Hypoglycemia Forum - Adrenaline

Conditions and Diseases > Hypoglycemia Forum > Adrenaline

Q: Adrenaline

asked by: vmiller on April 18th, 2007

New User

I'm noticing that some of my worst symptoms seem to be directly related to adrenaline. Particularly, it seems that I am either very sensitive to adrenaline, or that my body is easily triggered to release it. Is this something that can be related to hypoglycemia, or may it be a separate issue? Will the hypoglycemia diet help resolve this, or is there something additional that I should do?

Here are some of the situations that cause symptoms.

-While watching an intense TV show, I get mostly shakey and weak, but also irritable and anxious.

-While playing tennis, early in the match, I get weak and shakey to the point of feeling very uncoordinated. I also get winded very easy and lose my ability to make good decisions. As anyone that plays sports can imagine, this is VERY frustrating.

-When talking to people I don't know very well, I often stumble on words and sometimes have trouble structuring sentences fluently

-I think this applies to most people, but when I am in a confrontational conversation, I get shakey, weak, and anxious.

Replies(9)

DianaJJ

replied on April 19th, 2007

Experienced User

V,

I also think I'm very sensitive to adrenaline. I can't even have novacaine at the dentist office because it contains epinephrine. It makes me feel dizzy, anxious with a rapid heartbeat and palpitations.

I feel that it makes hypoglycemia worse or just the dropping of blood sugar triggers a release of adrenaline. My blood sugar doesn't ever get very low but just a drop makes me feel terrible. Emotions also have much to do with the release of adrenaline also. Everything sets me off.

I guess all we can do is watch what we eat, eat often and try to stay relaxed as much as possible.

Hope that helps,
DianaJJ

vmiller

replied on April 19th, 2007

New User

Thanks Diana.

Throughout the day, in between meals, I'll sometimes get a single heart palpatation and then have a subtle case of shakes. I wonder if that's my "sign" that adrenaline is being released to counteract a sugar drop.

I referred back to "The Low Blood Sugar Handbook" by the Krimmels and they say that most hypoglycemics have to deal with excessive adrenaline because adrenaline is what your body naturally uses to raise blood sugar when it gets low. The excessive adrenaline is supposedly the reason for the irritability. It makes sense that as an undiagnosed hypoglycemic, your body will be releasing adrenaline frequently to try and regulate the up and down sugar levels.

I'm hoping that as I stabilize my blood sugar, my adrenaline levels will stabilize as well.

carrleia

replied on March 26th, 2008

New User

RE: Adrenaline

I am finally glad to see I am not the only one. If I get scared or upset about something, the adrenaline surges to the point where I actually go blind in my right eye, my heart beats almost 200 a minute, and I feel weak & disoriented too. I think there is a strong association to hypoglycemia and the release of adrenaline. If anyone has some suggestions please let me know as well thanks, Carrie

Stevo76

replied on June 25th, 2008

New User

Re: Adrenaline

I absolutely hate the adrenaline rushes I get when my blood sugar goes low or when I haven't eaten properly (or have eaten the wrong foods).

When these rushes hit, the feeling of impending doom can be quite intense.

jdien

replied on February 16th, 2009

New User

I totally agree with Vmiller, since I also find that my blood sugar drops when I'm in "nervous" situations. I have felt it drop while talking to someone. Once, when I was very distressed, my blood sugar was going haywire. Also, it seems to work the other way around also--when the blood sugar is unstable, then I'm easily distressed and nervous. The chicken or the egg?

cibolagirl

replied on February 17th, 2009

New User

Re: Adrenaline

I suffer terribly from the effects of adrenaline!

Once your blood sugar drops, because of an overactive pancreas, your body panics and the adrenal glands secrete adrenaline to stimulate your liver to, in turn, secrete sugars...it can become a vicious cycle. It is best to consume protein to thwart the overreaction. My God in heaven, this has become a struggle for me. I ate a lot of sugar over the Valentine weekend and I am SICK!!! I almost passed out today I was so weak. THEN the adrenalin rushes in so fast sometimes I think my ear drums are going to blow out!! I am so furious at myself for succumbing to candy!! How stupid can I be???
P.S. My dentist told me you can request "adrenaline free" Novocaine. He told me there was actual adrenalin in the Novocaine...though, if it is epinephrine, that would stimulate your own adrenaline.

ShakyViolinist

replied on October 24th, 2009

New User

I am so grateful to read all of these posts. I have been suffering from the exact same symptoms as those listed above and have been unable to figure out what has been causing it. I noticed, as I am a performer, that when I go out on stage I'll often have a hypoglycemic "attack" and it is intensely frustrating as it prohibits me from functioning at all. I feel so faint that I nearly pass out and have even had to leave stage. The symptoms are all classic; there is an intense pressure in my sinus area and then I lose feeling in my hands and feet. My heart races and then I feel so shaky I can hardly sit upright. I carry almonds wherever I go and I try to have really big, protein-filled meals before concerts. I don't know how to alleviate this, because the trigger never seems entirely consistent.

Any suggestions would be welcome!

cibolagirl

replied on October 25th, 2009

New User

That is the other tricky thing. You can't eat a really big meal, protein or not. I find it exasperating to have to eat more often and smaller meals but it works. Also I found that the fact I was taking a benzodiazepam every night to sleep that the next day after dinner my body was expecting that pill along with dealing with my blood sugar. This made things HELL until I got "OFF: the medication...about 3 months.

Stan

replied on October 27th, 2009

Moderator

Didn't get to read everything here, so if it's been said already I apologize. It's not a sensitivity to adrenaline. EVERYONE is sensitive to it. It only takes a small, teeny amount to cause HUGE changes in the body. What's happening is your body is relying on adrenaline in place of normal sugar levels, thus causing it to be throughout your body more than a normal person. This, in turn, causes you to be overly sensitive to stimuli.

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