Hypoglycemia Forum - Need Advice

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Q: Need Advice

asked by: Zeal on June 5th, 2007

New User

Hi, I am a hypoglycemic and have PCOS, I am takeing Metformin for the PCOS and it has helped some what (I am no longer tierd all the time, have more energy, and its helped some of my PCOS problems), been on it for about 9 months. Before I was on it I was having terible problems with low's when I was working as a housekeeper, I was continualy on the move and needed to constently eat to keep my energy up. Since been on the Metformin and not been as active, I don't seem to get to many low's, the last time I had a big low was when I was traveling and thought I was eating enough, but I got a low.

My problem is that I am not sure if the heart paps I feel in the morning after eating low Gi bread, penutbutter and honey is because I am having a low. Also I have been at an agricultural collage and don't know exsacly what I am eating, I only have another 3 weeks left.

I have had 2 GTT's before I was able to get on the Met, both times my suger level droped rapidly, the second time it droped before the 1st hour was up, my insulin levels which were only recorded on the second test they were above normal on the first hour at 84mU/L, and droped to 57mU/L by the second hour. That was all before I was on the Met.

I am wondering if the Hypoglycemia is one of the contributing factors to PCOS, I used to be about 27kg more then I am now, it was hard work loosing it, I was on a low carb diet before changing to low Gi which was recomended to me. I am sure I have lowerd the insulin levels since loosing the weight. Before loosing the weight and sometimes after, I regualry got mucle fateage.

I get a bit confused with the diets recomended for both PCOS and Hypo's. I still eat bannanas and don't seem to have much of a problem with them. It seems if I had to follow both, I don't have much to chose from.

Once last year before been on the Met I had a very bad low because I had not eaten for 6 hours, it was awfull.

Any help would be greatful

Z

Replies(9)

Stan

replied on June 5th, 2007

Moderator

What is pcos? Eating some of the things you mention for breakfast is probably not a good idea, honey and bananas are not very good for hypoglycemics at all and bananas are usually considered the worst food one can possibly eat. Any diet I've read usually states that you can't eat more than seriously one half a banana per week.

Zeal

replied on June 5th, 2007

New User

Pollycystic Overium Syndrome, which is conected to insulin resistence. Which means my hormones get throwen all over the place. The medication now used to help the syndrome is Metformin. Its all related some where alone the line. Other people who have PCOS do get hypoglycemea, though most wont relise it as they have suger and carb craveings which I had before I got things under control.

Would you recomend I just stick to the peanutbutter with out the honey? Bannanas are my fravourout frut Sad

if they are not causing me any troble does that mean that it might be ok for me to eat?

What I am ment to do for the PCOS is to keep the amount of insulin produced down via a low Gi diet.

Stan

replied on June 6th, 2007

Moderator

Peanut butter is also something I recommend avoiding, substituting the organic variety of sunbutter (the only one without added sugar). If you feel they're not causing you any problems, that's fine, but those things are usually avoided at first because of the typical reactions they cause. Bananas are generally one of the top five things I suggest to avoid because of their incredibly high carb content, sugar and their effect on glucose levels. If you feel they're fine, go ahead, but if you're still having symptoms there's a good chance the reason you are is because you're eating these things. When you get your diet right, eventually you will have no symptoms at all. If you've been eating this way for about a year and still feel bad, you're not doing something right and I'll bet it's the bananas. I would make a bet that your hormone problems are just a direct symptom of hypoglycemia, because that was one of my big problems as well, until I ate right, and then my hormones went back to normal.

Zeal

replied on June 6th, 2007

New User

It's genetic too, as insulin resistence runs in my family. I do feel well, and I did go without eating a lot of thoes things when I first went on a low carb diet. The only time since been on the Met that I have notestd a low is when I don't eat which has only happend once. I don't know if its realyly heart paps or not, I did not notice anything yeaterday. I never get any reaction with bannanas. I was fine on the low carb diet for a while untill last year (I has been on the diet for a year and a half) I started haveing a lot of troble with my blood suger. I only started eating peanutbutter again at the end of last year.

Not enough study has been done on PCOS yet. But from what I have read and been told,woman with it don't have the controle over there blood sugar. I am thinking that I notice it more than others have as I have gained control over my sugar craveings. Bannanas are on a list of things I can eat as the type of sugar is safe for people with PCOS.

I am guessing that as I have been able to lower the amount of insulin produced it has helped.

Peanutbutter is the only spread that is avalible at the collage that would be safest for me to eat, till I get home.

Thank you so much for your information. I think I really need to go and see a dietition when I get back home.

Z

Zeal

replied on June 6th, 2007

New User

Juat found this artical:

There are two major classes of medications used to treat diabetes: insulin-sensitizing agents and sulfonureas. The latter medication stimulates the pancreas to release more insulin. The higher levels of insulin can lower sugar levels and may increase symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Metformin and troglitazone have a very different effect. Although they can also be used to treat diabetes, they do so by increasing the potency of your body's own insulin. This means that your body requires less insulin to keep sugar levels normal. The net effect is a lower insulin level. As insulin is the hormone that lowers blood sugar, the result is, in fact, a reduced risk of hypoglycemia.

It is interesting that many women with PCOS also suffer from hypoglycemia. Many of these women are found to be insulin-resistant. That means their bodies require more insulin to keep sugar levels normal. But things don't work that simply. When your sugar levels rise after a meal, normally your pancreas would secrete insulin in response to the carbohydrate (sugar) load. Many women with PCOS, however, experience a delayed release of insulin. In fact, their insulin levels continue to rise even after the sugar level is coming back to normal. This delayed and persistent rise in insulin levels, even after the levels of sugar are falling, causes the symptoms of hypoglycemia.

Stan

replied on June 6th, 2007

Moderator

So what exactly is your problem then if you're doing fine? Your first post implies that you are having problems.

Zeal

replied on June 6th, 2007

New User

Just trying to find clarifications on some things. And its hard to find info on PCOS and hypoglycemia together. And I find it hard to know if a food is afecting me while on Metformin.

It all gets a bit confusing for me.

Sorry.

Z

Stan

replied on June 7th, 2007

Moderator

I don't see why they've put you on an anti-diabetic. If you're having lows, than the medicine makes no sense because the lows would actually get worse. You can't have hypoglycemia.

Zeal

replied on June 7th, 2007

New User

Well it is, but as I have recently found out the Met helps the insulin to be more sensitive and incoprating a low Gi diet keeps the insulin levels down which in turn helps the hormonal problem of PCOS.

On people with PCOS the Met does not drop the blood sugar levels unless one does not eat, and I have found that I have not had a problem with my levels droping all the time like it was before, it acrualy been stable I feel. Resurchers are comeing up with more benifets about met that helps woman with PCOS all the time.

Its aparently all part of the bundel of haveing PCOS that now is clear to me.

Google "PCOS and hypoglicemia", it comes up with a few things.

Maybe its worth knowing.

Z

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