25 Signs To Tell If You’re Hypoglycemic

sugar-shockToday, I’d like to educate you a little about reactive hypoglycemia, a condition that not enough doctors recognize or accept — and one that’s been tied to weight gain and carb cravings.

You may be astonished to learn that if you have hypoglycemia (also called low blood sugar), you could have as many as 125 ailments! (To understand more about this condition and how it’s often misdiagnosed, read the excerpt from my book).

In fact, hypoglycemia has been called the “Great Imitator” because its strange, startling symptoms can mimic an astonishing array of diseases and conditions.

For instance, people with reactive hypoglycemia have been misdiagnosed as having bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, neurosis, migraines, Parkinson’s syndrome, paroxysmal tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), rheumatoid arthritis, mental retardation, alcoholism, hyperactive disorder, and even senility.

It’s absolutely horrifying to think about all these people, who’ve been wrongly told that they have another illness or disease. (By the way, in SUGAR SHOCK!, I share some scary stories about people getting misdiagnosed.)

24 Hypoglycemia Symptoms

If you or a loved one is suffering from some mysterious ailments, you may want to learn if hypoglycemia and/or a sugar problem are to blame. ..So, here are 24 symptoms, which could signify that you have hypoglycemia:

  • Cravings for sweets
  • Mental confusion
  • Mood swings
  • Unexplained fatigue and exhaustion
  • Weak spells
  • Cold sweats
  • Depression
  • Headaches
  • Heart palpitations
  • Digestive disturbances
  • Forgetfulness
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety
  • Obesity
  • Internal trembling
  • Crying spells
  • Lack of sex drive (females)
  • Impotence (males)
  • Allergies
  • Blurred vision
  • Night terrors and nightmares
  • Muscle pains
  • Allergies
  • Itching and crawling sensations on the skin

My Personal Experience

i-23e092768a665b8b5d652e20cbc60fb0-bennett.jpg
Author Connie Bennett

I’m not a doctor, but if you have some of the symptoms I just cited, I’d recommend that you see a physician to learn if you have reactive hypoglycemia or another blood sugar condition. (The five-hour Glucose Tolerance Test, while unpleasant, may be able to give you some answers.)

Bear in mind, though, that in most cases, if you kick sugar (or at least drastically cut back on your consumption of sweets and refined carbs), you may be able to cut out (or curtail) these ailments. (I’m not promising anything, but isn’t it worth a try to find out?)

Incidentally, that’s what happened to me: I quit eating sugar and quickie carbs on doctor’s orders in 1998, and all 44 of my symptoms completely vanished! So, I invite you to do some detective work on yourself:

  • Do you have any of the symptoms that I mentioned above? Which ones?
  • Do you have any other baffling ailments? Think about any and all health problems that you have such as headaches, mood swings, fatigue, difficulty focusing, depression, anxiety, etc.
  • Have you had any doctors misdiagnose you?

I hope to hear back from you. Perhaps I can help steer you in the right direction. Don’t be bashful. Tell us about your strange symptoms.

This post was written by Connie Bennett.

141 Comments

Comments now closed
  1. Tina

    I have a lot of these symptoms but I have checked my blood sugar and it’s normal. I’m curious if it could be something else?

  2. Jess

    I have all the one above and my doctor told me it is because of the new medication I started but I have had this for a while.

  3. Gwinette Nelson

    It’s not me that I worry about its my husband. My son and I have to deal with the anger from my husband and it seems to happen when I don’t keep the candy dish full. We went on vacation and the first week he was very hard to get along wit, my daughter was with me and she can contest to that. Then I noticed that we stopped to get gas and he had came out with 3 bags of sugary candies and played music that he used to listen to when he was younger. He had ate almost the whole bag and the second week he was Mr sweet and nothing never happened, but he kept eating sweets and buying them.so my question is what the heck is wrong with him or is it me.

  4. Candice

    I feel nurvers and my whole body feel shaky can’t even poo with a terrible headache

  5. Angel leed

    I have a lot of the ailments that are on your list and I’m trying to cut way back on sugar. For one week. I ate very little sugar and had oatmeal as a snack instead of high calorie sugary yogurt. I have felt great then I slipped and ate two cookies after dinner. Two hours later I’m weak and sweaty and confused and had a panic attack. What was this?

  6. Mary Joy Emperado

    I almost had it all…it’s been 8 years… What should I do?.. Please help!.. I am can’t get my self into a Doctor because of financial problems.. I can’t stand the feeling of fatigue everyday.

  7. Nickey

    Lack of sex,obesity, weak yes and more i cut sugar but there are days went i dont have breakfast and i will feel down.the other night i was feeling weak and sick i take a candy and i was new again

  8. Paula

    I ate a sweet chocolate chip cookie. Oh got a headache right assume. Stood up. Had some flutters in my abdomen. Then got real dizzy. Never felt that way before

  9. Kiaran

    Hi , I today had a monster energy drink because I was feeling low on energy . And 30 to 60 mins later I felt dizzy ,weak sweating then cold, at one point I thought I wasn’t going to be able to carry on working , I did miss brekfast for two days , and dinner for possibly two weeks , all while walking and peddling 30 miles a day, should I go to doctors , or just research better eating plans ? Thank you

  10. Carolyn

    Can a child at age 9 yrs old have this ? It’s my nephew and I see all these signs. I notice it a yr ago and no one listen to me. He is adopted.

  11. Amie O.

    Thank you for the info I did numerous blood tests because I urinated too much at night. Always ruled out non diabetic cud not lose weight , was always tired , slept too much and then I went on the banting diet stopped sugar and drastically cut down on carbs.. The result is I am more energetic , I do not wake up to urinate at night unless I drink a lot of water before bed, and wow after suffering for 6 years with what doctors said was osteo arthritis my aches and pains have almost completely disappeared. Started to lose weight again.Sweling in legs and feet gone..I believe eating too much sugar and refined foods was the cause.delighted with results of cutting out sugar and carbs.

  12. Megan

    I have similar symptoms but I don’t eat sugary foods…I do eat potatoes and bread, but I tend to say away from most sugary foods. I get dizzy and nauseated just by taking a few steps sometimes….what doesn’t help is I didn’t eat anything really at all last week but veggie burgers (I am a broke college kid, I couldn’t afford to buy food). Since then my symptoms have amplified. My mom says one thing and I just get super angry. I don’t normally tell people when I am in pain of sick….it’s just getting worse…I haven’t told anyone….should I?

  13. Holly Fowler

    I wake up during the night craving sugar. I am half conscious but definitely in a confused state. If somebody speaks to me I will talk jibberish, getting sugar is my only concern. Sometimes I can answer questions but most the time I talk nonsense.
    During the day, after food , I will fall asleep, even if I have had sleep the previous night. Then I wake up shaking for sugar and still confused.
    During the day, I get my words mixed up and get really bad confusion. Often mistaking words. I’ll tel someone I’m going to Asda over and over and when I go to Tesco they’re surprised and say , I thought you were going to Asda? I’ll reply, I never said that, I said Tesco. to which they’re adamant I said Asda repeatedly. That’s just an example of many things I get mixed up. I have stomach bloating, and regurgitation of meals. I am undergoing tests. I had my blood sugars checked a year ago at the GP office they were normal. Is there another way to get checked? I’m falling asleep all throughout the day and have terrible depression as I feel I have no quality of life. 🙁

  14. Barbarann

    OMG! I have literally every single symptom except for the allergies! And as a matter of fact, I have another severe one where I feel almost like I’m drunk or extremely high so to speak and it comes on all of a sudden. Funny thing is I’m on heart medication because of the rapid heartbeat and so many other medications because I think I’ve been misdiagnosed. How do I approach my doctor with this? And what test should I have done? By the way, I had an unpleasant procedure a week ago known as a colonoscopy, that’s when everything started to get much worse! Does that make sense? You’ll have to excuse the punctuation, I have to use the speech text because my neuropathy impairments are bad. Please help with any advice you have thank you.

