Low blood sugar - late morning

[rubyroselee]

Hi everyone,

So the other day I was driving for work at about 10:30am and started getting really weak, hungry, and shaky. I knew my blood sugar was plummeting, so I pulled off to a fast-food restaurant to grab some orange juice and food. It just didn't feel like it was coming back up fast enough, so I actually pulled over and wrote "hypoglycemia" on a piece of paper next to me because I was almost certain I was going to pass out and someone was going to find me lying in my car. Probably one of the more scary episodes I've ever had with low blood sugars. (And I know it's sugars because I've tested myself during those periods and it's been as low as 48).

But honestly, this has been going on quite a long time, probably 5-10 years. I get a sick, nauseus feeling every morning, so I eat breakfast. I feel better for a couple hours and then my blood sugar drops suddenly.

I carry around candy in my purse wherever I go. And I've noticed that I'm even rescheduling events so that they're not in the late morning when I might have a problem.

I told my CF doctor about this last week and he was really worried about it. He told me to see an endocrinologist, so I have an appointment with one tomorrow.

But the reason I'm a little baffled is because I was under the impression that this late-morning low blood sugar thing was common in CF - although my CF doctor thinks otherwise. I heard years ago that people with CF have a pancreas that slacks (which is why we eventually get diabetes). If we eat high sugar foods in the morning, our pancreas secretes too much insulin too late, thus giving us late morning hypoglycemia. Which is why I've never brought it up to my CF doctor, until now. I think it's just becoming too much of an inconvenience (and danger) not to mention.

So does anyone else have this problem? If so, what do you do?

 

[rubyroselee]

Hi everyone,

So the other day I was driving for work at about 10:30am and started getting really weak, hungry, and shaky. I knew my blood sugar was plummeting, so I pulled off to a fast-food restaurant to grab some orange juice and food. It just didn't feel like it was coming back up fast enough, so I actually pulled over and wrote "hypoglycemia" on a piece of paper next to me because I was almost certain I was going to pass out and someone was going to find me lying in my car. Probably one of the more scary episodes I've ever had with low blood sugars. (And I know it's sugars because I've tested myself during those periods and it's been as low as 48).

But honestly, this has been going on quite a long time, probably 5-10 years. I get a sick, nauseus feeling every morning, so I eat breakfast. I feel better for a couple hours and then my blood sugar drops suddenly.

I carry around candy in my purse wherever I go. And I've noticed that I'm even rescheduling events so that they're not in the late morning when I might have a problem.

I told my CF doctor about this last week and he was really worried about it. He told me to see an endocrinologist, so I have an appointment with one tomorrow.

But the reason I'm a little baffled is because I was under the impression that this late-morning low blood sugar thing was common in CF - although my CF doctor thinks otherwise. I heard years ago that people with CF have a pancreas that slacks (which is why we eventually get diabetes). If we eat high sugar foods in the morning, our pancreas secretes too much insulin too late, thus giving us late morning hypoglycemia. Which is why I've never brought it up to my CF doctor, until now. I think it's just becoming too much of an inconvenience (and danger) not to mention.

So does anyone else have this problem? If so, what do you do?

 

[rubyroselee]

Hi everyone,
<br />
<br />So the other day I was driving for work at about 10:30am and started getting really weak, hungry, and shaky. I knew my blood sugar was plummeting, so I pulled off to a fast-food restaurant to grab some orange juice and food. It just didn't feel like it was coming back up fast enough, so I actually pulled over and wrote "hypoglycemia" on a piece of paper next to me because I was almost certain I was going to pass out and someone was going to find me lying in my car. Probably one of the more scary episodes I've ever had with low blood sugars. (And I know it's sugars because I've tested myself during those periods and it's been as low as 48).
<br />
<br />But honestly, this has been going on quite a long time, probably 5-10 years. I get a sick, nauseus feeling every morning, so I eat breakfast. I feel better for a couple hours and then my blood sugar drops suddenly.
<br />
<br />I carry around candy in my purse wherever I go. And I've noticed that I'm even rescheduling events so that they're not in the late morning when I might have a problem.
<br />
<br />I told my CF doctor about this last week and he was really worried about it. He told me to see an endocrinologist, so I have an appointment with one tomorrow.
<br />
<br />But the reason I'm a little baffled is because I was under the impression that this late-morning low blood sugar thing was common in CF - although my CF doctor thinks otherwise. I heard years ago that people with CF have a pancreas that slacks (which is why we eventually get diabetes). If we eat high sugar foods in the morning, our pancreas secretes too much insulin too late, thus giving us late morning hypoglycemia. Which is why I've never brought it up to my CF doctor, until now. I think it's just becoming too much of an inconvenience (and danger) not to mention.
<br />
<br />So does anyone else have this problem? If so, what do you do?

