Low blood sugar ... Help!
Posted by karatekid1975 on Jun 22, 2007 · Member since Feb 2007 · 456 posts
Hiya all.
I have a problem. I have had problems with low blood sugar all my life. I haven't had a problem since I went ovo-lacto-veggie (that was for 4 years). But I started to have a problem when I went vegan. I have been a "not-so-strict" vegan since last August. But the last couple of months, I have been. The more strict I get, the more my blood sugar drops (or I should say, it drops more often).
I did a bit of research. Some say the vegan diet cures that. And others say it made it worse. A few said that a lacto-veggie diet worked perfect for them (those with low blood sugar).
Which is true? What should I do?
I think you should try to find out more about how exactly various foods affect blood sugar levels. I'm sorry you're having problems.
Low blood sugar is hypoglycemia, right? High blood sugar is indicative of diabetes. I've seen lots of things that say a vegan diet can "cure" adult-onset or Type 2 diabetes, the kind that usually comes from a bad diet. Type 1 diabetes is the kind where your pancreas doesn't produce insulin and diet can't cure that at all. (If I'm wrong, forgive me.) I've researched Type 2 diabetes because it's so prevalent in my family but in my research I don't remember seeing anything about a vegan diet being good for hypoglycemia. I think you need to research hypoglycemia and adapt whatever recommendations for dealing with it to a vegan diet. Good luck and God bless!
Yep, you're right, Tin. I had hypoglycemia as a kid. As an adult (before I became veg*n), it got better, but I still had to becareful. When I started martial arts, and then became veggie. I very rarely had symptoms. Now their back (symptoms). Ggggrrrr. I don't exercise like I should (or used to). That could be a factor. And I'm still new with the "strict" vegan diet. You're also right about doing more research. Thanks Tin :)
Hey karatekid. Nice seeing you in the boards! :)
I'm sorry about your blood sugar problem. I wish I had good advice for you... :-[
I suppose I can learn a few things with this post.
Thanks, mindwalk :)
Are you having the same problem?
I was hypoglycemic in my teens, then it got better, and now I too feel the "spikes" you talk about--the shakes, extreme cold, low bloodpressure, feeling like you're gonna pass out.
Fruit juice helps, or fresh fruit. I stayed ovolacto, so cheese is also a quick fixer. My body just seems to absorb what it needs quickly, with no more spiking. Nuts take a little longer to absorb but you do have the protiens.
So try carrying juice boxes (real juice) and maybe some nuts if you don't want to eat cheese. It's a total bummer, isn't it, this blood sugar thing.
Thanks Yabbit. Actually, after I posted my first post (I was in the middle of a "spike"), I decided to "cheat" on my vegan diet to see if cheese would work. I made a salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, "chicken" nuggets, and a small amount of chedder cheese.
I know when my body is craving something, because when I bite into what my body wants, it tastes like HEAVEN. I bit into a little peice of the chedder and ..... OMG!!! It tasted soooooo good. And I felt the "spike" disappearing almost instantly.
So I have to agree that the cheese thing does work. I never had a problem eating cheese. I just stopped eating it in my attempt to be strict vegan. I guess it "back-fired" on me, like it did with you.
I'll stick with this experiment for a week to see if my symptoms improve.
I'm a type 1 diabetic, and TinTexas is right: veganism is considered a "cure" for the type two diabetics.
My only suggestion is to make sure that you're eating a complex carb with every meal and to carry a simple sugar with you just in case.
I suspect that I'm hypoglycemic but I've yet to talk to the doctor about it. I just sort of graze on things all day (muesli) and it seems to help. The key is to have a nice balance of complex carbs (fiber!), protein, and fat. You're probably feeling better from the cheese because dairy has a balance of sugar, fat, and protein. Full-fat, sweetened soy milk might help. And I second what yabbit said - keep fruit juice around at all times for those really icky, light-headed, sleepy, headachey, wanna pass out moments.
A friend of mine is hypoglycemic and her case is pretty severe. Her dietitian has her eating five servings of fruit a day. It helps her a lot. She also eats about five or six times small mealsa day. And she exercises a ton - that makes a huge difference.
Diets high in fiber (vegan!) are good for insulin regulation. Or so some studies say. That's why some people say vegan diets "cure" diabetes and such. Hypoglycemia occurs when your body produces too much insulin, so...yeah, veganism might help. You might want to consider seeing a dietitian if you can afford it. Make it clear that you're a vegetarian athlete. If you don't like what they tell you (like, you need to eat nothing but cheese and meat), then you may need to find another one.
Good luck! Hope you feel better soon!
Good advice, Issaspiders. I would see a Doc about it. But no, I can't afford it. And I'm bummin' because my vegan diet didn't work :'( I really want to be vegan. Most of my docs put me down for being vegan, so it kinda makes me stay away anyway. That's why I need help from Vegwebbers.
We're here for you, petal. Even the non-vegans get flak, as you know...we've all been there, and indeed live there! ;) VegWeb is my favourite place in cyberspace! As I said in the "screen name" thread, I'm agoraphobic and paranoid about certain things but VegWeb is one of my "safe" places. Long may it wave.
I totally agree Yabbit.
Ok, I gave in and talked to my best friend. She is vegan AND a nurse. She's no dietitian, but she treats people with this condition all the time. She "repeated" what most of you said. She yelled at me (in a fun way) about eating cheese. Then she told me exactly what Issaspiders said. She told me to look at what I have been eating to find the culprit. I have been eating a lot of white rice, and pasta (the non-whole wheat kind). And I drink too much.
So, I have a question for Issas or any vegan, actually. What is a good ratio for me of protien, fat, and good carbs? Keep in mind that I will be going back to class regularly (exercise more), and I work 10 hour days (I will need energy as well).
Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to start buying whole wheat pasta and brown/wild rice, and eat more fruits. I'll probably buy Cliff bars again for a kick in the pants (energy) for long days. And lay off the beer for a while.
Suggestions, anyone?
Thanks, mindwalk :)
Are you having the same problem?
Not that I know. I really should take a physical soon though and ask the Dr. more about it.
Sometimes I wonder if I will ended up diabietic. My grandmother past away from this horrible disease. :-[
Although I always been fit ( I guess because I'm pretty active), most of my life I used to be a white sugar junkie, pastry lover and white flour obsessed. :P I used to worry a lot then, because it was like I couldn't give up those things.
However I'm happy to say my habits are changed completely, although I crave for things of the like occasionally...