  15. Lee

    I think I have hypoglycemia hospital said no and nurse said she was tested 3 times by 4th time they found it and I have every symptom i just now got weak dizzy felt like passing out

  16. Craig

    My 78 year old father will be fine till we have a big meal then it’s like he’s drunk. Very dizzy, disoriented, shaky and he stumbles

  17. May

    I believe it! There’s is a great deal of truth to this! I’ve experienced some of these issues myself at one time or another…I’ve had a slightly above normal A1C and just had a glucose tolerance test…(which of course plays havoc on blood glucose levels)…had a super headache afterwards to the point of considering calling the doctor (I have to be on death’s doorstep to call), emotions/depression & irritability very high, skin itchy & dry…etc etc! Sugar/refined carb cravings since the holidays…been bad…time to get on board a more healthful way of eating.

  18. April

    I have been diagnosed with hypoglycemia many years ago. My question is if my sugar drops OR right after I eat, the side of my face will begin to itch and burn. Has anyone else dealt with anything like this?

  19. Doris

    I have 15 of the symptoms listed plus; about five more such as: chills, nausea, equilibrium, restless leg syndrome, neuropathy.

  20. James Damico

    Yes, pretty much everyone. I had a very serious bacterial chest infection & I quit caffeine and after about 6 weeks when I finally licked my ailment, I still states away from sugary drinks & I started to feel worse, because I was having severe caffeine withdrawals. I started drinking coca cola again and all those symptoms went away just like that.

    • May

      Oh yeah…caffiene withdrawal is no laughing matter! Or sugar withdrawal too! You might want to consider a slow tapering down to be a little gentler on your body! Hope you’re doing better!

  21. Petrus

    I have some of above mentioned confusion. Anxiety. Forgetfulness. Mood change. I have been diagnosed with bp
    But I still have this symptoms of I don’t eat i feel very weak shaky hands n weak but the moment I eat I feel very very good I constantly check my sugar levels always in range of 5.6 /8.8 after I eat spoke to my specialist he doesn’t know what what it is

  22. Ranee A

    Thank you so much for posting this article. I’ve had every one of these health symptoms. Only recently have I started calculating them as hypoglycemic. I’ve tried several doctor visits and they classify a new “issue” with me every time. I’ve yet to have one that can identify this. I’m going to get my self tested so that I can get onto the path of better health.

  23. Cat

    I am not diabetic but I do have a thyroid disorder. I have been put on antidepressants and also anti-psychotics, even though I’ve never had a psychotic episode. I think my antidepressants make me incredibly tired, but I cannot function without them and have extreme mood swings. I don’t know what to do next or how to fix my hypoglycemia…

    • May

      Thyroid disorders can be very tricky…I’ve heard people having trouble with certain forms of their medication…some medications better tolerated than others. What I’ve heard is once you find one you tolerate well, don’t change it or even change the brand you are using. Iodine levels can greatly affect thyroid function…certain foods we consume affect thyroxine levels too. Something to read about & study up on.

  24. Paige

    One more thing that may be important is my white blood count has been consistently elevated for 12 months and primary is sending me to hematologist.

    I have thyroid condition and on medication for that and high BP.

  25. Paige

    Connie,

    Your post may save my life. I’m at my wits end. I read the list of symptoms you listed, and I have most of them. I have been struggling with my health for over 15 years. I’m now 41, and my quality of life is extremely poor. I have always been thin until about 8 years ago. I have gained over 90 pounds and feel horrible about myself. I have no good days anymore (past 4 years) and since age 25 been told I have depression and/or bi-polar disorder. I have been on just about all medications to treat depression/bipolar and currently taking 3 different medications for it, and I haven’t felt any different. I honestly think it has worsened whatever is my condition. I am so moody and unhappy and have disconnected myself from everything, even my amazing 3 children. I had gestational diabetes and high blood pressure with all 3 children and took insulin during last pregnancy. Found a new primary physician last July, and he told me I’m pre-diabetic and prescribed metformin. I have a hard time taking Metformin. The diagnosis was based solely on my fasting blood sugar. Do you think I need the 5 hour glucose test? I don’t think my fasting sugar reflects my numbers and levels after eating and how my body reacts to the glucoseswings. I feel ill all the time. but After I eat, within a short time, I get shaky, profuse sweating, which is so unbearable and embarrassing. I feel sick to stomach (hungry-type feeling, kinda like I need to eat again. These symptoms and how I feeling have negatively impacted all aspects of my life. I have lost hope, and feel no joy. I feel disconnected and just about ready to leave my family because I feel burdensome, especially when I have no official diagnosis. I can’t do chores, cook, even brushing my teeth is a task. Activity quickly wears me down and I feel weak and fatigued. So I avoid doing things. This is not me.

    The worst part is that I recently lost my job because of my attendance, due to doctor’s appointment, etc. This life event destroyed my self esteem, not to mention my financial situation. Despite my health challenges, I still worked 45+ hours weekly and at the time of my termination had over 200 hours paid time off that I lost. I made appt.’s early mornings, lunchtime or as late as possible in the day. I have never been fired or let go. I always had successful job and career. It has been 4 months since job loss and I’m looking for new job due to financial stress but I’m afraid I won’t be able to commit 100%. I don’t like doing things halfway.

    I could write a book but I’ll stop here. If you feel you can provide some answers or at least guide me and/or give me some direction. Some hope.

    Thank you!

  26. Pat

    Hi, I’m so confuse cos my docs said im fine I started feeling dizzy a week after birth which resulted to anxiety now is going to two years and I still feel dizzy each time I go to sew doc he tells me I’m okay. I’m scared to go out cos of dizziness ,life is no more fun since I gave birth through cs pls I need help anyone feel the same thing?

    • Cynthia davies

      I became very dizzy and prone to falling. Could hardly walk through the house. I am fine now: I was sent for physical therapy. The therapist said that my leg muscles were so weak that they had shrunk badly (atrophied). He said that large inner and outer thigh muscles provide most of the metabolism (energy) for the entire body. When they are weak, the energy does not make it to the brain and the muscles. Dizziness is one of the prime results of weak leg muscles. Ask your doctor or get a book on “core” exercises, or just go on the internet and find a video that strengthens all your thigh muscles and a video for Balance. The therapist gave me easy exercises–not just for the thigh muscles, but also for balance. Balance is very importance. You will want to exercise inner and outer thighs, step sideways, and walk forward and backward (with support!) One balance exercise is to stand in front of a dresser and hold on to that and just stand on one foot, hold, then the other foot. Make sure you can hold onto something in front of you while doing this. You should get a set of leg and balance exercises that is right for You.

      • Cynthia davies

        From Cynthia: The muscle strengthening also helped me to think much better. Still some problems with that, and I think I am also hypoglycemic, so am checking with my doctor. Hope all this helps you.