 

[Landy]

I have had the very same thing happen, and often.
It is scary, especially if you're driving and/or not near a snack! I have started carrying glucose tabs in my purse, so I can just pop one in when I feel the low sugar coming on while away from home. I also make a point of always eating a snack in the a.m. approx 2 or 2.5 hours after breakfast.

I have always attributed mine to the diabetic pill I take? It is weird, though, how in the a.m., I HAVE to eat a sugary snack, whereas in the afternoon, a regular snack will bring sugars back up or keep them from bottom-ing out.

I assume you're not eating high carb breakfast?

All of this really didn't answer your question, though. lol I'm just not sure if it is CF related or not, but my inclination is to say that it's not *shrugs* Maybe others will respond & prove me wrong.

 

[Landy]

I have had the very same thing happen, and often.
It is scary, especially if you're driving and/or not near a snack! I have started carrying glucose tabs in my purse, so I can just pop one in when I feel the low sugar coming on while away from home. I also make a point of always eating a snack in the a.m. approx 2 or 2.5 hours after breakfast.

I have always attributed mine to the diabetic pill I take? It is weird, though, how in the a.m., I HAVE to eat a sugary snack, whereas in the afternoon, a regular snack will bring sugars back up or keep them from bottom-ing out.

I assume you're not eating high carb breakfast?

All of this really didn't answer your question, though. lol I'm just not sure if it is CF related or not, but my inclination is to say that it's not *shrugs* Maybe others will respond & prove me wrong.

 

[Landy]

I have had the very same thing happen, and often.
<br />It is scary, especially if you're driving and/or not near a snack! I have started carrying glucose tabs in my purse, so I can just pop one in when I feel the low sugar coming on while away from home. I also make a point of always eating a snack in the a.m. approx 2 or 2.5 hours after breakfast.
<br />
<br />I have always attributed mine to the diabetic pill I take? It is weird, though, how in the a.m., I HAVE to eat a sugary snack, whereas in the afternoon, a regular snack will bring sugars back up or keep them from bottom-ing out.
<br />
<br />I assume you're not eating high carb breakfast?
<br />
<br />All of this really didn't answer your question, though. lol I'm just not sure if it is CF related or not, but my inclination is to say that it's not *shrugs* Maybe others will respond & prove me wrong.

 

[ej0820]

I am a pro at having low blood sugars. I am currently going sanz insulin right now for this very reason. I've gone as low as 20 before. Very scary.

When I would get low blood sugars after breakfast, it was usually because I had a cup of coffee with it. I know it sounds weird, and it took me (as well as my mom) a long time to figure out why I was bottoming out after breakfast. The amount of caffeine that is in a cup of coffee was strong enough to lower my blood sugar pretty fast (then add random morning bursts of insulin from the pancreas).

Do you usually drink tea/coffee in the mornings (and I don't mean the $10 mocha-frappe-foamy-skinny-latte-whatevers from starbucks that are LOADED with sugar)? When I first got my insulin pump, the nurse who came by to show me how to work it mentioned that she had a patient who had to lower her pump rate at breakfast time because her morning cup of tea always sent her into dangerous territory.

