I have low blood sugar... Yesterday I ate a bunch of sweets (chocolate fondue) due to a b-day. Now I'm angry!

I usually get moody when I don't eat due to low blood sugar... Yesterday I ate a lot of sweets for no real reason... Now I am seething with rage. I am very very very angry and can't concentrate... So I'm sitting in a corner in the school library and am hiding out. Friends and family are calling but I don't want to answer the phone because I might explode. Is this normal for people with low blood sugar?I have low blood sugar... Yesterday I ate a bunch of sweets (chocolate fondue) due to a b-day. Now I'm angry!
I have occasional low blood sugar myself, but nothing of that nature has ever happened to me after eating a lot of sugar. You may have something else going on that you are not aware of. It might be a good idea to call your doctor and see what's going on.I have low blood sugar... Yesterday I ate a bunch of sweets (chocolate fondue) due to a b-day. Now I'm angry!
yes, your having sugar blues. try to eat more protrein today to balance your mood. i hope you feel better soon.

when i feel moody, i tell my family and friends to please forgive me, but i'm having the sugar blues and i can just kill some one right now.I have low blood sugar... Yesterday I ate a bunch of sweets (chocolate fondue) due to a b-day. Now I'm angry!
Yes it's normal I also get the shakes, Just don't flip out on me dude.
Hypoglycemia

On this page:



Hypoglycemia: A Side Effect of Diabetes Medications

Hypoglycemia in People Who Do Not Have Diabetes

Hope Through Research

Points to Remember

For More Information

Hypoglycemia, also called low blood sugar, occurs when your blood glucose (blood sugar) level drops too low to provide enough energy for your body's activities. In adults or children older than 10 years, hypoglycemia is uncommon except as a side effect of diabetes treatment, but it can result from other medications or diseases, hormone or enzyme deficiencies, or tumors.



Glucose, a form of sugar, is an important fuel for your body. Carbohydrates are the main dietary sources of glucose. Rice, potatoes, bread, tortillas, cereal, milk, fruit, and sweets are all carbohydrate-rich foods.



After a meal, glucose molecules are absorbed into your bloodstream and carried to the cells, where they are used for energy. Insulin, a hormone produced by your pancreas, helps glucose enter cells. If you take in more glucose than your body needs at the time, your body stores the extra glucose in your liver and muscles in a form called glycogen. Your body can use the stored glucose whenever it is needed for energy between meals. Extra glucose can also be converted to fat and stored in fat cells.



When blood glucose begins to fall, glucagon, another hormone produced by the pancreas, signals the liver to break down glycogen and release glucose, causing blood glucose levels to rise toward a normal level. If you have diabetes, this glucagon response to hypoglycemia may be impaired, making it harder for your glucose levels to return to the normal range.



Symptoms

Symptoms of hypoglycemia include



hunger

nervousness and shakiness

perspiration

dizziness or light-headedness

sleepiness

confusion

difficulty speaking

feeling anxious or weak

Hypoglycemia can also happen while you are sleeping. You might



cry out or have nightmares

find that your pajamas or sheets are damp from perspiration

feel tired, irritable, or confused when you wake up



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Hypoglycemia: A Side Effect of Diabetes Medications

Hypoglycemia can occur in people with diabetes who take certain medications to keep their blood glucose levels in control. Usually hypoglycemia is mild and can easily be treated by eating or drinking something with carbohydrate. But left untreated, hypoglycemia can lead to loss of consciousness. Although hypoglycemia can happen suddenly, it can usually be treated quickly, bringing your blood glucose level back to normal.



Causes of Hypoglycemia

In people taking certain blood-glucose lowering medications, blood glucose can fall too low for a number of reasons:



meals or snacks that are too small, delayed, or skipped



excessive doses of insulin or some diabetes medications, including sulfonylureas and meglitinides (Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, biguanides, and thiazolidinediones alone should not cause hypoglycemia but can when used with other diabetes medicines.)



increased activity or exercise



excessive drinking of alcohol

Prevention

Your diabetes treatment plan is designed to match your medication dosage and schedule to your usual meals and activities. If you take insulin but then skip a meal, the insulin will still lower your blood glucose, but it will not find the food it is designed to break down. This mismatch might result in hypoglycemia.



