What Is The Outlook For People With Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia can be managed when you and your healthcare provider understand what causes your blood sugar to go down. Give your healthcare provider as much information as possible about any hypoglycemic episodes. Fixing the problem may be as simple as changing the times you take medication, eat and exercise. Minor changes to the types of food you eat may also help.
High Blood Sugar Causes Fatigue
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of high blood sugar. In people with diabetes, it is referred to as diabetes fatigue. Many people with the condition feel tired all the time regardless of how well they sleep, how healthily they eat, or how much they exercise on a regular basis. Research has shown that up to 61% of people who are recently diagnosed with the condition experience fatigue. However, fatigue doesnt just occur in those with diabetes. It can also happen in people with normal or prediabetic blood sugar levels if they experience a sudden spike in their blood sugar.
When the body experiences a spike in blood sugar levels, it goes into overdrive trying to create enough insulin to balance it out. If there isnt enough insulin or the body isnt responding to the insulin as it should, your body will start to pull from fat to create the energy it needs. When this happens, energy is used from the splitting of a molecule known as adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. When ATP expels one of its three phosphates for energy, it turns into another molecule known as adenosine diphosphate, or ADP. If there are no energy sources to pull from, the ATP cannot regain the phosphate it gave away, leading to fatigue.
How Is Hypoglycemia Diagnosed
The only way to know if you have hypoglycemia is to check your blood sugar with a blood glucose meter. Its a small machine that measures blood sugar. Most of these devices use a tiny prick of the finger to take a small amount of blood.
People with hypoglycemia unawareness may need a continuous glucose monitor. These wearable devices measure glucose every few minutes, day and night. An alarm sounds if blood sugar drops too low.
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How Is Vertigo Diagnosed
The diagnosis of vertigo is most often made based upon history and clinical presentation. If the patient is experiencing a spinning sensation that worsens by a change in position, and lessens by lying still, the health care professional can confirm the cause of dizziness as vertigo if there are appropriate findings on physical examination.
The doctor may take a further history to make certain that the symptom of vertigo is isolated to an inner ear condition and not due to a problem in the brain .
Neurological examination
Physical examination will focus on the neurologic examination and may involve looking at eye movements. With vertigo, nystagmus may be present. Nystagmus is an involuntary movement of the eyes, slow and smooth in one direction with fast twitches in the other. It is the eyes’ attempt to compensate for the abnormal signals created in the inner ear. The patient may be asked to lay flat or sit upright to uncover the presence of nystagmus.
The doctor may test the patient’s hearing to assess potential hearing loss. This may be seen in Meniere’s disease or with an acoustic neuroma, but not necessarily with labyrinthitis or benign positional vertigo.
The rest of the neurologic examination may be done to look for one-sided weakness, loss of coordination, or loss of balance as potential signs of stroke.
Other Causes Of Dizziness After Eating
There are some other health conditions that may be the cause of dizziness after eating.
Migraines and Meniere’s Disease
People with vertigo or Meniere’s disease often feel dizzy after eating certain foods. The Mayo Clinic states that Meniere’s disease is an inner ear disorder. Vertigo is often a symptom of Meniere’s disease. Trigger foods include anything with high salt content, alcohol and caffeine. If you have one of these conditions you will need to limit your salt intake to avoid feeling dizzy.
Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia
While non-diabetic hypoglycemia is a rare condition, those who have it experience dizziness after eating due to a drop in blood sugar. The Mayo Clinic lists the symptoms as pale skin, fatigue, irritability, irregular heartbeat, hunger, crying out while sleeping and a tingling feeling around the mouth.
Dizziness can sometimes be caused by low or high sodium levels, and you should seek medical attention if you think you may have abnormal sodium levels because it can be a sign of something serious.
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Can Low Blood Sugar Cause Dizziness
Low blood sugar can cause dizziness beside other symptoms.
- Glucose level < 60 mg/dl with symptoms that are relieved promptly after the glucose level is raised, document hypoglycemia.
- Low blood sugar with dizziness is usually seen in diabetic patients who are on anti-diabetic drugs and insulin and have an insulin overdose accidentally or otherwise.
- The first symptom in these patients is dizziness and disorientation if the blood sugar level decreases.
- Lack of glucose supply to the brain can result in brain dysfunction, like dizziness and if prolonged, leads to irreversible neuronal damage and death.
Type 2 Diabetes And Dizziness
People with diabetes may experience dizziness, either as a symptom of the condition or as a result of dehydration or certain medications. A doctor can help determine the cause and how to manage or treat it.