  27. Lillian abrantes

    Hi I am a person with hypoglycemia it’s very rare because I’m not diabetic my sugar drops down 20 and thirties can 40 times being in the hospital I have a 16 and an 11 while they had IV sugar fluid in my Ivy and I was also eating at the time so is very complicated I’ve been living this for like 3 years and I’ve been to so many hospitals out of state and I get the same answer we’ve never seen no one that could survive those numbers I thank God that I have but I live in fear everyday because I’m afraid one day I may not be able to survive it and slip into a coma and not be able to get help on time I can usually make it to the door barely to unlock it I have a Lifeline necklace it helps they come faster they already know me in the beginning they could not believe my numbers but they checked me and they didn’t believe it could believe it until they seen it with their own two eyes that happened everywhere I went and every hospitals every nurse that never seen me before it was unbelievable tell everyone but they had to see the numbers to believe it at the time I thank God that I was able to communicate because I have a lot of allergies to medications and I didn’t want to get medicated without them knowing about my allergies so I thank God that I can be alert even though I’m on a 20 or lower or 30 I used to have great symptoms that would allow me to know that my sugar was dropping but now it has fade away so now I have to guess follow my instincts my body while I sleep I kind of tremor I wake up check my blood and it’s low so that’s another thing that has me scared because how about it one day I don’t get my sugar just keeps dropping then what am I going to do nothing I can’t I will never wake up and that is my fear my last trip is to John Hopkins and I’m hoping that they can help me because I can’t take this anymore the only thing that has me strong and forever faith is God and I think I believe he’s the only one that has me alive because I can’t even believe what I see and what happens to me if someone knows anything about this could you please send me a message another thing my issue is rare because I’m not diabetic sometimes I don’t even like to eat because when I eat in the hour my sugar would drop very very low sometimes I sit there and just watch the hour but that’s not a life waiting every hour that you eat sometimes I can’t even eat because it makes me nauseated just the thought of having to go through all this so This is the real part about it when you eat you’re not supposed to have low sugar when I eat I have the low sugars of 20o30s then they have to bring it up and actually I hate it because it makes me sick once they bring it up to past 200 and then they feel comfortable but then when I come home it’s going to drop again because when it spikes up then that’s when it comes down again so I’m in the same boat 24 hours a day I’m tired I need help I don’t know how I have dealt with all this this is crazy so and not be able to get help on time I can make it it to the door barely to unlock it I have a lifeline necklace that helps they come faster they’re ready no me in the beginning they could not believe my numbers but they check me and they seem that and then they will be in shop that happen everywhere I went and every hospitals every nurse that never seen me before of it was unbelievable to everyone but they had to see the numbers to believe it at the time I think I thought I was able to communicate because I have a lot of allergies to medications and I didn’t want to get medicated without them knowing about my allergies so I think of that I can be alert even though I’m on a 20 or lower or 30 I use to have great symptoms that would allow me to know that my sugar was dropping but now it has fade away so now I have to guess follow my instinct my body while I sleep I kind get Chalmers I wake up check my blood and its a low so that’s another thing that has me scared because how about one day I don’t get the Chalmers and my sugar just keeps dropping then what am I going to do nothing I can’t I will never wake up and that is my fear my last trip is to John Hopkins and I’m hoping that they can help me because I can’t take this anymore the only thing that has me strong and fit in the faith in God is God and I think I believe he’s the only one that has me alive because I can’t even believe what I see and what happens to me if someone knows anything about this could you please send me a message another thing my issue is rare because I’m not diabetic sometimes I don’t even like to eat because when I eat and the hour my sugar would drop very very low sometimes I sit there and just watch the hour but that’s not a life waiting every hour that you eat sometimes I can’t even eat because it makes me not shaded just a thought of having to go through all this so this is the real part about it when you eat you’re not supposed to have low sugar when I eat I have the lower sugars of 2013 and they have to bring it up and actually I hate it because it makes me sick ones they bring it up to pass 200 and then they feel comfortable but then when I come home is going to drop again because when a spice up then that’s when it comes down again so I’m in the same boat 24 hours a day I’m tired I need help I don’t know how I have dealt with all this this is crazy so again not I just don’t know what’s going on and the doctors actually told me we’ve never seen anything like this I’m losing my memory because it’s so much more blood sugars I feel like the Living Dead day and night I just hope someone can figure it out for me meantime I will try to keep myself focused and strong make sure I don’t think and I can be here for my grandkids and my children I want to see them grow graduate get married have children PS God bless

    • Lillian abrantes

      Hi I am a person with hypoglycemia it’s very rare because I’m not diabetic my sugar drops down 20 and thirties can 40 times being in the hospital I have a 16 and an 11 while they had IV sugar fluid in my Ivy and I was also eating at the time so is very complicated I’ve been living this for like 3 years and I’ve been to so many hospitals out of state and I get the same answer we’ve never seen no one that could survive those numbers I thank God that I have but I live in fear everyday because I’m afraid one day I may not be able to survive it and slip into a coma and not be able to get help on time I can usually make it to the door barely to unlock it I have a Lifeline necklace it helps they come faster they already know me in the beginning they could not believe my numbers but they checked me and they didn’t believe it could believe it until they seen it with their own two eyes that happened everywhere I went and every hospitals every nurse that never seen me before it was unbelievable tell everyone but they had to see the numbers to believe it at the time I thank God that I was able to communicate because I have a lot of allergies to medications and I didn’t want to get medicated without them knowing about my allergies so I thank God that I can be alert even though I’m on a 20 or lower or 30 I used to have great symptoms that would allow me to know that my sugar was dropping but now it has fade away so now I have to guess follow my instincts my body while I sleep I kind of tremor I wake up check my blood and it’s low so that’s another thing that has me scared because how about it one day I don’t get my sugar just keeps dropping then what am I going to do nothing I can’t I will never wake up and that is my fear my last trip is to John Hopkins and I’m hoping that they can help me because I can’t take this anymore the only thing that has me strong and forever faith is God and I think I believe he’s the only one that has me alive because I can’t even believe what I see and what happens to me if someone knows anything about this could you please send me a message another thing my issue is rare because I’m not diabetic sometimes I don’t even like to eat because when I eat in the hour my sugar would drop very very low sometimes I sit there and just watch the hour but that’s not a life waiting every hour that you eat sometimes I can’t even eat because it makes me nauseated just the thought of having to go through all this so This is the real part about it when you eat you’re not supposed to have low sugar when I eat I have the low sugars of 20o30s then they have to bring it up and actually I hate it because it makes me sick once they bring it up to past 200 and then they feel comfortable but then when I come home it’s going to drop again because when it spikes up then that’s when it comes down again so I’m in the same boat 24 hours a day I’m tired I need help I don’t know how I have dealt with all this this is crazy so and not be able to get help on time I can make it it to the door barely to unlock it I have a lifeline necklace that helps they come faster they’re ready no me in the beginning they could not believe my numbers but they check me and they seem that and then they will be in shop that happen everywhere I went and every hospitals every nurse that never seen me before of it was unbelievable to everyone but they had to see the numbers to believe it at the time I think I thought I was able to communicate because I have a lot of allergies to medications and I didn’t want to get medicated without them knowing about my allergies so I think of that I can be alert even though I’m on a 20 or lower or 30 I use to have great symptoms that would allow me to know that my sugar was dropping but now it has fade away so now I have to guess follow my instinct my body while I sleep I kind get Chalmers I wake up check my blood and its a low so that’s another thing that has me scared because how about one day I don’t get the Chalmers and my sugar just keeps dropping then what am I going to do nothing I can’t I will never wake up and that is my fear my last trip is to John Hopkins and I’m hoping that they can help me because I can’t take this anymore the only thing that has me strong and fit in the faith in God is God and I think I believe he’s the only one that has me alive because I can’t even believe what I see and what happens to me if someone knows anything about this could you please send me a message another thing my issue is rare because I’m not diabetic sometimes I don’t even like to eat because when I eat and the hour my sugar would drop very very low sometimes I sit there and just watch the hour but that’s not a life waiting every hour that you eat sometimes I can’t even eat because it makes me not shaded just a thought of having to go through all this so this is the real part about it when you eat you’re not supposed to have low sugar when I eat I have the lower sugars of 2013 and they have to bring it up and actually I hate it because it makes me sick ones they bring it up to pass 200 and then they feel comfortable but then when I come home is going to drop again because when a spice up then that’s when it comes down again so I’m in the same boat 24 hours a day I’m tired I need help I don’t know how I have dealt with all this this is crazy so again not I just don’t know what’s going on and the doctors actually told me we’ve never seen anything like this I’m losing my memory because it’s so much more blood sugars I feel like the Living Dead day and night I just hope someone can figure it out for me meantime I will try to keep myself focused and strong make sure I don’t think and I can be here for my grandkids and my children I want to see them grow graduate get married have children PS God bless

