Reactive Hypoglycemia

[Sim75]

Does this show up in regular blood tests as I do wonder whether I might have this.
For about 5-6 years, longer if I go back periodically I seem to get incredibly fatigued, lightheadeded, and headachy after eating.

On days where I dont eat for proglongued periods I do tend to feel better, but then I get knackered because I haven't eaten

I've had blood tests for everything, NHS and private and nothing ever gets thrown up.
Diabetes tests always come back perfect. Gamma GT tends to be low but within range (no idea if that's good or bad). TSH, T4 always good. B12 good. VitD a bit low but within range.

Blood pressure does tend to be at the lower end of normal (120/65-70 resting)
Cholesteral does seem to be stubbornly high.

I've tried cutting out diary, wheat, gluten, but that doesn't seem to make much difference (Did a York test)

Anxiety is one thing I suffer badly with, so as a realist I'm not ruling that out as an underlying cause of general fatigue.
It's just that it seems to come and go so prevalently after I eat.

PS: Hydration doesn't seem to make that much difference, if at all.

I was looking at getting a monitor but have no idea they're worth it or how much 'kit' I need.
Some real world experience would be useful.

Thanks ladies

[Badda]

Blood glucose testing kits are cheap and readily available. This will show a snapshot of your blood glucose levels, should be able to answer your question if you use it whilst symptomatic.

[Sim75]

Cheers.

Any reccomendations would be ace.
I'd rather take advice from someone who uses one than take a punt on an amazon special.

[mike9009]

Hypoglycaemia is a low blood sugar.
Hyperglycaemia is a high blood sugar.

I think you mean hyperglycaemia as it appears after eating.

Doctors will have performed a hba1c test which looks at a three month average. So if you were running high after eating some carb, it would show in that long term test.

If you just want to do some random blood checks, the lowest priced kit in Boots would be best bet. (Other pharmacists are available)

If you fancy something which produces graphs and continuously monitors, a Freestyle Libre is highly recommended. Lasts two weeks and will plot through the night too. (They used to be about £45 from Asda Pharmacy.)

All the best


Mike

[Sim75]

Thanks Mike,
Would ‘low’ show up on a 3 month hba1c average?
I can dig out the results

[mike9009]

Sim75 said:

Thanks Mike,
Would ‘low’ show up on a 3 month hba1c average?
I can dig out the results

It would depend on the frequency of the events. The body has a natural defence with low blood sugars. I don't know, but I doubt it would show on a hba1c test. Best idea would get a blood glucose tester (they used to be about £10 for the basic one) and test your blood when you feel odd.

TBH it is unlikely to happen after eating, as that would raise your blood sugar.

An ex of mine used to get low blood sugars as we tested her when she felt odd. Doctors advice was to eat more frequently and smaller portions (30 years ago - advice may well have changed)

[Badda]

mike9009 said:

Hypoglycaemia is a low blood sugar.
Hyperglycaemia is a high blood sugar.

I think you mean hyperglycaemia as it appears after eating.

Doctors will have performed a hba1c test which looks at a three month average. So if you were running high after eating some carb, it would show in that long term test.

If you just want to do some random blood checks, the lowest priced kit in Boots would be best bet. (Other pharmacists are available)

If you fancy something which produces graphs and continuously monitors, a Freestyle Libre is highly recommended. Lasts two weeks and will plot through the night too. (They used to be about £45 from Asda Pharmacy.)

All the best


Mike

All incorrect. Reactive hypoglycaemia is a paradoxically low blood sugar after eating.

The blood test is not relevant for the symptoms and condition queried.

[Sim75]

Would a freestyle Libre (or similar) pick it up?

[Badda]

Yes but a £20 Amazon monitor will too.

[Riley Blue]

Sim75 said:

Would a freestyle Libre (or similar) pick it up?

It samples interstitial fluid so the figures it provides aren't instantly comparable with a finger-prick test which samples blood. Otherwise yes, it will show fluctuations and the Libre app will alert you when they're too high or too low.

[mike9009]

Badda said:

All incorrect. Reactive hypoglycaemia is a paradoxically low blood sugar after eating.

The blood test is not relevant for the symptoms and condition queried.

I don't think all my post was incorrect? Never heard of reactive hypoglycaemia before, so happy to be corrected on that.

So essentially an overactive pancreas, for whatever reason?

So, agreed a hba1c test would be irrelevant. However the other blood tests recommended would potentially pick up the drop in blood sugars.

Edited by mike9009 on Saturday 22 June 11:28

[robsa]

I do not have diabetes but suffer from hypoglycaemic episodes, and have done since I was nine. Never got to the bottom of it really, although if I eat something really sugary it can sometimes trigger one around an hour after. Otherwise, I get them seemingly randomly. I bought one of those bluetooth blood sugar monitors from Amazon (Dexcom One I think it was called) that last a week and you use an app. It was really good and picked up a couple of episodes in the week I used it, including one when I was asleep. Sadly it didn't really help with me understanding why I get them, but I can say the bluetooth detector seemed to work well, although they are expensive.

PS mine make me feel really shaky, faint, and generally like I'm about to get flu and I have go stuff down coke and chocolate