GTT results

Yeah, ha, that's not normal. The endocrinology clinic I go to says that anything below 60-65 is bad news, so don't listen to them. Made any diet adjustments?

Not really. I've been struggling for low blood sugar for years now. I try to follow the diet but it's difficult. Lately it's just been getting worse and worse. The only thing I can see is perhaps the caffeine from the unsweet tea I drink? I have been drinking more of that lately. But I thought unsweet tea was good for you?!? It's fustrating! I'm getting another doctor!

No, NO caffeine is good for you at all. Herbal tea is fine, however.

I feel the same way as mel_noah. I recently had the GTT test done and I don't have my test results in front of me, but these were the results (I could be slightly off on the 1/2 hour #)

Fasting 94
1/2 Hour 145
1 hr 175
2 hr 147
3 hr 107
4 hr 66
5 hr 76

10 minutes after they took my blood at the 4 hour mark I fainted, and it took about 3 minutes or so for them to get me to wake up. My numbers seem to be much higher than hers, but it looks like I had a longer test. My endocrinologist says I may not have hypoglycemia, I could have glucose intolerance. I'm going to see another endocrinologist at UVA for a second opinion. Any insight on my results?? Thanks so much! The doctors just seem so confused by my health issues and are throwing medication at me, hoping they can fix the problem! The endocrinologist gave me precose, which I have not taken yet. My neurologist thinks I might have neurocardiogenic syncope and has scheduled a second tilt table test. My problems are mostly feeling faint and sick in the morning (especially after a hot shower), after I eat - and if I go more than 2-3 hours without eating I have the same issues plus I get extremely irritable.

Those results are pretty clear hypoglycemia. Who are you seeing? I happen to be at UVA! If you ever need any help or want to meet ever to discuss diet and so forth, let me know! I live right on campus.

Stan,

Really? Just the fact that someone says that makes me feel better! How do you know so much about the GTT numbers? I've been looking it up in books and tried to see if I matched any of the specific hypoglycemia curves, but haven't seen anything on specific numbers. Regardless of the numbers though, I have all of the symptoms. I'm seeing a doctor in Winchester, VA right now - and I just don't think he has the education/knowledge to recognize, let alone treat hypoglycemia. He knows more about diabetes. I'm going to UVA at the end of April and I'm seeing an endocrinologist - Dr. Richard Santen. He was the first one that I could get in with. I noticed there is a doctor there that specializes in Hypoglycemia but I couldn't get in with him until July - but I think I'm headed to the right place! I think the doctors will be more knowledgeable there, at least I hope so! Thanks for the offer Stan - that's great!! I will definitely need help with a diet if it turns out that I have hypoglycemia, because I'm not very good at that. I saw your diet on this message board though and saved it to my computer!

Do you think UVA will be more helpful in interpreting a GTT test?

This is so interesting to me. A blood test I had a year ago, fasting, at my local clinic showed my blood sugar level to be 50 - I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia and just told to watch my diet - no big deal.

I then saw an internest who showed very little interest in my blood sugar level - also just told not to eat cake, cookies, etc.

Then, I went to a medical doctor at Scott and White Clinic who stated he did not believe in hypoglycemia.

Just last week, I visited another internest who took a blood test (non-fasting) and said that my blood sugar level was elevated. She also tested my cholesterol (non-fasting) - how can that be accurate?

I am so confused - it seems every doctor I go to or each blood test I have are always different.

Tell me about it! I've seen a lot of doctors who also took no interest whatsoever in my blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, I've had to jump from doctor to doctor to get one to listen to me. Almost all of them so far have sent me to see Psychiatrists telling me it's all in my head, and it's all "panic." I got on medication for panic attacks and it was the worst experience of my entire life - landing me in the hospital twice.

I would see an endocrinologist - and one that has experience with hypoglycemia if you can find one. Regular doctors and internal medical specialists just aren't educated enough on this health issue.

Yes, I think an endocronologist is who I need to see. The problem is, finding one that will LISTEN. I have been to five doctors, including two psychiatrists, and have tried almost every antidepressant and anxiety medication there is, and none of them have helped - like you said, it made things worse. Is anxiety/depression a symptom of hypoglycemia?