      • May

        You need to take a very serious look at the types of foods you are eating that are helping to create such a unstable blood glucose. I suggest keeping a food diary and writing down what you eat, how much you eat, when you eat it and chart you blood glucose levels as well! Your right…this is life-threatening to you! Chart these things down somewhere and analysis it as to what is contritbuting to such drops in your blood glucose. I’m only an RN, but I helped one of by severly unstable diabetic patients greatly stablizing her glucose levels by removing refined sugars, baked goods, breads and walking just a little more than she was everyday. You need to focus on foods that help support a stable blood sugar instead of spikes (which I’m sure you must be having) and then the resulting crash (severe drop). This article gives good advice, but maybe you need to talk to a dietician too, after getting a good lab work up.

  28. Destany Allgood

    Hi! I’m 17 and I recently fainted. That morning I didn’t eat anything for breakfast and I usually get shaky when I skip a meal. Is this normal or should I get it checked out? Could I have a low blood sugar disorder?

    • May

      No, it’s not normal and it sounds like your blood sugars are running low. Yes get it checked out and eat foods that can help provide a stable blood sugar…avoid sugary things and eat at least a small breakfast to prevent the jitters & fainting! Maybe some scrambled eggs with some veggies mixed in…pre-cook it and warm in microwave if your rushed in the morning!

  29. Jackie

    At the age of 15, I passed out at church and went to the dr to have my sugar tested. I was diagnosed with Hypoglycemia at that time. They told me just to watch what I ate and eat everything in moderation. Since then I have been diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder, Anxiety Disorder and almost everyday have the below symptoms:
    Cravings for sweets
    Mood swings
    Unexplained fatigue and exhaustion
    Depression
    Headaches
    Digestive disturbances
    Anxiety
    Over Weight and can’t lose the weight
    Crying spells
    Lack of sex drive

    • May

      Study what to eat to manage your blood sugar levels…read articles like the one above, so you add to your knowledge of how to manage your hypoglycemia episodes. Fainting can be very dangerous…you could not only drop way down in your blood sugar level but could also injure yourself in a fall. Eat a protein and small to moderate amount of healthy vegetable fat with your meals to slow the processing of the “simple carbs” that you consume…that will help stabilize your blood sugar levels! Hypoglycemia commonly proceeds developing Type II Diabetes.

    • Jess

      I am the same way. I have been diagnosed with bipoler, anixity, depression, mood swings , crying spells, lack of energy , cravings for sweets

  30. Cherryl

    Hi ,I’m 20years old and I think unlike most people who have high blood sugar instead I have low .I’m not sure but I feel like the suger I take isn’t converted to glucose ,like it must normally because each cup of tea or any related suger product I consume makes me feel dizzy and I usually lose my sight but I don’t understand it cause its like at the side of my eye I’m seeing moving water. The feeling makes me so uncomfortable and I get chills and sweat a lot ,then when it goes away a massive headache follows and last for days . I went for a check up last week ,my blood was taken to the lab but the doctor says everything is normal ,the results proves it but I know I’m not okay I can feel it . I even quit eating anything with auger now . PLEASE HELP?!

    • Lillian abrantes

      I suggest that you give the check see I’m on a carb complex diet and now also on a low fat so it’s a challenge every day but no matter what I do no matter what I eat it still takes it down so that’s what frustrates me why my sugar drops if I’m doing the right thing well I think it’s just not my time but everybody that do have this please get checked this is something serious sometimes I don’t even eat just the thought of waiting for the hour but I know I do have to so I just pick on crackers not cookies crackers and ham cheese peanut butter and jelly and I’m good with all that the peanut butter and jellies run my sugar drop again if anyone that has the rear hypoglycemic like me out of nowhere that don’t pass out his alert please let me know

  31. Joanna Mead

    Hi,
    I have been diagnosed with CFS, but don’t think my symptoms fit. They begun 8 or so years ago, feeling weak, too hot or hot and cold sweats, insomnia, irritable, muscle pain, almost flue like. I feel much much older than I am, I get headaches a lot and generally feel very low and almost unable to work. I was then told I had very low Vit D levels so now take lots of Vit D and this has helped about 50%, but still have some of the symptoms mentioned above. They are much worse around my monthly period. Additionally, if I eat biscuits or too much sweet stuff, I will crash about 3 hours later. When I say crash I mean its like I think I need an ambulance , its that bad the only cure is sugar. I shake, drip in sweat, and can barely put one foot in front of the other. I have a very sweet tooth, but think that I will need to cut sugar out as I am definitely have hypo spells in the afternoons. I also wonder whether the CFS symptoms are a less severe episode of a hypo.

  32. Katerina Prokopova

    Hello,
    my troubles started about a year ago, anxiety, night sweats, sugar cravings, I didnt like sweets prior to this! ibs, peeing a lot during night. Bad insomnia, I go to bed around 10pm , I wake up between midnight – 1am with sweat on my neck and chest area, I eat, fall asleep for 2-3hrs eat again..it repeats everyday. I am extremely tired from lack of sleep and bad dreams. I am 30yrs old but feel like an old lady. Blood work didnt show anything, slightly higher sugar actually…

    • Joanna Mead

      your symptoms sound like mine, I also pee alot and wake up soaked in sweat, and suffer from insomnia. I don’t feel like I need to eat in the night though. your blood work may have shown high sugar because you had eaten something before hand maybe?

  33. Rachel Saleh

    I am at a loss for words! This article just changed my life. I have been diagnosed no polar, depressed, and having anxiety disorder. I go through bouts of fatigue and weakness. Low patience and irritability for no reason. I’m known to be very forgetful. I wake up in the night with terrible admoninal pain from time to time. And I tend to always feel very itchy and tingly in certain parts of my body. Obviously not everyday but I go through spells time to time of feeling all of these symptoms. I had a horrible time today feeling anxious paranoid nauseated extremely tired and annoyed. I read up on hypoglycemia so I ate a banana containing potassium and all of my symptoms vanished! It was the WEIRDEST thing I have ever experienced. So glad you took the time out of your life to write this article. Please email me so we can further chat before I go to a doctor and get told I’m crazy!

