Hypoglycemia

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Okay, so a friend of mine called me up and told me that the other day she was feeling really horrible. She broke out in a cold sweat, bad stomach ache, blurred vision, she almost felt like she was about to faint, etc. She then told me that she was hypoglycemic at one time but has not had anything like this happen to her in a while. Hypoglycemia makes sense because all of what she describes hits the symptoms of it and she was diagnosed as having it anyway.Basically, she didn't have much to eat except some linguini 14 hours and a couple of eggs 8 hours before she started having bad symptoms.For maintenance, I told her she should probably avoid elemental aka simple sugars and incorporate more complex carbohydrates into her diet. As well as considering eating several small healthy snacks througout the day.As far as treatment for insulin shock, kind of like what she was going into, what do you think she should have done? I read that it is best to give a jolt of some kind of simple sugar, but not too much.So, for those of you that have hypoglycemia, what do you eat or snack on once you feel the effects of inulin shock coming on?Any advice on the general condition would be greatly apreciated. Thanks.

It would be good if she had some glucose tablets handy -- they can be bought off-the-shelf at any pharmacy. A glass of orange juice would also be good. Also available are plastic ampules that contain sugar water, and which are metabolized very quickly.

If you get it bad enough, it can make you seem like you're dead drunk, or you can pass out altogether. Passing out would be a medical emergency. Karo syrup or some such thing rubbed on the gums will help. If it's bad enough, a dextrose injection into a vein ("amping") is indicated.

She should eat often, but consume food with a low glycemic index.

The people she spends time with should know about her condition. If she just starts acting weird one day, they're not going to know what's going on.

Quote:As to what she should have done? A PB and J sandwich would have worked wonders, as would a banana, apple, orange, etc.If she's having an acute hypoglycemic episode, she needs to get sugar into her blood as rapidly as possible. Those things are not as effective as something like orange juice, since they have a lower glycemic index. However, if you're not having an acute crisis, those are good healthy foods that would be beneficial to anyone....although I prefer something closer to real fruit, like fruit spread, than jelly.

I think she needs to take better care of herself too. When she started hanging around me, she became a lot more concious about what she eats. I understand the hardship of being a full time student and trying to take care of yourself. Your health is just as important, if not more important, than getting an education in college. That's my opinion anyway. Thanks Helms.

Thanks for the info Steve_A.

I'm mildly hypoglycemic. There's no need to juice your body with high amounts of sugar as it starts a sort of "roller-coaster" effect with your blood-sugar levels (unless you've already let your blood-sugar level get way too low). Just eating a handfull of nuts every hour or so will usually do the trick in preventing an attack. One thing to watch out for is coffee...it tends to lower blood-sugar and can bring on attacks.I always have a bag of nuts with me.

> Thanks for the info Steve_A.

No problem. I have a friend up north who's a type 1 diabetic, and he needs to check is blood sugar and pretty much alway give himself an insulin injection before eating. Before I knew what was going on with him, I watched him go through an acute hypoglycemic even, and I didn't know what was going on. He started acting kind of drunk, and fading in and out. He later explained what it was, and how to deal with it.

Also, my father had type 2 diabetes, and toward the end of his life, his blood sugar level became pretty unstable (aggravated by other medical problems, like kidney issues). His blood sugar dropped so low that he passed right out. The paramedics pumped D50W, a solution of 50% dextrose and water, directly into his vein. It's like mainlining maple syrup. It was like flipping a switch -- he came right back.

If blood sugar drops low enough, it is a very serious medical emergency. The brain needs to have it's glucose supply as much as it needs oxygen. Very low blood sugar, for a long enough period, will cause brain damage.

"Basically, she didn't have much to eat except some linguini 14 hours and a couple of eggs 8 hours before she started having bad symptoms."That says it all. She needs to eat small frequent meals... All the other advise is good... But sheesh, she should eat!My daughter would pass out in the shower in the morning... I was like, have something to eat!K