Other Hypoglycemia and ptsd?

[desiderata310]

I'm sorry if this question has been posted before.

I have been having trouble lately with sugar crashes. I'm not overweight, I exercise regularly, etc.

I went in last week to get bloodwork done because I can't seem to get this right and recently I can't seem to get my anxiety anywhere near under control. I know I show classic signs of hypoglycemia. I also know that I relived a trauma last week but my ability to sleep, concentrated, think have been so greatly diminished it's scary.

I'm shaking right now and I just had something to eat and I'm not sure if I am in freak out mode because of anxiety, low blood sugar or both.

Hell at the moment I'm not sure that this post is making sense.

 

[RussH]

Anxiety eats up a lot of energy, so it could be burning off the glucose you are taking in.
do you try to eat complex carbohydrates? They are better at substaining your glucose levels.
It is something you should talk over with your doctor.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Not exactly, but I'll share.... I know that when I am having dissociative episodes, sometimes it is sugar (usually apple juice) that brings me back and grounds me fast when nothing else can. I am not sure exactly what's going on as this has only happened once and it was just by chance that I got my favorite apple drink at starbucks. I now have apple juice drink boxes stocked in my kitchen in case this happens again. (So far, it hasn't.)

 

[Tinyflame]

Short answer is definitely some relation to a need for quick sugar, even fat maybe, quick 'energy', I think. I don't get it either, but I think @Solara is on to something. I just realized the other day I can get the ability to ground with peanut butter/margarine/+/or sugar (yes I know gross), or cookies, but something that arose with the ptsd I know for sure. Similar to you @desiderata310 I am very active & around 100 pounds but consume easily 4000-5000 calories a day, or more. I don't have a Dr but I don't have symptoms of thyroid trouble, & I don't think it's low blood sugar exactly (but then again..? ) as I go for hours or the day without eating or feeling hungry, maybe insulin resistance?. But yes, I 'know' there is some connection, though I don't 'get' it. Complex carbs don't seem to help at all, in fact nothing else does. Except also I think dehydration makes it worse, or maybe even blood pressure (too low or too high).

I decided I am simply going to use it as a 'go to'. Grounding is preferable for me at the moment. I don't react adversely, only better.

 

[The Albatross]

I have hypoglycemia, but it has less to do with PTSD than it does the diabetic gene. Diabetes runs in my family. I don't have diabetes, but I have hypoglycemia instead.

 

[Shorty]

I have tyroid problems myself and with my illness it goes plays up that's why im on a high dosage. I feel what your feeling i get it everyday but a good meals like pasta and oddly enough lots of water and pure orange juice works wonders.

 

[Go Hungry]

I go for hours or the day without eating or feeling hungry, maybe insulin resistance?. But yes, I 'know' there is some connection, though I don't 'get' it. Complex carbs don't seem to help at all, in fact nothing else does. Except also I think dehydration makes it worse, or maybe even blood pressure (too low or too high).

You should really get some blood work done by a doctor soon. Insulin resistance is not a joking matter. Since I got Type II diabetes I have to watch my blood sugar constantly, and it's a huge pain in the ass. :poop: Don't follow me...

But yes, dehydration has a big amount to do with any problem of the body. No matter what's wrong, being dehydrated always make things worse. Way worse.

 

[The Albatross]

Hypoglycemia is actually very difficult to detect on a blood screen. I outta know... I wasn't diagnosed til I was 37. I started having problems before I was a teen.

 

[Lucycat]

Insulin resistance is not a joking matter.

Insulin brings blood glucose down. Therefore resistance to insulin means blood glucose remains high - ie hypERglycamia.
This is the exact opposite of hypOglycaemia which is low blood glucose.

If taught to self monitor with a simple blood glucose meter, these days it is very easy to diagnose hypoglycaemia. When symptoms start the person tests themself, The meter accurately records the information for a medic. These can now even be blue-toothed or emailed to the professional for analysis. You can even buy the meters quite cheaply over the counter in the UK, although you do need to be shown properly how to use it, as they are prone to error through simple misunderstandings like when to test and how to prepare the skin.

Also once diagnosed it is relatively simple to treat ( in theory) through careful regular diet of appropriate carbohydrates.

 

[Tinyflame]

Yes thanks @Lucycat & @Go Hungry . The monitors here are cheap but the test strips are costly, $70-$80. But I get it, just don't know if I never feel hungry because I'm too full, sugar remains too high after dealing with it too low, or I don't notice. Decades of eating one meal/day. I guess it never seemed to matter, if one is battling bigger things!

But I think desiderata & the others have a point. Anything that makes it at least easier on our minds & bodies to handle stress helps. Like @Shorty said, cold water too (I think even the 'cold' can be grounding).

 

[desiderata310]

@The Albatross I was hoping that they would do a fasting blood glucose test. I figured that would SCREAM if I actually do have hypoglycemia. instead they did a panel of blood tests, I guess looking for other issues?

I was looking over the symptoms the other day and saw that one of the indications of hypoglycemia was nightmares. I have those in abundance. If getting my blood sugar levels right will mean I sleep more at night, I am ALL for that! When I talked this over with my therapist, he said that hypoglycemia can worsen the symptoms of PTSD. So, yeah...
I will happily change my diet, stick my finger, WHATEVER, to feel better at this point. I've been miserable all day at work today.

I guess I have to just hold on till Friday when my results come back.

 

[Chava]

Hope the results help make things more clear. I've more often had blood sugar spikes in relation to anxiety...didn't even know this until I went in for arrhythmia and they did an EKG along with blood work...my blood sugar levels were elevated alongside my screwed up heartbeat and high blood pressure (I exercise too, am on the underweight side, don't have these problems when stress-free, which isn't often enough...). I eat frequently, not huge amounts, and have to be careful about the kinds of sugars I'm consuming. I've been eating more white bread lately because it's cheap and that's just crap for blood sugar, whether too high or too low. I seem to do better with oats, quinoa, plenty of protein and fat, fruits and vegetables, and not actually much in the starch or bread group...just a bit. Hope you're feeling a little better soon...