  34. Sidrah Masood

    I started suffering some symptoms for the past month or so. Fatigue, shaking, craving something sweet, headaches, tiredness etc. But it always happens at the same time every other day? At 3pm? Is this hypoglycemia? Can sum1 plz txtbak thanks

    • Alexandria

      I’m not a doctor… But yes!! This has been happening to me. My blood sugar has been very low because my adrenal glands aren’t working right. What helps me when I wake up is to have a little bit of lunch meat/cheese or a handful or almonds or cashews. 🙂

  35. Majid

    Feeling most of these symptoms since 6 years but why to decrease sugar consumption when it is low(hypoglycemia)??

  36. Robbie

    I only seem to have these symptoms after some sort of exertion. Like exercising hiking etc. Is this common or a medical condition such as reactive hypoglycemia?

  37. Molly

    HELP me I’m in school and duringJim I get really really horrible hypoglycemia attacks my stomach hurts I get weak my vision spins I need food how do I fell better fast I’m 9

    • Angela

      Molly please tell your mom, teacher or school nurse what’s happening so they can have you seen by a doctor.

    • Joanna Mead

      you need to see a doctor, but til then try a banana or some other fruit and nuts as a snack before Gym class.

  38. Jerry

    I suspect this problem, first, i am underweight despite eating much, also if i take drinks with high glucose it causes a mild confusion and my head begins to feel a rush somehow(difficult to explain.

    I really want to know if ita low or blood sugar or high blood sugar that cause this symptoms. Thanks.

  39. Martha Ray

    My Integrated medicine doctor told me that the Glucose Tolerant Tests are counterproductive,even harmful, to the condition. I did a ton of them back in the 70’s and really did not notice any harm or help from them but back then eating avocado helped my condition right away so I thought I was cured. Only I went only to keep craving sugar for many years. Now years later finally making an effort to keep stable blood sugar levels… I think it is key is to eat small amounts of protein, fiber and fats every 2-3 hours. My doctor also told me stabilizing ones blood sugar will heal the hormones and the hormones will heal the body. I personally will not take those GTT’s again but will certainly mind my blood sugar !

  40. Colton

    I have most if not all of these most of the time.

  41. Andrew

    I have had depression for most of my life, after a prolonged stressful situation mid age, I have had chronic fatigue for the past several years, as well as being more emotional, more aches and pains, less motivated, and facial pain in my sinuses off and on that corrolated with my vision degrading a bit. I have sugar cravings and have gained some weight. In my search for an answer, despite assistance from doctors because most tests come back normal I am at a loss for what has. Been causing these symptoms. In this time I also began having acid reflux. The only tests that proved abnormal were my thyroid tests. I have been on armor thyroid for 6 months and that has helped the depression and knee aches but has not helped my fatigue. Could I possibly have hypoglycemia as well?

    • May

      Yes!

  42. Jenna

    I was diagnosed with Reactive Hypoglycemia this year. For the past 4 years I was misdiagnosed. They told me I had a MOOD disorder, Migraines, Bipolar DISORDER, IBS, and many more… You are right about cutting out sugar… it helps alot.

    • Jenna

      Also Restless Leg Syndrome

  43. Kerry

    One night, a few months ago, my husbands dad was taking his blood sugar, so I thought it would be funny to see where our blood sugars were at.
    I was the lowest out of everyone after eating the same meal.
    I borrowed an extra glucose meter that my father in law had, and recorded my diet and sugars every few hours for the next week.
    My lowest blood sugar readings range from 1.7 to 3. The highest I my blood sugar ever got was 4 to 5.7.
    Upon doing my google self diagnosis research… Lol
    It’s actually amazing to see how many symptoms are related to sugar.
    I was having problems with nerve flare ups surrounding my herniated disks in my back, and the worst days were related to how much sugar I had consumed.
    Also being hypothyroid, there is a relation to blood sugars and hashimotos thyroiditis. This totally has explained all the heart palpitations, joint pain and various other symptoms.
    Knowing all this, I fell off the wagon yesterday and decided it was a good idea to consume several huge spoonfuls of delicious vanilla icing. It’s my go to food on a bad day.
    Anyway, I had the last spoonful of icing around 4 pm. By 6 pm the cold sweat started, then the shakes. By 7 pm my eyes were going blurry and my joints and muscles began to ache like I had been hit by a bus. I started to feel like I was drunk but hung over at the same time.
    By 9 pm it felt like I had shards of glass in my joints and it was so unbelievably painful to move.
    All night long I was sweating, and at one point I woke up with the worst heart palpitations I’ve ever had. I literally laid there and wondered if I was going to have a heart attack.
    Today, my nerve pain has flared up and I feel so slow in my movements like my muscles aren’t working properly.
    Amazing what sugar can do to your body, and I definitely dont want to feel that way again. But that’s what every person with an addiction tells themselves after a binge.
    So, I start over, day one, on my quest to control the beast craving that sweet poison within.

  44. Brianna Wilson

    I have quite of a few of these symptoms. I’m 16 and I’ve never had any dizzy spells though. I have a friend who is hypoglycemic and she gets really dizzy, which is why I never considered this an option. I have dealt with depression for a few years now, rarely eating (preferring to drink things such as milk, pop, water, etc), constant headaches, always tired (even after sleeping for up to 8 hours), and I’ve also been recently having nightmares at least once a night. I don’t think this is exactly what I have but I was wondering if you could think of something else. Thank you.

  45. ramjp

    I got a nutritionist and tried any ways to reduce sugar intake and restrain myself from additives and chemicals. I got better a couple of months or so, then I slid back or got much worse than before. Now, I even have a trouble eating and digesting any food other than veritables and some fruits. My fatigue is terrible. After meal headache, dizziness, and dullness are crucial. My activities and daily performance are limited, spending on my bed all the time. Just surviving everyday and nothing else I can hope for.

    • Christina

      I can totally relate to this, just existing in life, but not really having a life. They have not diagnosed my problem yet, but I am pretty sure it’s low blood sugars, as it hits worse at certain times of the day, when I eat I feel fine for a couple of hours and the same thing all over again, lightheaded, feeling axioms slightly dazed,tired, sometimes palpitations, internal tremors just in the morning, I could go on,

    • jonathan

      Did you ever fix your problem ive had same symptoms after eating

  46. Vanessa

    OMG I just found out their the The five-hour Glucose Tolerance Test, that i have this ,Anyways i have 20 of the 25 symptoms ,i cut out almost all my sugar intake (about 85%) and have been eating alot more fruits and changed my eating ,I all ready feel better not back to a 100% healthy but my headaches are only once twice a week compared to all day , daily from the time i get up to the time i go to bed , I was tired all the time ,I was told about 4 years ago i had mirgraines from a different dr ,I finely have a answer after being sick on & off for over 5 years now with the past 6 months being so very bad ,But i’am getting so much better since i found out !!I could eat a box of donuts and right after have 2 bags of gumie bears ,I craved sweets so bad i would throw fits if someone ate my sweets ,I’M ALMOST BACK TO NORMAL HEALTH praise the lord !!