I had the same problem. The endocrinologist that I'm seeing now isn't listening to me, and he doesn't seem to be educated enough on hypoglycemia. He is a nice guy, but not the right doctor for me at this point. Keep trying.... don't give up! I'm not sure where you're from - but I'm going to UVA hospital where they know more about hypoglycemia.
I've been to about 5 or 6 doctors as well, and two psychiatrists. The first psychiatrist would not listen to me - but the second one really thought I had a medical problem and insisted that I get off all medication. She wanted me to go for further testing and make sure it wasn't a medical problem before using anxiety medication. I couldn't believe it - finally someone that was listening to me!! I would suggest going to a nearby town that has better doctors, if the ones that you see locally don't work for you.
I was on Lexapro - and I had a horrible reaction to it - that stuff scared me and caused me more problems than I had in the first place. They also put me on Xanax and Klonopin -and tried to put me on Seroquel but I refused to take it once I saw what it was for. Part of the problem was I let me general doctor prescribe some of these medications - I learned my lesson there!! I think it's really important to listen to your own body - and only you know what works for you. None of those medications were helping me. I have read that if you're hypoglycemic there are a lot of drugs that don't mix well with that - and I'm wondering if that was part of the problem (even though the doctors claim that it wasn't).

Yes, anxiety/depression is a symptom of hypoglycemia!

Here are some of the possible symptoms:

feeling hungry or needing to eat very often
nervousness or shakiness
perspiration
feeling light-headed, faint, dizzy, or foggy
sleepiness
mental confusion
difficulty speaking
insomnia
fatigue
heart palpitations
anxiety/depression
shortness of breath
overweight
mood swings
headaches
a craving for sweets
cold hands and feet
forgetfulness
blurred vision
outburts of temper
allergies
crying spells
paleness
can lose consciousness or lapse into a coma
cry out or have nightmares
find that your pajamas or sheets are damp from perspiration
feel tired, irritable, confused, or sick when you wake up

I've had all of these, except that I'm not overweight - I'm a really petite woman and have a high metabolism so I'm not sure why I have all of them except that one. Good luck!!

Kristin

TYPICAL COMPLAINTS:

The light hurts my eyes.
My mouth is so dry I feel as if I could spit cotton.
I feel drowsy after a sweet/starchy meal.
The pain in my neck is terrible.
I feel best after the evening meal.
I frequently have nightmares.
I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep.
My hands perspire when I have to make a speech in public, or take a test.
Preparing for a trip is terribly exhausting, leaving me sick and distressed and sometimes I cry
I have to drink coffee or caffeinated soft drinks to keep going.
I have frequent abdominal pain or gas.
When I introduce people, I panic and forget their names.
I was considered a good student, but I almost failed several subjects. Studying was a tremendous effort.
I avoid social engagement with all sorts of excuses.
Sometimes I wake up in a sweat at night.
I think I am especially sensitive to color, sound, and odor.
I insult people without meaning to. I regret it afterward, but it happens again and again.
This itching and crawling of the skin is nerve racking.
I just can't get organized.
I either feel guilty or I blame others.
I can't handle stress.
I cry easily.
I get angry easily, which may result in my yelling at the person. It takes a long time to recover.
When I get up quickly from a reclining position, I get dizzy. Sometimes I black out or everything becomes dim.
I sleep so hard, as if drugged, with a feeling of sinking, sinking; I try to wake myself up but can't.
I have a history of constipation problems.
I often feel tired or blue, but after eating ice cream or candy I feel well and happy for a short time.
I have always had trouble with motion sickness.
Often when I go to get something, I forget what I went for.
I know I'm a doormat. I don't know how to stand up for myself.
I can't get to the bottom of my breath.
I get frequent colds.
My insides feel weak and trembly.
It was six months before I felt happy and really able to take care of my new baby.
I have difficulty keeping a job. I get irritated with people I work with.
My heart beats too fast sometimes.
My heart beats too slow sometimes.
The day I go shopping I just have no strength left for anything else.

I'm reading a lot about insulin levels being high if you are hypoglycemic - because your body produces too much insulin. During my hypo test, I passed out so the doctor checked my insulin levels about 45 minutes after I passed out. He was waiting for the 5 hour mark to arrive to take more blood. When he checked my insulin level at that point, however, it was fine. Does anyone know if they waited too long, and if your insulin levels can drop within 45 minutes after symptoms occur during a "crash"? Thanks!