Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia Revisited

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When I wrote the original blog, I didit because my daughter has non-diabetic hypoglycemia. She has aknowledgeable doctor that did properly warn her that she could laterdevelop type 2 diabetes. She still has not developed diabetes, buther doctor is monitoring her more closely and her diet is changingregularly, as she needs to reduce her carbohydrate intake as herblood glucose levels have moved toward the prediabetes level and theyadjust to keep them in the normal range.
My daughter does test her blood glucoseon her own schedule that she and her doctor have worked out and thetrend is the important factor. We don't talk about this often, as Icannot compare my diabetes to her non-diabetic hypoglycemia. I amjust happy that she has a doctor that knows what to do and betweenthem have managed it for now over two decades. My daughter has alsomodified her exercise regimen as needed for additional help.
I am surprised at the number of readsthe blog has received and even more surprised that none of the linkshave become broken or disappeared. In reviewing the links, severalhave actually become better and have information that is morerelevant. I am adding the link to this blog, but be careful ininterpreting the information as even the Mayo Clinic seems to haveproblems in diagnosing non-diabetic hypoglycemia. They link mostcases of hypoglycemia to diabetes, but do acknowledge non-diabetichypoglycemia in the discussion. Their main problem is notacknowledging that it is separate and distinct from diabeteshypoglycemia, but they try in a round about way. I honestly thinkthat because a majority of non-diabetic people with hypoglycemia dodevelop type 2 diabetes as they age, they are attempting to link thisas only a precursor to type 2 diabetes.
The article in about dot com is goodto read and they explain some aspects of non-diabetic hypoglycemiavery well. They show that non-diabetic hypoglycemia has the same lowblood glucose symptoms as diabetic hypoglycemia, which is good toknow.
Some of them are:1. fatigue 2. depression 3. anxiety 4. having trouble sleeping for nights on end or insomnia 5. headaches 6. personality changes rapidly 7. always hungry for something sweet 8. doctor says there is nothing wrong – I advise seeing anendocrinologist 9. dizziness 10. blurred vision 11. heavy sweating There are more, but many are justsubcategories of the above.
The following are important and I willquote them.
What is thecause of reactive hypoglycemia?The exactcause of reactive hypoglycemia is still unknown, but there areseveral hypothesis that might explain why it can happen.1. Sensitivity to epinephrine, a hormonethat is released in the body during times of stress. 2. Insufficient glucagon production.Glucagon is also a hormone which has the opposite effect of insulin.It raises blood glucose levels. 3. Gastric surgeries can also cause reactivehypoglycemia because food may pass too quickly through the digestivesystem. 4. Enzyme deficiencies can also causereactive hypoglycemia, but these are rare and occur during infancy.How tomanage reactive hypoglycemia Limitfoods with a high sugar content, especially on an empty stomach. Forexample, eating a doughnut first thing in the morning can trigger ahypoglycemic episode.  Eatsmall, frequent meals and snacks.  Eata varied, high fiber diet, with adequate servings of protein, wholegrain carbs and vegetables, fruits, and dairy foods  Carrypieces of hard candy with you, for those times when you feel yourblood sugar dropping.What to doif you are having a hypoglycemic episode.1. Eat or drink something that is a fastsugar source, such as orange juice, regular soda, a few pieces ofhard candy, or sugar cubes. This should relieve the symptoms within15 minutes. 2. Avoid choosing chocolate as a sugarsource. The fat in chocolate makes it absorb more slowly and it won'traise your blood sugar up as quickly as you need it too.3. Make sure to eat a small balanced mealafter the symptoms are gone. This will prevent another blood sugarspike and consequent drop.*A rare typeof tumor, called an insulinoma, in the pancreas can also causehypoglycemia in people who do not have diabetes. If you do sufferfrom episodes of hypoglycemia, it is wise to follow up with a visitto your doctor, to rule out the possibility of an insulinoma or othermedical condition.