    • Vanessa

      P.S i was told to eat more carbs ,protein ,fruits ,& cut out the sugar & high does of caffeine ,But i see everyone is cutting out carbs ??any advice would be greatly appricated thanks

      • Kate

        Vanessa – watch the fruit, some can be very high in sugar and cause insulin spikes. Best to stick with berries (if tolerated). I read women can be more reactive to fruit than men.

  47. elizabeth

    ok well the people in my life think its all in my head. I shake internally sometimes, I fell tired around noon every day, but the worst problem I have is I feel high. I cant remember things very good. And here recently I feel woozy every time I get up out of bed in the morning.I went to the dentist and I feel dizzy if I put my head on the chair while its being lowered. I juice in the morning, {beats, spinach, carrots, ginger root,apples, and cucumbers}. and for lunch I have a fruit smoothie{ frozen strawberries, frozen blueberries, frozen banana,almond milk, and 1 scoop of a protein shake. For dinner I usually eat 6 ounces of meat and 4 ounces fresh veggies, but sometimes i cheat and eat what everyone else is eating. I am so upset that I have decided to juice at night to and see if cleansing my body for 15 days will help. I have only been experiencing the dizziness for about 3 months and the disoriented feeling happens after I sleep and usually only last a couple of hours but today it has lasted since last night. I hate this feeling and just want to feel better ps I dont have health ins, please any advice would help or am I just crazy. I have also been having really bad mood swings.

    • Alisha

      Sometimes you can do TO much cleansing and it can throw your body off. I ended up with severe vertigo one day after juicing to much. (I know it was from that because my body emptied -everything- super cleanse in a bad way style).
      Also tired and dizzy was the beginning of a stomach infection that took a year for drs to diagnose. Look up H Pylori symptoms and see if you have the majority of those. It’s worth looking into.

    • Angela

      I’ve come to believe everyone’s diet requirements are different based off their blood type. There a book out about it. Sorry dont remember the name. I went vegetarian for a few years and almost killed myself. Literally. I have to have protein. Sounds to me like you may be the same.

      • Angela

        Oh btw, I fully recovered when I went back on meats.

  48. Tanya

    Hi, every now & then this is what happens: All of a sudden I feel starving, sick, weak, it feels like my blood is draining, my palms itch & I have to eat immediately, I always choose a banana, could this be hypoglycemia?

  49. Hannah

    I have been trying to eat low carb the last couple of weeks but i’ve been getting awfully sick withing the hour after eating. I get itching/prickling feeling…horrible heart palpitations, anxiety, pains in my arms and numbness. After a trio to my doc, urgent care and the ER they tell me they can’t find anything wrong. I’m also drinking a ton and and not peeing as much as usual. At night sometimes I feel like i’m not going to wake up my heart is beating so odd. I just finally broke down and ate a few slices of apple and some peanut butter and a juice box to see if that would make me feel better but it really hasn’t. I have done low carb many times with no issues. I’m 30 and have two small kids and am so tired of being sick and having this anxiety like I could die at any moment. They keep suggesting I have stress related anxiety but my life is wonderful and I am very laid back…not worried about anything. Has anyone else had the feeling they were retaining fluids or numbness in arms? Because this usually hits after eating I have to believe it is reactive hypoglycemia. I’ve been eating so great these last few weeks…very clean lots of veggies and grass fed meats… figured after a couple weeks I wouldn’t feel like this anymore and my body would adjust but it hasn’t.

    • Alisha

      Could be a stomach infection. Look up symptoms of H. Pylori.
      I had severe anxiety for over a year while they tried to find out what was wrong with me and it turned out(after seeing a naturopath of course) that it was a stomach infection.
      It’s a lot more common than it used to be. :/

    • Christina McCarty

      Sounds like high blood sugar. Check with your doctor for an ac-1 test.

    • jonathan

      Ive been going threw it for 7 months did you ever figure out what it was its really scary ive been on strict chicken veganase and garlic chicken salad diet for 3 months and i feel tons better but if i slip up and have coconut water with natural sugar it feels like i cant breath and my heart starts beating fast and i get spleen pain let me know if you find any answers.

  50. Carol

    Recently, I stopped eating carbs to get rid of loads of symptoms.
    Last night I though “what the heck” and ate white bread.
    I had an awful nightmare.
    So I Googled carbs and nightmares this a.m. and found this forum.
    Good luck to everyone switching to a more Paleo diet.
    It is not easy for some of us; it is worth it.

    • Hannah

      Carol-

      I have been doing low carb on and off many years. Whenever i’d eat something off the diet I would have the most dreams and sleep like I was in a coma. Every time!

  51. Gigi

    All these signs are me. I was recently put in zoloft ange hate the way I feel.

    • Kyla

      I’ve in the same boat, although I’m not taking Zoloft anymore. It made me feel so drowsy and hungry and sick. Now I’m on mood stabilizers for bipolar, which actually help a ton. Good luck :’(

  52. john ridgway

    I have had this for at least 15-20 years. Most doctors feel its diabetes, problem is I never have failing blood sugar counts on any blood test. Most of the time you must be in his office during an attack to note the sugar count. I’ll get headaches, uneasy feeling, tremors, heart feeling funny, hunger, weak spells, muscle aches, pretty much everything on the list. Finally I know what it is and can treat it, my problem is if I eat that way it solves one problem and creates others. How do I deal with the hunger and hunger headaches from the bland light weight diet?

  53. Angela Renee Paschall

    I have all the symptoms above.I’m eating sweets constantly I crave it my body does.crying often I just assumed I was just upset about everyday thngs.I get weak sweeping the floor.I have to push through that when I’m at work.its to the point I have to lay down because I’ll shake so bad n get cold sweats I have to stop.blurred vision bad I assumed I needed glasses.its so bad at times I cant focus or see nothing but shapes
    I have a history of dibetics in my family.no sex drive I just rather not.I was wondering what was going on with my body.I understand and will have to make an appointment for the doctor asap.I don’t sleep I’m up for at lea st two days strait without any sleep.unless I take a sleepaid.its nerve wracking now.I need some help fast.this reall helped me

    • Oleg

      Hi, I have same simptoms so was wandering if you you ever figure out what was wrong. Thanks

  54. Laura

    I have heart palpitations, a fast heart rate especially when drinking alcohol or coke, feeling tired and week, insomnia and when I do sleep bad nightmares, I crave sugar more than ever and putting on weight. Im also having thrush most of the time. I I’ve been to the doctors about a diabetes test which they took and they have said I don’t have it. Is there a possibility it’s down to being hypoglycaemic? Thanks, Laura h

    • Troy

      you might get checked for candida

  55. Tina A.

    I have had blurred vision and dizzy spells for the past two weeks. Do I have high blood sugar?

    • Ted

      It’s possible. Could you get it checked by a doctor? Anything that persists for two weeks should be examined by a physician.

  56. Kathleen

    Allergies and internal trembling listed twice

  57. Joey

    I have panic attacks, feelings of dizziness, head aches, I feel really bad after eating sometimes. I can hardly work because I feel week and dizzy and tired. I have felt bad for years people say im craxy but I feel horrible. Im scared people wont care and ill end up dying or something. Sugars make me feel bad, but the next day not right when I comsumes them. I have asked and dont everything. Please help

    • Jeff

      I feel exactly the same way. You are not alone. I can totally relate.

    • Daniel

      I can also relate. Have been dealing with these symptoms all my life on and off. They got worse after high school and escalated in my late 20s.

