Hypoglycemia probably causes me more day-to-day suffering and frustration with diabetes than anything else. It triggers a cascade of counter-regulatory or “stress hormones” - adrenaline, cortisol, epinephrine - activated by our “fight or flight” reflex when something really bad happens. “Yikes!”, my body responds.
The vice tightens in my gut. My face and shoulders become involuntarily tense. It make me more emotional, unable to concentrate, and almost always less able to tolerate external stress, with so much coming from within. So I get impatient and cranky - two things that cause major internal conflict for me, as someone who sincerely wants to contribute to the happiness of people around me!
The horrible, hypo feeling doesn’t go away once blood glucose returns to normal. No, it takes a while to shake out of my system. (Ever notice that?)
Add to that, that our brains aren’t getting enough glucose to function properly when hypoglycemic - and presto, we have the recipe for making colossal mistakes in relationships by saying the wrong thing we don’t at all mean.
If you and your love are both hypo, it’s that much harder. For those of us with a partner with diabetes and pre-diabetes, here’s the catch: That shared empathy and understanding can quickly and compassionately protect from and heal the biggest mistakes of unskillfulness. That’s the loving gift Joanne gives to me. And that’s the present I always have waiting for her.
What do you do to curb this tough side-effect of diabetes (and pre-diabetes)? Please share! I’ll walk you through what works for me next time.
Take care of you and your honey. Stay level.
(This came from my blog on www.YourBestSugar.com)
5 responses so far ↓
1 Gail Lundblad // Mar 7, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Nibble on carrots and beef jerkey all during the day. It’ll help keep the blood sugars from dropping. I also keep those delicious glucose tablets with me ( I like watermelon flavor). I take one when I feel my sugar level start to drop…
2 Jackie // Mar 9, 2009 at 6:56 am
I have more problems with hypo than hyper. When it’s real cold out (down here in Florida, under 60 degrees is cold for me) my blood sugar goes down all day, I have a lot of trouble keeping it up. People with diabetes think I am joking, they have never heard of such a thing. Have you ever had this problem??
3 Richard Hoover // Mar 9, 2009 at 11:34 pm
I have been suffering with hypoglycemia for about 4 years now, but haven’t been diagnosed as diabetic or pre-diabetic. I have had many tests done, and my doctor is puzzled, as the tests came back normal. He said that I had reactive hypoglycemia. He sent me to a endincrinologist, and she was concerned that I did have some high readings, when I tested with my meter. I think that the reason my tests came back as they did was because I had to fast for them, however I don’t know about the 5 hour glucose tolerance tests I had done, because they didn’t show me to be diabetic or pre-diabetic. She ran 3 blood tests including a thyroid test, and I am waiting on the results. I am hoping that this will shed a light as to whats going on, so I can be treated for this. This is definitely stressful, and potentionaly dangerous, and cramps my style.
4 admin // Mar 10, 2009 at 10:43 am
Hi Richard,
That sounds very stressful and scary. This article indicates that your HBA1C test can help identify diabetes and pre-diabetes. http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/results.php?storyarticle=6050
More recently, this article shares the HBA1C will soon be used as a standard to detect diabetes and pre-diabetes. http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/results.php?storyarticle=6179
Be sure to find out your number.
Thanks for writing…
5 admin // Mar 10, 2009 at 10:47 am
Hi Jackie,
Changes in weather do cause blood glucose variability. Dr. Richard K. Bernstein, author of an absolutely terrific book, Diabetes Solution, adjusts his insulin down when it gets warmer.
Our metabolism also affects glucose control, so it stands to reason that you would see a change when the cold affects your metabolism. Pure conjecture on my part, but I have had lower insulin requirements when I’ve been cold for a long time.