Morning low blood sugar

I have been controlling my symptoms of Gastroparesis, by modifying my diet. ½ of my daily meals are liquid and baby food consistence . The rest is easy digestible food items . I am on what is considered Specific Carbohydrate Diet. I have been doing real well until recently, when I began to battle not only the nausea but a feeling of exhaustion. Although diabetes has been ruled our are a problem in my life, I have had a problem with Hyperglycemia , bad enough I get the shakes and bad enough that my husband had to call an ambulance.

I have began to test my blood sugar first thing in the morning, naturally it is low. I will fix my shake and drink it, and as I set here an hour later, at the computer I will begin to feel like I need to go to bed as exhaustion hits me. I decided to test my blood sugar again and it had dropped. No not dangerously low, but it should have been going up since I had eaten. Any one have some ideas on how I can get my blood sugar to rise in the morning, instead of taking up to four hours before it gets up enough so that I can do anything physical, like walking out the front door. I am concern, since I had an incident a few day ago, when the world around me began to tilt , and I was forced to set down .

By jill3409dallas
Posted May 28, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Report post

My dad has this problem a lot. Actually, just a couples days ago his blood sugar dropped to below 80 and he was extremely weak and almost passed out. We quickly got something sweet and he was better but still so weak. I hope someone will be able to offer some answers to us.

By busyteacher
Posted May 28, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Report post

Actually, there are easy-to-digest Power Bars that have only some minor oat fiber and raise my blood sugar really quickly. I use them when I exercise--and when I start to feel dizzy or tired.
You can find them near the "healthy athlete" foods in the store. I wish.

By GinaB
Posted June 1, 2009 at 3:55 am
Report post

Hi Nanascorner, I have constant low sugar, I test 4 - 6 times a day. I keep both liquid and pill form glucose tablets with me 24 - 7. My sugars have gone as low as 47, I feel weak, shaky, sweat like crazy, and feel super hot. I never get hungry first? I'm like you, I wake up low between 60 to 75, so I test and eat something right away. When I could eat oatmeal it would keep my sugar stable for hours, but now with this GP, I have to eat 6 times a day. I keep regular jello, SF cozy shack puddings, fruit cups in the fridge. I make all kinds of pasta but i can only eat it in small portions. I have had to take liquid vitamins and they give me the much needed shot of energy in the morning. Right now the low sugar has been a problem for awhile and the only thing I can do about it is test constantly. I'm keen to eat first, wait about 30 mins, then go exercising, I have to watch it big time after walking a good distance, I carry a can of sugared juice and food with me, and my cell phone. Time flies by when you're having fun, so I set my watch to remind me to eat. I don't get hungry. I'm doing better and I hope you do too. Warmest Regards Gina

By nanascorner
Posted June 1, 2009 at 8:10 am
Report post

GinaB

I have thought about getting some glucose tablets and begin each morning with one. I too take liquid supplements . I also begin each morning with a high protein shake, and at lest ½ of my daily meal are liquid or baby food consistency. The problem is that it take me from ½ hour to one hour to sip my breakfast. Any other type of breakfast it could take me hours to leave my stomach in order to reach my blood stream. In the min time, I usually can’t do anything physical, even wash the dishes until I know for sure that my blood sugar is up or I will begin to have the shakes as my blood sugar drops.. I too have had it drop at a moments notice, simple because it has take so long for one small meal to leave my stomach. At one time I was able to eat noodles, but I found out that I have gluten sensitivity, know it is even harder to keep my blood sugar levels balanced. Simple because my body is having to learn to use protein and not sugar as an energy source. Once it learned to deal with the issue, I have been told that my blood sugar will be easier to balance. After all, a diabetic system has to learn to use protein as a energy source. Evidently, the same can be said for low blood sugar problems.