      Doctors tried to mitigate symptoms with anti-depressant drugs. Then, I suffered a stroke (about a week before my 30th birthday) about two years ago and the symptoms have intensified. I’ve been in the emergency room several times in the past year as well as visiting urgent care –and visiting regularly with my primary care physician. I recently lost my job because I was unable to perform as I have previously (being unable to think clearly, or rather, feel normal long enough to make deadlines, makes it awful hard to focus when you are a programmer– especially since I was also dealing with anxiety fueled panic attacks).

      I sometimes think I’m going crazy. Doctors have not been able to pinpoint my issue. Just yesterday, I was once again describing how I was feeling to my in-laws and they suggested I use their blood glucose tester. I had just eaten a heavy meal an hour or two prior, but I was at an 82 reading. I drank a sugary soda and started feeling better so I went to bed (levels went up to 110). I woke up in the middle of the night with the usual symptoms and ate some caramel candies and was able to sleep again. (At least I found something that will help me sleep, I guess.)

      Today I’ve tested myself several times when I’ve started to feel glittery, achy, tingling, and even experiencing trouble breathing. Each time I do, my sugars are crashing.

      I’m just trying to figure out what I should be eating to help the symptoms, because as it stands I’m feeling quite desperate to never feel this way again. My health has been my nemesis for too long. So frustrating!

      • Daniel

        Wanted to note that at least for me, whenever my sugars crash, the last thing I want to do is eat. Especially something sugary.

      • Angela

        I’ve read cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar. Maybe read up on it.

    • Christina

      You are definitely not alone, I have been feeling horrible for months and months now, but doc can’t seem to diagnose me, my fasting bloods are fine, and I always seem to feel fine when I’m getting them done, I really need to be there when I’m having an attack which is about two three times a day. I really know how you feel

  58. justine2222

    Hi Connie,

    Please help!!!!! I have a long story that has led me to discovering i have hypoglycemia.

    i am 22 years old, when i was 18 i became a gym junkie, working out 5/6 days a week, was at university – had probs with anxiety, was eating OK – not nutritious enough. Anyway, when i was 20 i got glandular fever (mononucleosis), not knowing – i thought i had a flu and continue working out, clubbing, going crazy (what us youngens do)….then it developed into post-viral fatigue. ANYWAY, im 5ft 10 and when a gym junkie i weighed around 81kgs… after having glandular feverand chronic fatigue i put on 10ish kgs.

    So when i was working out when i was 18 i was ignoring my dizzy spells, anxiety, depressing times, lack of concentration or focus, foggy brain, etc etc – because i was so obsessed with wanting to lose weight.
    now since having chronic fatigue in 2009 i have been trying to recover – first it was naturpathy and since has been trying to eat healthy, although i have the biggest sugar crashes and need to eat and end up binging and get into a pattern like this.

    ANYWAY sorry im babbling. point is, every time ive tried to incorperate exercise (gym workouts, running, aerobic classes etc) i lose a few kgs…and as SOON as i dont go to the gym i put on that weight plus more! i got up to 98 kgs 2 months ago. i went to italy and in 2 weeks of being there i lost 7.5 kgs? thats without doing exercise and eating white bread, sugars etc. THIS MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. what the hell am i doing? I dont know how I can lose weight, not die from trying to do low-carb diets, (ive tried carb-protein small portions, no refined sugar diets – and i DONT LOSE WEIGHT!)

    i also have so much retained fluid. im just fed up and the doctors give me NO help with losing weight. i exercise – crash and burn – i diet – i crash and burn.
    I am currently about 93kgs and im scared to start exercising again as i seemingly pUT ON weight when i do exercise unless im doing a low-carb diet & exercise.

    Any help would be amazing!

    thank you thank you.

    Justine

    • Anne

      Your stressing out way too much about it. Make healthy eating a life style change gradually don’t just stop everything all at once. Continuously make changes until your lifestyle ends up the way it needs to be. Stress will make woman gain and retain weight.

      All of these systems are the same exact symptoms for many other things… 1,000’s of other things. People should not get worked up so much the medical care industry wants to pump you full of drugs so that you can be a repeat customer. Medical care at the end of the day is a trillion dollar business. Fruits, nuts, and veggies should be primary portion of diet including lots of water. Dehydration can cause tons of side effects. You should be drinking lots of water daily. Then meats should be second primary food group if any at all. Steer clear from pork. Steer clear from most dairy or eat very small amounts but work your way up to it if your a dairy and pork addict. Pork is THE MOST UNHEALTHIEST MEAT you can eat, salty fatty and horrible. Stick with fish and chicken turkey etc. most seafood are bottom feeders, shrimp lobster, catfish… Their purpose on Earth is to clean garbage so was pigs. You are what you eat. Red meat is second most unhealthiest meat on the planet. Water, nuts, fruits, grains, poultry and fish and that is all you need to survive.

  59. Jason

    I think I could have hypoglycemia but my main concern is the seizures I have. I also have mood swings & other small symptoms but again my only concern is to stop having seizures. I only have them at night & I’ve been given EEG’s & MRI & they were negative. So what should I do?

  60. Brian

    Thought I would point out that you only have 24 symptoms listed (Allergies is listed twice…)

    • Tom

      I noticed the same thing, plus internal trembling is listed twice as well so it’s a list of 23 symptoms.

      This article does have helpful information, but really should be edited.

  61. anglmurd

    My husband has hypoglycemia. He also has to eat every 2-3 hours. When he has problems with his blood sugar levels, he starts making irrational decisions, has anxiety, paranoia, low frustration tolerance, he becomes weak, and feels like he’s going to pass out. He used to eat sugar when we first got married. Now he eats no refined sugars, or white flour and that has helped a lot. I used to be able to tell when he had eaten a doughnut or had hot chocolate at work by the way he acted when he came home from work. When we were first married I thought he used it as an excuse for bad behavior, but I have learned over the past 10 years that it is real. Cutting out the refined carbohydrates and being selective in which fruits and veggies he will eat has had a huge impact on his life and ability to think rationally. I think this article is correct. Obviously not everyone with these symptoms has hypoglycemia, but if you do have it you are likely to have several other misdiagnoses. I think his whole family has it, but they have been diagnosed with things like add, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, fibromialgia, etc..

    • Christina

      Could you please tell me what kind of things he eats, as I am at a loss for what kinds of food I should be eating.
      Thank you x

  62. rabbit

    I was just diagnosed with hypoglycemia due to insulin resistance. now i am on a doctors ordered low good carb diet. i have no choice but to eat healthy now and wish i could go back to the days when i could eat nothing but carbs and sugar all day long with no consequence, but what i didnt realize is that eating that way back then is what may have caused my high insulin and ultimately hypoglycemia. Now im lucky if i can have a 1/2 a cup of no sugar added carb light ice cream at night. my point is that i know how addictive sugar is and how awesome it is to binge but you have to keep asking yourself is this sweet worth dropping my quality of life? trust me its not. and ya explaining to grandpa why you cant have a slice of the pumpkin pie they made for you is not fun. neither is being an italian woman who has to make herself a separate dinner than the rest of the familiy. cut down while you can before you are forced to for you healths sake! i really wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy.
    On a side note i would be interested in this book cuz i need all the info i can get as my doc hasnt given me much.