To help prevent hypoglycemia, you should keep in mind several things:



Your diabetes medications. Some medications can cause hypoglycemia. Ask your health care provider if yours can. Also, always take medications and insulin in the recommended doses and at the recommended times.

What to Ask Your Doctor About Your Diabetes Medications

Could my diabetes medication cause hypoglycemia?



When should I take my diabetes medication?



How much should I take?



Should I keep taking my diabetes medication if I am sick?



Should I adjust my medication before exercise?









Your meal plan. Meet with a registered dietitian and agree on a meal plan that fits your preferences and lifestyle. Do your best to follow this meal plan most of the time. Eat regular meals, have enough food at each meal, and try not to skip meals or snacks.





Your daily activity. Talk to your health care team about whether you should have a snack or adjust your medication before sports or exercise. If you know that you will be more active than usual or will be doing something that is not part of your normal routine鈥攕hoveling snow, for example鈥攃onsider having a snack first.





Alcoholic beverages. Drinking, especially on an empty stomach, can cause hypoglycemia, even a day or two later. If you drink an alcoholic beverage, always have a snack or meal at the same time.





Your diabetes management plan. Intensive diabetes management鈥攌eeping your blood glucose as close to the normal range as possible to prevent long-term complications鈥攃an increase the risk of hypoglycemia. If your goal is tight control, talk to your health care team about ways to prevent hypoglycemia and how best to treat it if it does occur.



Normal and target blood glucose ranges (mg/dL)

Normal blood glucose levels in people who do not have diabetes

Upon waking (fasting) 70 to 110

After meals 70 to 140

Target blood glucose levels in people who have diabetes

Before meals 90 to 130

1 to 2 hours after the start of a meal less than 180

Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) 70 or below



Treatment

If you think your blood glucose is too low, use a blood glucose meter to check your level. If it is 70 mg/dL or below, have one of these "quick fix" foods right away to raise your blood glucose:



2 or 3 glucose tablets

1/2 cup (4 ounces) of any fruit juice

1/2 cup (4 ounces) of a regular (not diet) soft drink

1 cup (8 ounces) of milk

5 or 6 pieces of hard candy

1 or 2 teaspoons of sugar or honey

After 15 minutes, check your blood glucose again to make sure that it is no longer too low. If it is still too low, have another serving. Repeat these steps until your blood glucose is at least 70. Then, if it will be an hour or more before your next meal, have a snack.



If you take insulin or a diabetes medication that can cause hypoglycemia, always carry one of the quick-fix foods with you. Wearing a medical identification bracelet or necklace is also a good idea.



Exercise can also cause hypoglycemia. Check your blood glucose before you exercise.



Severe hypoglycemia can cause you to lose consciousness. In these extreme cases when you lose consciousness and cannot eat, glucagon can be injected to quickly raise your blood glucose level. Ask your health care provider if having a glucagon kit at home and at work is appropriate for you. This is particularly important if you have type 1 diabetes. Your family, friends, and co-workers will need to be taught how to give you a glucagon injection in an emergency.



Prevention of hypoglycemia while you are driving a vehicle is especially important. Checking blood glucose frequently and snacking as needed to keep your blood glucose above 70 mg/dL will help prevent accidents.



Hypoglycemia and Diabetes: Doing Your Part

Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia can vary from person to person. Get to know your own signs and describe them to your friends and family so they will be able to help you. If your child has diabetes, tell school staff about hypoglycemia and how to treat it.



If you experience hypoglycemia several times a week, call your health care provider. You may need a change in your treatment plan: less medication or a different medication, a new schedule for your insulin shots or medication, a different meal plan, or a new exercise plan.