Weird, I know, but it could be morning caffeine if that's included in your morning rituals. I ended up taking a little less insulin with breakfast and made sure that I had a good protein with breakfast (protein bar, eggs, cheese sandwich, etc.). Protein doesn't help raise blood sugar, you need carbs for that of course, but a healthy amount of it will aid in keeping your blood sugar up. Protein gives your body something else to burn up first, for energy, instead of the using the little amount of glucose you might actually have. Like I said, I'm a pro at low blood sugars, haha.

Hope this helped...and I hope you figure something out soon, low blood sugars suck! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

 

[ej0820]

I am a pro at having low blood sugars. I am currently going sanz insulin right now for this very reason. I've gone as low as 20 before. Very scary.

When I would get low blood sugars after breakfast, it was usually because I had a cup of coffee with it. I know it sounds weird, and it took me (as well as my mom) a long time to figure out why I was bottoming out after breakfast. The amount of caffeine that is in a cup of coffee was strong enough to lower my blood sugar pretty fast (then add random morning bursts of insulin from the pancreas).

Do you usually drink tea/coffee in the mornings (and I don't mean the $10 mocha-frappe-foamy-skinny-latte-whatevers from starbucks that are LOADED with sugar)? When I first got my insulin pump, the nurse who came by to show me how to work it mentioned that she had a patient who had to lower her pump rate at breakfast time because her morning cup of tea always sent her into dangerous territory.

Weird, I know, but it could be morning caffeine if that's included in your morning rituals. I ended up taking a little less insulin with breakfast and made sure that I had a good protein with breakfast (protein bar, eggs, cheese sandwich, etc.). Protein doesn't help raise blood sugar, you need carbs for that of course, but a healthy amount of it will aid in keeping your blood sugar up. Protein gives your body something else to burn up first, for energy, instead of the using the little amount of glucose you might actually have. Like I said, I'm a pro at low blood sugars, haha.

Hope this helped...and I hope you figure something out soon, low blood sugars suck! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

 

[ej0820]

I am a pro at having low blood sugars. I am currently going sanz insulin right now for this very reason. I've gone as low as 20 before. Very scary.
<br />
<br />When I would get low blood sugars after breakfast, it was usually because I had a cup of coffee with it. I know it sounds weird, and it took me (as well as my mom) a long time to figure out why I was bottoming out after breakfast. The amount of caffeine that is in a cup of coffee was strong enough to lower my blood sugar pretty fast (then add random morning bursts of insulin from the pancreas).
<br />
<br />Do you usually drink tea/coffee in the mornings (and I don't mean the $10 mocha-frappe-foamy-skinny-latte-whatevers from starbucks that are LOADED with sugar)? When I first got my insulin pump, the nurse who came by to show me how to work it mentioned that she had a patient who had to lower her pump rate at breakfast time because her morning cup of tea always sent her into dangerous territory.
<br />
<br />Weird, I know, but it could be morning caffeine if that's included in your morning rituals. I ended up taking a little less insulin with breakfast and made sure that I had a good protein with breakfast (protein bar, eggs, cheese sandwich, etc.). Protein doesn't help raise blood sugar, you need carbs for that of course, but a healthy amount of it will aid in keeping your blood sugar up. Protein gives your body something else to burn up first, for energy, instead of the using the little amount of glucose you might actually have. Like I said, I'm a pro at low blood sugars, haha.
<br />
<br />Hope this helped...and I hope you figure something out soon, low blood sugars suck! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0">

 

[kirstynkoffs]

This happens to me too. The bigger the breakfast the worse it it is. My endo explained it similarly to what you said sluggish pancreas goes from not enough to too much quickly. Sorry not much help but would love to hear what your endo says!

 

[kirstynkoffs]

This happens to me too. The bigger the breakfast the worse it it is. My endo explained it similarly to what you said sluggish pancreas goes from not enough to too much quickly. Sorry not much help but would love to hear what your endo says!

 

[kirstynkoffs]

This happens to me too. The bigger the breakfast the worse it it is. My endo explained it similarly to what you said sluggish pancreas goes from not enough to too much quickly. Sorry not much help but would love to hear what your endo says!