Diabetes can cause low or high blood sugar, which can make people feel dizzy or lightheaded. High blood sugar can also lead to dehydration, as the body removes excess glucose from the blood through the urine, taking extra water with it.
Certain medications, including those that lower blood sugar, can also cause dizziness.
In this article, we look at the possible causes of dizziness in type 2 diabetes, other symptoms to be aware of, treatment options, and when to see a doctor.
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can occur in a person with diabetes. Low blood sugar levels, or low glucose levels, are those that fall below the healthy range.
According to the American Diabetes Association , low blood sugar levels are usually below 70 milligrams per deciliter , although this may be different for each individual.
Research suggests that of people with diabetes experience dizziness as a symptom of low blood sugar.
Other signs of low blood sugar can include:
- statins
- neuropathic pain relief medication, such as amitriptyline, duloxetine, and pregabalin
A person can discuss medication changes with a doctor. They should not stop taking medications or change their dosages unless the doctor instructs them to do so.
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How Can I Beat/reduce Fatigue With Diabetes And Regain My Energy
There are many ways to reduce fatigue with diabetes and regain energy. The most important thing that you can do is to control your blood sugar. This limits complications and also provides your body with the fuel that it needs to operate. You can also eat smart and exercise. Exercise actually decreases fatigue up to 65%. By taking care of yourself, you can decrease fatigue and increase quality of life.
You shouldnt make any changes to your diet, insulin, or exercise regimen without talking to your doctor. First off, your doctor needs to be consulted and you need to talk with him about the following things:
- Can my fatigue be caused by another disease? This rules out all other reasons for your fatigue so you can focus on the main cause.
- Are any of the side effects from my medications causing the fatigue?
- Is it a good idea for me to start taking supplements such as Vitamin D, Vitamin B, Calcium, Chromium, Ginseng, Coenzymes, or Magnesium?
- Is my thyroid okay?
- What kind of exercises would be best for me?
- How can I better control my blood sugar to decrease fatigue?
- What is a healthy weight for me to be?
Eating too many carbohydrates can cause you to feel drowsy. You should also schedule an appointment to talk with your dietitian or nutritionist to discuss the following things:
- Would juicing be okay for me?
- Am I eating too many carbs?
- How can I improve my diet to decrease my fatigue?
Other things that you can do to decrease fatigue include:
You Feel Suddenly Tired Or Sleepy
If you have diabetes and suddenly feel tired, or overwhelmingly sleepy, it can be a sign that your blood sugar is low, and your body is not getting enough energy. Rather than taking a napand the risk that your hypoglycemia episode will worseneat something, drink that juice, take your glucose tablets or gel. This isn’t a time to lie down and go to sleep, no matter how much you may want to.
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Parents Of Children With Diabetes
If your child has diabetes and shows symptoms of hypoglycemia, its important to check their blood glucose level with a glucometer. If this is not possible, it is best to treat them as if they have hypoglycemia by giving them carbohydrates to prevent symptoms from getting worse.
Your child should have a safety plan in place for when they are not in your care, such as when they are at school, friends homes, or daycare. The plan should include whom they should talk to if they are not feeling well.
Talking to your child about their diabetes and the symptoms to be aware of helps keep them safe. When your child is aware that how theyre feeling is related to their blood sugar levels and diabetes management, they can learn to both self-identify and verbalize or signal to their parents when they need treatment.
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Is It Your Circulation
Dizziness can be a sign of a problem with your blood flow. Your brain needs a steady supply of oxygen-rich blood. Otherwise, you can become lightheaded and even faint.
Some causes of low blood flow to the brain include blood clots, clogged arteries, heart failure, and an irregular heartbeat. For many older people, standing suddenly can cause a sharp drop in blood pressure.
Its important to get medical help immediately if youre dizzy and faint or lose consciousness.
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Hypoglycemia In Children: Pediatric Ketotic Hypoglycemia
Some children experience pediatric ketotic hypoglycemia, a condition involving low blood sugar levels and high levels of ketones. If people do not have enough glucose to use as energy, the body begins to break down fat in the body instead. The body produces chemicals called ketones as a by-product of breaking down fat.
According to a 2019 study , pediatric ketotic hypoglycemia usually occurs due to poor intake of food, a gastrointestinal illness and vomiting, or a period of prolonged fasting. Severe metabolic and hormonal conditions may also cause pediatric ketotic hypoglycemia.
Pediatric ketotic hypoglycemia may affect children from 6 months old and often resolves after the age of 6 years.
