terrifying as I didn't feel well and I'm trying to hide it afraid they'd throw me out, etc. So I don't recommend fainting either :-)

[Doh2007]

It might be helpful to know about the glycemic index. Here's a site that has a list of some foods (scroll down).
http://www.diabetesnet.com/diabetes_...emic_index.php
The glycemic index measures how fast a food raises your blood sugar.

The idea is to eat foods that don't raise your levels too quickly so you don't have the resulting sudden drop off.

String cheese comes in little packets that are convenient to stick in your purse or pocket for a quick snack. But the idea is to eat low glycemic foods every couple hours.

By the way, the book the site recommends by Jennie Brand-Miller is excellent. She's kind of a pioneer in the field.