Nana

By JulieKC
Posted June 1, 2009 at 10:04 am
Report post

Nana: So sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble regulating your blood sugar! I too, am dealing with that and my doctor thinks I am hypoglycemic. The difference is that I can still eat solid food. I wonder if the glucose tablets would work for you. I have read that you should eat or drink something sweet if it is dangerously low and follow that up with a protein. But with your diet limitations, I don't know what will work best for you. Maybe your doctor can help, (I know sometimes they don't have the answer either, with digestive diseases and their complications.) I will keep you in my prayers!
Julie

By GinaB
Posted June 1, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Report post

Dear Nana, one glucose tablet isn't enough, usually it takes four to get me to 95 or so, the liquid glucose is probably better for you, just one. Or if you'd like a sweet juice like grape or OJ, gets the sugar going up fast. If I may suggest please, have you tried your own liquid bkfst. most of the commercial are so thick, it takes sml sips to drink it. I've used pineapple juice, with coconut flavoring with 2% milk it tastes great. Or take orange sherbet and add some 7-up that has flattened min. 10 mins in fridge, if you mix those two Oh wow it's good. Can you drink milk? If not try those bodybuilder whey protein powders they have one in strawberry flavor you mix with water, Yummie. I tried all these and more when I went on a liquid diet for the GP. I had to have something or my sugar would tank.I tried Atkins okay, but thick, and slimfast, no way. My blender got a workout with ice creams and sherbets and anything else I could find to put together liquid to drink. HA HA OMG what's the deal with our tummies? Best Days Ahead
Gina

By nanascorner
Posted June 1, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Report post

I am gluten sensitive I changed my morning shake to a soy based this morning an it did make a difference. Evidently that whey shake I was using is causing a problem since I am gluten sensitive .
I will start adding some water to thin out my shakes, and see if I can get the shake out of my stomach quicker . Good idea. I will start caring something with my like in order to deal with those blood sugar drops when I am out and about. It is not easy dealing with this disorder and keep our blood sugar and nutritional needs balance. Good thing we have support groups like this were we can share our experience, and helpful ideas

Thanks Nana

By Gajudy
Posted June 1, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Report post

I think I have a different take on all this than the others on this site. I'm thinking that you need to prevent the low blood sugars in the first place. Could you have a high protein liquid an hour or so before bedtime? More protein & fat would slow the digestion late in the day & possibly stop the sugars from dropping so low in the morning. Giving your body sugar will cause your sugars to bounce around all over the place. PREVENTION is the key to all of it. I know you have GP, so taking that into account, you'd have to try to get the most protein you can handle latter in the day,

Maybe this will help you. Being diabetic, I've had many conversations with health professionals & they all stress to me that this is the way to go, because we can have hypo glycemic episodes as well.

By nanascorner
Posted June 1, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Report post

I was wondering is upping my protein might help. I understand the importance of protein in helping balance blood sugar in a diabetic. My grandmother was, I when I was pregnant with my son I was as well. I understand the importance of staying away from sugar, but I was not sure how to handle the protein issue in the face of the reality that I can’t handle much meat. But there are other forms of protein. I will fallow your suggestion about adding more protein later in the day and before I go to bed and see what happens.

Thanks Nana

By GinaB
Posted June 3, 2009 at 2:16 am
Report post

Hi Nanna and GAJUDY, You're on right on spot when you said we need protein to keep our sugars level. I have low blood sugar so often I thought that's what Nana was asking. Many times I am so close to passing out and pure sugar is the only thing that does the job. Did you know some people if they pass out can go into a coma? With this GP, it's a full time job keeping up with this, Ha Ha. I try to balance my diet with protein, eggs, made anyway, fish, chicken, beef. The meat protein does not raise my sugar one bit, in fact I was on the Atkins diet and lost all my belly fat and 49 lbs. happy yes until I got sick with ketoacidosis, I was stressing my body by just eating protein and salads. My blood was acidic, after 3 days in the hospital and r my doc chewed me out, she sent me to a dietician. I learned I had to balance carbos, protein, and fats - all are necessary, but now with the GP my protein comes from fish, eggs ,93% ground beef, or chicken. The carbohydrates are what keep my sugar stable, I try to eat 50 to 65% of my diet as carbohydrates, 20% as protein, and less than 10% as fat again, because of the GP. When I eat I have to drink room temp water with the meal. A typical bkfst for me is soft cereal, rice krispys or corn flakes, cheerios that soak in 2% milk or rice milk, or eggs & toast with no butter. Mid afternoon I could have a smoothie I make myself or a egg salad or tuna sandwich I make with Fage no fat yogurt instead of mayo. Lunch is always protein, fish, cod or tuna with maybe suddenly salad macaroni, maybe spaghetti, cooked white rice with flounder, always small portions the size of my palm. Between lunch and dinner I'll have a green tea with cheese or applesauce or fruit cup. then dinner again Protein some meat or chicken, cut into tiny pieces, sometimes I use campbells soups or make sauces to go with the rice or potatoes or pasta all before 7pm. My problem is I'm not hungry and I forget to eat constantly. But the low sugar always gets me back on track. My diet is bland with very few vegtables unless they are in a soup that I make, the use of spices and sauces helps to make the food tastier. I drink my vitamins and lots of enzymes and I feel okay right now until the next disease pops up. I guess I will deal with that as well, no choice, I' m not ready to die yet !! Ha Ha Anyway, that's my diet, maybe you can use some of it or not hope it helps clear up what I said. Till I read you again Happy Trails Gina

