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[Limpy]

Don't know enough about this.
Is low blood glucose different to low blood sugar?

[dulciana]

Quite often when we've both woken up and I've got myself a cuppa and a cat, my hubby will start talking about something serious or wrestling with an idea.  Although I know this is because he's an academic and is never happier than when he's examining something from every angle, I find this pretty hard to take at that time of the morning, when I've had no food.  It quite often gets me into an anxiety spiral, with a hot flush thrown in for good measure and ends with me getting narky with him.  Breakfast solves the problem for me every time.  I've tried asking him to avoid early morning "heavy" talk, but no luck.  Maybe I should have something to eat with my cuppa.
 

[honeybun]

This might help to explain why using the term low blood sugar does not really apply to most of us..

Hypoglycaemia or low blood glucose is a condition in which the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood, drops below a certain point (about 2.5mmol/l).

The condition manifests itself by a number of symptoms that usually disappear 10 to 15 minutes after eating sugar.

People differ slightly in the exact level of blood glucose at which they begin to feel symptoms of low blood sugar.
What causes hypoglycaemia?

Insulin is normally produced in the pancreas and helps the cells in the body absorb glucose from the blood. Normally, the glucose level rises after a meal.

Too much insulin in the blood and other diseases can cause hypoglycaemic episodes (also known as 'hypos').
What can cause hypoglycaemic episodes in non-diabetic patients?

Too much insulin in the blood:

    reactive hypoglycaemia (see below)
    a tumour – very often benign – in the insulin-producing pancreas. This is a very rare condition indeed
    an overdose of insulin or diabetic tablets either by mistake or on purpose.

Other diseases:

    a disease in the adrenal glands (Addison's disease)
    a weakened pituitary gland
    a severe reduction in liver function
    patients who have had their stomach removed
    sometimes cancer
    fasting, malnutrition
    following alcohol ingestion.

Reactive hypoglycaemia

Reactive hypoglycaemia is possibly the most common reason for hypoglycaemia in non-diabetics but is often overdiagnosed.

This form of hypoglycaemia is probably caused by an overproduction of insulin from the pancreas after a large meal with a lot of carbohydrates.

The insulin can still be detected even after several hours, although the level should be back to normal at this time. This condition is probably most common in overweight people and those with Type 2 diabetes, where the large demand for insulin can sometimes cause too much insulin to be produced in the pancreas. There is some evidence to suggest that reactive hypoglycaemia can precede Type 2 diabetes.
What happens during a hypoglycaemic episode?

Hypoglycaemia can cause some or all of the following symptoms:

    paleness
    trembling
    perspiration
    a feeling of weakness
    rapid heartbeat
    hunger
    agitation
    difficulty concentrating
    irritability
    fatigue
    blurred vision
    temporary loss of consciousness
    convulsions
    coma.

These symptoms will often occur about three to four hours after a meal.



Hope this explains it more fully.


Honeyb
x

[Limpy]

Thanks Honeyb - 

[CLKD]

I used to faint! DH and I would eat a cooked breakfast before going for a cycle ride  ……. a sudden feeling of intense nausea, blurred vision, head woozy and next thing: Himself picking me up off the road side ………  not pleasant and the number of cars that drove by when DH was helping me up - I did remember to put his expensive binoculars onto the verge before I dropped my cycle ……

   Honeybun!

[Limpy]

CLKD have you been tested for diabetes?

It can't have been nice. It's lucky you were able "to remember to put his expensive binoculars onto the verge before" dropping your cycle.

[CLKD]

That was in the mid 1970s.  I have been border-line for years  …….. and tested several times …….

[katem]

Hi Diamondsandpearls
I have been on Prozac for just over three weeks so I know I have to give it more time for it to kick in. I have asked for HRT but cannot have it at the moment cos I have high blood pressure. I have just been prescribed Diasapam for when I am feeling really desperate but I am loathe to take them as they are highly addictive so they could end up causing more problems for me than my menopause !!!!!! Don't like feeling like this and constantly moaning, its not me Honest.

[Diamonds and pearls 53]

Hi Kate,sorry to  hear you have been feeling so low-I have just caught up on your other thread and it sounds like you are having a really tough time. Hopefully the Prozac will start to take effect soon and you will start to feel a little better...don't worry too much about the Diazepam-you can save them for emergencies- I have some that I use for that purpose,and it's a comfort to know they are there 'just in case'.Perhaps try and get out in the sunshine today- nature is very therapeutic- and it might help a little.

Diamonds and pearls x   

[CLKD]

    Diazapam/Valium are used as pre-meds, relaxants and anti-anxiety medication.  What doseage have you been prescribed?  I took 5mg on an as-necessary basis for years and never became addicted because I knew it worked when required.  <shrug>

[Suzyq]

Katem the key is to only use when really desperate! You will know when those days are. If you start to use more frequently then you will have problems but I have found very useful and not addictive for me and the way I use them!

[CLKD]

I used Valium the night before an event to stop those awful early morning anxiety surges.  Even when visiting family  ........ because I knew they worked I did not need to use them for every day routines.

[honeybun]

I have diazepam for emergency use. I use very infrequently but I do use them when I need to. Just having the option is helpful for me. My GP trusts me to be sensible with them and given the fact I am quite scared of them then I get on fine.

This kind of medication has its place. It really depends on how you use them. When I have one I have no urge to take another and another. One is more than enough to help me deal with difficult situations.


Honeyb
x

[Dandelion]

lol @ diazepam.

I agree, only good for occasional use.
I completed a supervised reduction from valium after my doctor got me involuntarily hooked on them a while ago. She said I could only use them 2 or 3 times a week and therefore would only prescribe me 28 x 5mg a month. She said I would not get addicted that way.
So, me, thinking I wasn't addicted, came of them, and 17 days later I was hit with the most horrible withdrawals.
The specialist tranquiliser charity told me I was acutally in withdrawal, because I didn't believe I was, and told them that I had not taken them for 17 days, so why would I suddenly be exhibiting withdrawals after 17 days and they told me it took upto three weeks to get out of the system and for symptoms to hit.
I did a really slow taper because I could not get rid of some symptoms such as anxiety, depression and over-heating, but these symptoms turned out to be peri.
I mistook them for withdrawals, as I did have worse sweating and anxiety at the beginning of my reduction program.