Scared Of Getting Diabetes
According to the Journal of Geriatric Cardiology , the type of diet that Dr. Doyle recommends is highly beneficial for preventing and treating type 2 diabetes.
For people accustomed to SAD standard American diet the idea of the whole food, plant based diet will seem impossible.
If preventing and treating type 2 diabetes is as simple as adhering to a particular diet, why dont more mainstream medical doctors push this approach?
Its because medical school spends only a few hours on nutrition, and only in the general sense.
During internships and residencies at hospitals, medical doctors are essentially trained in only diagnostics, drugs and surgery.
Type 2 diabetes is usually treated with diet and exercise alone, yes, but the patient is typically only told to watch sugar intake or cut back on fast food, rather than told to keep intake of animal and processed products under 10 percent.
FoodTherapyMD is the brainchild of Dr. Mitchell Doyle and recognizes that phytonutrients, the substances that make plant food so amazing, can be tailored to fight specific disease states.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. Shes also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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How Do I Treat Low Blood Glucose
If you begin to feel one or more symptoms of low blood glucose, check your blood glucose level. If your blood glucose level is below your target or less than 70 mg/dL, follow these steps
Electrolyte And Fluid Imbalances
As you transition into ketosis, your body burns through your glycogen stores, the back-up supply of carbs that are stored in your muscles and liver, according to a May 2018 study in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism. These carbs are stored with large amounts of water, which contain electrolytes such as potassium and sodium that help to regulate your body’s fluid balance.
As you burn through your glycogen stores, all of the water and electrolytes they contain are flushed out through your urine. This can cause dizziness, according to Jean LaMantia, RD, a registered dietitian in private practice in Toronto. “if you aren’t drinking enough, or not adding enough salt to your diet, or both.”
These fluid losses can easily lead to dehydration you’ll feel it as extreme thirst, dry mouth, dry skin, fatigue and dizziness, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Additionally, electrolyte losses may also cause dizziness because they can lower your blood pressure, says LaMantia. When there are huge shifts in electrolyte levels, such as those that occur when you first start keto, you’re likely to get those keto flu symptoms, which might also include headache, foggy brain, fatigue, nausea and constipation, among others, notes Harvard Medical School.
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How Is It Treated
If you often have symptoms of hypoglycemia, you should see your healthcare provider. Your provider can help you determine the cause. Your provider will also give you guidelines for treating low blood sugar when you are having symptoms.
When you see your provider, be sure to take your notebook or glucose meter with all of the results of your recent blood sugar checks. This helps your provider know whether you are on the right medicines and are taking the right dose at the right time of day. Without this record, it is harder for your provider to help you figure out the cause of your symptoms.
Here are some examples of guidelines your provider may give you:
- If you have diabetes and you think your blood sugar may be too low, check it with your home meter before treatment, if possible.
- Always carry some form of sugar you can eat as soon as you have any symptoms of hypoglycemia. The following amounts and types of foods will bring your blood sugar level up:
- 2 to 5 glucose tablets
- 1/2 cup fruit juice
- 1/2 cup regular soda
- 6 to 8 ounces of skim milk
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup of raisins
- 5 to 7 pieces of hard candy like Lifesavers
- a tube of glucose in gel form
- 1 tablespoon of molasses, corn syrup, or honey
Low Blood Pressure As A Cause Of Dizziness
Dizziness, lightheadedness, and the feeling of passing out is a common complaint in people who have low blood pressure. When the blood pressure is too low, not enough oxygen-rich blood is delivered to the brain, and its function can be affected. If the brains blood supply is decreased too much, the person may pass out . Symptoms may worsen when changing position from lying down or sitting to standing up.
In addition to feeling dizzy, associated symptoms may include:
In individuals who are dehydrated or anemic, blood pressure readings may be normal when they are lying flat however, the lack of fluid is unmasked when they stand up quickly. The lack of blood to the brain may cause dizziness and lightheadedness. This feeling may pass in a few seconds as the body adapts. However, if dehydration or medications prevent the body from reacting by constricting blood vessels and increasing the heart rate, the dizziness may persist to the point at which the patient passes out .
Some diseases are associated with an inability to compensate for changes in body position . Normally when a person stands, blood vessels contract to increase blood pressure slightly, and the heart rate also increases slightly, to pump blood uphill to the brain against gravity. In autonomic dysfunction, a person may become dizzy when they move from a lying position to sitting or standing up. Examples of these diseases with this syndrome include diabetes, Addisons disease, or Parkinsons disease.
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