 

[JORDYSMOM]

Smart thinking to write down what was happening to you. I need to do that, because I've had many episodes while driving. Very scary!

For me, the key is to balance my protiens & sugars. I have to eat small meals/snacks every 2 hours throughout the day. I can skip in the afternoon sometimes, but never in the morning.

I try to carry honey roasted peanuts in my car, because they have both sugar & protien, so no matter what my body is lacking, I get it. I have a lot of sinus problems, so I usually don't want to eat first thing in the morning. I force myself to eat a granola/breakfast bar though. Then a couple of hours later, I eat yogurt or a 1/2 bagel with cream cheese.

Hypoglycemia is definitely hard to control. I hope you get some answers from the Endo.

Stacey

 

[JORDYSMOM]

Smart thinking to write down what was happening to you. I need to do that, because I've had many episodes while driving. Very scary!

For me, the key is to balance my protiens & sugars. I have to eat small meals/snacks every 2 hours throughout the day. I can skip in the afternoon sometimes, but never in the morning.

I try to carry honey roasted peanuts in my car, because they have both sugar & protien, so no matter what my body is lacking, I get it. I have a lot of sinus problems, so I usually don't want to eat first thing in the morning. I force myself to eat a granola/breakfast bar though. Then a couple of hours later, I eat yogurt or a 1/2 bagel with cream cheese.

Hypoglycemia is definitely hard to control. I hope you get some answers from the Endo.

Stacey

 

[JORDYSMOM]

Smart thinking to write down what was happening to you. I need to do that, because I've had many episodes while driving. Very scary!
<br />
<br />For me, the key is to balance my protiens & sugars. I have to eat small meals/snacks every 2 hours throughout the day. I can skip in the afternoon sometimes, but never in the morning.
<br />
<br />I try to carry honey roasted peanuts in my car, because they have both sugar & protien, so no matter what my body is lacking, I get it. I have a lot of sinus problems, so I usually don't want to eat first thing in the morning. I force myself to eat a granola/breakfast bar though. Then a couple of hours later, I eat yogurt or a 1/2 bagel with cream cheese.
<br />
<br />Hypoglycemia is definitely hard to control. I hope you get some answers from the Endo.
<br />
<br />Stacey

 

[Marjolein]

I don't have CFRD (yet) but do get low bloodsugar during the night. Woke up with 48 once. Was quite scary to wake up that low, luckily woke up earlier the time I had a hypo after that. Hopefully never lower.

 

[Marjolein]

I don't have CFRD (yet) but do get low bloodsugar during the night. Woke up with 48 once. Was quite scary to wake up that low, luckily woke up earlier the time I had a hypo after that. Hopefully never lower.

 

[Marjolein]

I don't have CFRD (yet) but do get low bloodsugar during the night. Woke up with 48 once. Was quite scary to wake up that low, luckily woke up earlier the time I had a hypo after that. Hopefully never lower.

 

[Shelbyville]

WOW:

What a great deal of really usefull information that comes here (CF Forum) almost daily. That explains this wussy's worry about a 50 to 60 after work outs mid-morning (not feeling to good w/o some food. A "20" are you kidding? I would have had the big one reading the meter let alone how ya felt! Kinda explains some night attacks that I related to everything (even went down the panic attack road in my head) else in the world. Just got over another Panktus attack so now this all is making sense. THANK YOU ALL!!!!

Best Regards, Steve

 

[Shelbyville]

WOW:

What a great deal of really usefull information that comes here (CF Forum) almost daily. That explains this wussy's worry about a 50 to 60 after work outs mid-morning (not feeling to good w/o some food. A "20" are you kidding? I would have had the big one reading the meter let alone how ya felt! Kinda explains some night attacks that I related to everything (even went down the panic attack road in my head) else in the world. Just got over another Panktus attack so now this all is making sense. THANK YOU ALL!!!!

Best Regards, Steve