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Hypoglycemia in People Who Do Not Have Diabetes

Two types of hypoglycemia can occur in people who do not have diabetes: reactive (postprandial, or after meals) and fasting (postabsorptive). Reactive hypoglycemia is not usually related to any underlying disease; fasting hypoglycemia often is.



Symptoms

Symptoms of both types resemble the symptoms that people with diabetes and hypoglycemia experience: hunger, nervousness, perspiration, shakiness, dizziness, light-headedness, sleepiness, confusion, difficulty speaking, and feeling anxious or weak.



If you are diagnosed with hypoglycemia, your doctor will try to find the cause by using laboratory tests to measure blood glucose, insulin, and other chemicals that play a part in the body's use of energy.



Reactive Hypoglycemia

In reactive hypoglycemia, symptoms appear within 4 hours after you eat a meal.



Diagnosis

To diagnose reactive hypoglycemia, your doctor may



ask you about signs and symptoms



test your blood glucose while you are having symptoms (The doctor will take a blood sample from your arm and send it to a laboratory for analysis. A personal blood glucose monitor cannot be used to diagnose reactive hypoglycemia.)



check to see whether your symptoms ease after your blood glucose returns to 70 or above (after eating or drinking)

A blood glucose level of less than 70 mg/dL at the time of symptoms and relief after eating will confirm the diagnosis.



The oral glucose tolerance test is no longer used to diagnose hypoglycemia; experts now know that the test can actually trigger hypoglycemic symptoms.



Causes and Treatment

The causes of most cases of reactive hypoglycemia are still open to debate. Some researchers suggest that certain people may be more sensitive to the body's normal release of the hormone epinephrine, which causes many of the symptoms of hypoglycemia. Others believe that deficiencies in glucagon secretion might lead to hypoglycemia.



A few causes of reactive hypoglycemia are certain, but they are uncommon. Gastric (stomach) surgery, for instance, can cause hypoglycemia because of the rapid passage of food into the small intestine. Also, rare enzyme deficiencies diagnosed early in life, such as hereditary fructose intolerance, may cause reactive hypoglycemia.



To relieve reactive hypoglycemia, some health professionals recommend taking the following steps:



eat small meals and snacks about every 3 hours



exercise regularly



eat a variety of foods, including meat, poultry, fish, or nonmeat sources of protein; starchy foods such as whole-grain bread, rice, and potatoes; fruits; vegetables; and dairy products



choose high-fiber foods



avoid or limit foods high in sugar, especially on an empty stomach

Your doctor can refer you to a registered dietitian for personalized meal planning advice. Although some health professionals recommend a diet high in protein and low in carbohydrates, studies have not proven the effectiveness of this kind of diet for reactive hypoglycemia.



There are different interpretations given to different patterns seen on glucose tolerance testing. One such system describes three types of curves:



Type 1 (Neuroglycopenic)

This type results in a rapid rise in blood glucose within the first hour followed by a pronounced or precipitous drop in blood glucose in the second hour. Symptoms of this type of response are rapid mood swings, volatile personality, erratic behavior before and after eating. Possible cause of this response is gastric dumping, too large an insulin response (pancreatic problems) and glucose tolerance factor problems (liver problems).



Type 2 (Adrenergic Type)

After ingestion of glucose the blood sugar rises for the first three hours followed by a hypoglycemic rebound at 4 to 6 hours. Symptoms associated with this type of response are tiredness 2 hours after eating, allergic responses or food intolerances, and shakiness before meals. When blood sugar falls rapidly, the early symptoms are those brought on by a compensating secretion of adrenalin; these include sweating, weakness, hunger, racing pulse and an "inner trembling". This response can be due to adrenal cortical insufficiency or thyroid deficiency.



Type 3 (The Flat Curve Response)

In this case the blood glucose does not deviate more than +/- 15% from fasting level through the whole test. Symptoms that may appear are fatigue, apathy or hypotonia (poor muscle tone). These symptoms are due to poor digestion and absorption of nutrients.