Blood sugar question

I went to the Doctor the other day, and he noticed that I was shaking and stumbling on my words. He brought me back in the next day to check me for Hypoglycemia. My blood sugar came back at 79 which is normal, and he wants to see again in 6 months. Well here is my question. I seem to have the symptoms of Hypoglycemia, but my blood sugar in still in the normal range. Could there be another explanation?

[Mugen910]

Drunk?

j/k

Is it possible that your blood sugar level was not low when he took your blood but low when you saw him? I'm no Dr..but does that stuff come and go fast?

[taltos]

Had you been exercising or running where you had not taken nourishment prior to seeing your doctor the previous day? That can depress blood sugar and electrolites which can both mimic the symptoms that he saw. The next day things could well have returned to normal if you took normal meals. He might want to do a glucose test where he measures your sugar level through different activities.

[G G]

Originally Posted by taltos

Had you been exercising or running where you had not taken nourishment prior to seeing your doctor the previous day? That can depress blood sugar and electrolites which can both mimic the symptoms that he saw. The next day things could well have returned to normal if you took normal meals. He might want to do a glucose test where he measures your sugar level through different activities.

And Paul is correct, you have to have a glucose tolerance test to see if you are diabetic or have hypoglycemia.

[G G]

Originally Posted by Mugen910

Drunk?

j/k

Is it possible that your blood sugar level was not low when he took your blood but low when you saw him? I'm no Dr..but does that stuff come and go fast?

Yes it can. For instance when we go on calls to diabetics who have bottomed out on their sugar, we can give them a glucose paste called glutose and within a minute it has affected the blood sugar. We also have to give D-50 (sugar) intravenously and when we do, the sugar can go from say 30 to 300 or 400 in less than 5 minutes.

[G G]

From what I understand the normal range is 80 to 120. Most of the time your sugar will be at it's lowest in the morning when you get up, then when you eat it will go up some. So I guess the time of day that you had it checked prolly makes a difference. My step son had some issues with his going low and getting shaky and faint feeling, but his doctor didn't seem to think he needed any treatment for it.

I am not a doctor, just a half of an EMT, so it's just my opinion but I would think that there could be something else going on.

If you had those symptoms and he wants to see you again in 6 months,,,I'd be high tailing it to another Doctor. In the meantime they should have made you take at the very least a CBC ( full blood count ) and then a follow up as to why you would be shaking. I am diabetic myself and my sugars can get to about 300 real quick without all of the shaking. You want to count out anything else and 6 months is too long to wait for physical symptoms like you are experiencing.

[G G]

Originally Posted by Cigary

If you had those symptoms and he wants to see you again in 6 months,,,I'd be high tailing it to another Doctor. In the meantime she should have made you take at the very least a CBC ( full blood count ) and then a follow up as to why you would be shaking. I am diabetic myself and my sugars can get to about 300 real quick without all of the shaking. You want to count out anything else and 6 months is too long to wait for physical symptoms like you are experiencing.

I would have to agrree with Cigary here too.

[taltos]

I used to run marathons and 10k races in the Marine Corps and showed symptoms of hypoglycemia. It took time but we arrived at a management plan that kept my blood sugar where it belonged.

[G G]

Originally Posted by taltos

I used to run marathons and 10k races in the Marine Corps and showed symptoms of hypoglycemia. It took time but we arrived at a management plan that kept my blood sugar where it belonged.

Eat a bag of those mini Reese's cups will do it too.

It is pretty much an everyday occurrence. It is worse if I forget to eat lunch which I am prone to do, but am working on it. I had not been doing anything out of the ordinary that day I was in there, but I have noticed that if I am outside a lot it gets worse.

Everyday!?

Time for another opinion (IMHO) A.S.A.P

[G G]

2nd opinion time.

[MedicCook]

For some diabetics who consistantly run high they may experience the sympotoms low blood sugar even when it is considered 'normal' for the average person. You can't be diagnoised as a diabetic from 1 blood sugar test. The only way to do it is to track your readings three times a day for a month and document all your intake to figure out if there are any patterns.

[DrDubzz]

Originally Posted by MedicCook

You can't be diagnoised as a diabetic from 1 blood sugar test. .

technically you can be... if it is greater than 200mg/dl (random) and you are exhibiting symptoms like polyuria, polydipsia, or polyphagia.

I hate to go looking for a new Doctor because I have been seeing my current one for 20 years, but I guess I will have to do what I have to do.

[Mugen910]

Originally Posted by Junior

I hate to go looking for a new Doctor because I have been seeing my current one for 20 years, but I guess I will have to do what I have to do.

we understand but you health is important enough to get a second opinion.
Posted via Mobile Device

[JE3146]

First and foremost. You don't need a new doctor, just another one. See a specialist. An endocrinologist.

Second. The feeling of 'low' blood sugars is a tricky thing. I've been a type 1 diabetic for over 9 years. I relate it to the change of blood sugar... ie the derivative. You can be over 300 and have the symptoms of low blood sugar simply because its plummeting downward at a quick rate. This is not always the case, which is why it's tricky. A low blood sugar can also just be a low blood sugar, but in any case, it is there as a *warning*.

IF you have hypoglycemia, I think it's important for you to understand what causes it and what it can lead to. These are things that can be taught to you by a specialist, a nutrionalist, or even some quick reading.

Hypoglycemia isn't directly related to the lack of sugar in your body, but rather the body's response. Low blood sugar is an indirect relation. Watching what you eat (on a level I can't even begin to explain) is going to be one of the only solutions to this mess. Goodluck with it, because it's such a radical lifestyle change.

Originally Posted by taltos

Had you been exercising or running where you had not taken nourishment prior to seeing your doctor the previous day? That can depress blood sugar and electrolites which can both mimic the symptoms that he saw. The next day things could well have returned to normal if you took normal meals. He might want to do a glucose test where he measures your sugar level through different activities.

This will effect a person within hours, (roughly 4 to 6) as your bodies muscles replenish spent sugar storage while drawing from the bloodstream. (Just to clarify for the OP to gather a timetable)

I will call in the morning and schedule with an Endocrinollgist.

[Savor the Stick]

Good advice Here. You should check it out and get an appointment with a specialist.

It is you health...Get it checked out asap.