By GinaB
Posted June 3, 2009 at 2:25 am
Report post

Dear Nana, I'm sorry to hear you are lactose sensitive. One of my best friends is too and she uses rice milk for cereal or to drink, I like the taste, its sweet & like milk. If I use it in cereal, I don't have to sweeten it. I'm not sure but, I just stopped soy becuase it's hard to digest they say, look on the internet, I' hope I'm wrong. Someone on this site told me about that. Good Luck with the low sugars, Warmest Regards Gina

By pacificislander
Posted July 6, 2009 at 7:29 am
Report post

hi everyone
i have been to the er room so many times finally i was told low blood sugar is the reason , its really scary i would wake up with rapid heart rate ,i would feel hot and clamy ! i now know its my blood sugar ! its like having a anxiety attack ! before going to bed at nite i have all my glugose products ready to go ! does anyone have any suggestions i some times cant stand the morings because i know what i have to go thru just to get up !! prayer keeps me sane ! i have lost at least 47 pounds since 11/08 wich is good ! thank you god bless

By GPAllie
Posted July 6, 2009 at 9:39 am
Report post

Perhaps you could try eating a gluten-free high glycemic index food. That might raise your blood sugar as quickly as the pasta you used to rely upon.
Good luck,
Allie

By nanascorner
Posted July 6, 2009 at 9:50 am
Report post

Pacificislander

I know how you feel. It is scary waking up unable to function because of low blood sugar. I will stand in front of the kitchen sick, barley able to stand my legs are shaking so much. People by the most part contribute low blood sugar with diabetes. On the other hand, people with GP often have this problem first thing in the morning, because their food choices are so little the day before and there is not reserve in order to keep the blood sugar level during the night. As a result, they wake up each morning on shaky feet.

I tried using the glucose tablets, but they were not as helpful as drinking Kellogg protein in water drink. I fix myself a glass the night before and sip in through out the night. I have another first thing in the morning. It has helped me greatly. I think the reason that it has helped were my morning shake has not. In that this kind of protein shake is basically clear and thus goes through my stomach faster. Where the shake are made of grains that are supposed to be release slow Carbs glucose for long term blood sugar balance. I still make my shake each morning, but I wait until after my protein water does its job. I also began to add coconut flour and oil to my shakes…. This is helping my long term energy levels. I also add probiotics to my daily diet as well as supplements to insure that I get proper nutrition every day.

If you need to put weight back on, I would suggest that you use a high calorie meal replacement shake each day. The kind weight lifters use. They are filled with calories as well as amino acids that are vital for nutritional absorption. Since I am one of those that struggle to lose despite this illness, I began using a water based fruit punch shake I bought at Wal-Mart called Professional Strength Creative ..

I hope this helps

Big Hug Barbara

By Aspen23
Posted July 8, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Report post

Me too. Increasing your protein at night can help. Gatorade will help too. My sugars easily fall into the 40's so I'm always checking it. If you can take anything by mouth, white crackers can help in the morning. My hubby is an MD and we've worked out a system for low blood sugars. We always have the gatorade in the house.

By pacificislander
Posted July 11, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Report post

thanks barbara
i will pick up that water you have been talking about , my acid reflex is
tied in with this mess says my doc
i have been saying this for the past 5years !!! and i still need to lose 20 more pounds , i can eat certain foods
activa yogurt some chicken seafood
jasmine rice oatmeal , just a few to mention ! we all need a miracle !!!
i hope all is well with you !
much alofas grace

Welcome to Inspire!

Explore topics in this discussion:

18 replies

Add to the discussion

AGMD on Twitter

Group leaders

You