  63. Ashley

    Hi my name is Ashley, I am very concerned after reading this, I have been labeled a hypochondriac by my mother for years. I am only 22. All my life I have been a perfect little size 2 so i really didn’t pay attention to my hypoglycemia tendencies. i have always known i have it. If I wouldn’t eat for long periods of times I especially if i hadn’t had any protien or sugar I would start to shake all over feel faint hyperventilate have panick attacks. I would go to the store eat chips honey buns and whatever it took to calm me down. I would feel like I was drowning. I just thought it was something I had to deal with until I read this article. I had a baby a year ago and to my disgust and dismay I weighed myself at 204 pounds last night. I can’t stop eating. I sobbed last night all last night. Every time I try to diet I have these episodes and over eat. I have horrible migraines these days too. What can I do specifically to stop this???

  64. Moonflower

    To all of those on this message board that are bashing this poor ladies book, you must be real assholes! I’m sure she has knowledge and experience with hypoglycemia, and she even says that she is not a doctor, which is why her book is based on her opinion on hypoglycemia?? So if you don’t like what she’s saying, why even bother to make nasty comments or be on this diet forum at all? Just don’t buy the book?
    You must never get ill or suffer from an illness that is unexplained or doctors cannot figure out. I’ve suffered from a form of hypoglycemia for years now and the feelings you experience can ruin your life because others cannot understand what you’re going through. They usually think you are overboard, crazy, or depressed. I’ve also had an uncle and friend who had cancer, and the docs told them they would prob. die…they decided to give up all forms of sugar, no simple carbs, not even fruits, and they managed to get rid of their cancer on their own and are in remission. Sugar is one of the main causes of illness in our world! And if this woman can help one person discover they are hypoglycemic, and help them feel less along in their struggles, then good for her. And her book is cheap so she’s not really getting all that rich off of it!! If you don’t like the book, don’t comment, its pointless to judge others you don’t even know. Esp. if you have
    not even read her book!!!

  65. t

    hello, I have been trying to do research on Hypoglycemia, and it is VERY confusing how all this blood sugar works with the rest of our organs…I have not been diagnosed however I have had a lot of strange things going on. I am always hungry, however I feel nauseated, light headed, like I have not eaten. I am getting confused/foggy, and feel like I’ve been drinking when I have in fact not been. I have been having the crawling sensation on my skin as well as numbness in my face and lips and hands. I get headaches, and I shake and prob. should not drive when I feel this way. I can usually feel this coming on as my heart starts pounding and I feel sweaty.
    The weird thing is when I feel this way and check my blood sugar w/a glucometer, it is usually within normal range of 80’s or 90’s. I have been getting numbers over 100 in the morning though after fasting which I have read is Pre-Diabetic. I am willing to try anything to not feel this ill all the time.
    With the job I have it’s hard to eat properly and at regular times. I also think the ‘critics’ need to back off and do more research, this is not a simple issue.

  66. Shannon

    Hi, I was wondering about this…I have had many a nights where I went to bed fine and when I woke up in the morning I had these really deep cuts on my hands,arms,and legs and they aren’t like scratches they honestly look like someone burnt me with a cigarette and I dont smoke…I was wondering if this is a sign of any sort of diabetes what so ever…

    Thanx

  67. feeling yucky

    I know I eat way too much sugar, but I have no idea how to stop.  It’s everywhere and so hard to resist.  Help!

  68. Andrea

    Recently I decided to make some changes to my diet. I used to eat alot of crap, fast food and heavy meals causing me to be overweight but I did not do a lot of snacking. Since changing my diet for the better about 2 months ago and losing 20lbs I have been having “episodes” which start with nausea and then weakness, nervousnes and tembling. After blood test and an abdominal ultrasound showed nothing I thought it was anxiety. My new doctor just told me she thinks it may be hypoglycemia. She suggested eating more frequently and having foods with a low glycemic index and eating more protein (I was only eating 3 small meals a day mostly vegetables and some carbs)Hopefully thia will alieviate some of my syptoms because it is very frustrating not knowing what is causing this. If anyone has experienced similar things I would love to know about it.

  69. Holly

    To be honest ive never heard of this condition on its own, only with diabetes, as i have type one myself, and as i understand it you NEED to consume carbs and sugar otherwise your body cant function properly, thats why you appear intoxicated…….or am i really getting it wrong?

  70. Carrie

    Well I have a 15 year old son who has been told he is hypoglycemic and it is hard to manage. He has all but maybe three of the symptoms listed and this past year has been hell on him. My question is about his weight. He is 5’8″ and weighs 104. What is the best way to add weight while on a hypo diet? He was somewhat leveled off for a while but is now experiencing severe side effects again. To those that slam the whole hypoglycemia thing as though it does not exist, that whole attitude is what we deal with in the medical community also. My view is if you don’t experience these symptoms then count yourself very lucky and move on to the next website.

  71. Cathy

    I am 56 yrs. old and diagnosed with hypoglycemia several years ago. I am 5’2″ and weight 130. I’ve tried low carb, low fat,whatever else is out there and I still can’t lose weight. I eat around 1,200 calories a day and walk three miles a day. If I eat more than 1,200 a day I gain weight. If I eat less I just maintain the same weight. What else can I do?

  72. Kris

    Keep in mind that sugars are not just “sugar”, but most breads, pasta, rice, potatoes and other starchy or simple carbs. They rocket your sugar up and then drop it way down.

    I am not diagnosed hypoglycemic, but have had some symptoms that might indicate is (fasting glucose test the doctor prescribed revealed nothing). The worst spells I’ve had were as such:

    1) First time I had a “melt down”, I was working at an outdoor food both next to a hot popcorn machine. They forgot to put me on break, and I started to feel weak and so nauseous that I kept having to leave the booth and lean over a rail because I thought I was going to loose my stomach (and I almost never “loose it”, haven’t in the last decade!). Finally, they sent me to the medic, and he said “go eat something, and if you still feel bad, come back”. Despite how I felt, I ate and was fine after.

    2) In college, I had two spells within a couple of weeks. Both were related to eating a heavy, unhealthy meal. Around two hours later, mild nausea, extreme chills, shakiness, extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Doctors did the fasting glucose test and just said, “you’re fine. Eat small meals throughout the day”.

    3) I was working a live camera at a show a few years ago. That morning, we had to wake up a 6am and because we were time crunched, our boss didn’t let us have breakfast. We had a couple hours of tech and a couple hours of the live show. I was standing at the camera and suddenly I started to have problems staying conscious. My legs were jelly, my eyes were closing and my head drooping, it was hard to focus my eyes on anything. I was shaking badly and the director kept calling me to ask what was going on. I just barely managed to hold the camera up for the remainder of the show. When I bent down to get down off the riser, I buckled over with stomach pain and just managed to walk myself backstage to lie down (at which point I promptly started crying). After lying down for a while, I was a bit more stable… we went for breakfast in short order and then to our hotel rooms to sleep. I was fine for the evening show.

    4) Yesterday I fasted in the morning. I was feeling a bit depressed all morning for no reason. I went and puttered around a bit in a friend’s garden (nearly fainting once, but I have low blood pressure and thought nothing of it… just made sure to drink a lot of water) and then came home, had a handful of mustard greens, a small piece of homemade bread and then (regrettably) 5 cookies. After resting for an hour, I went outside to work in my backyard garden. After about 15 minutes, I started having problems staying conscious. Everytime I went to stand up, I would feel light-headed and my vision would dim. It was so bad that I could hardly stand up without nearly passing out and had to concentrate on just getting enough air to stay conscious. I was also dropping things clumsily and forgetting where I put them. Finally, I went inside, nearly running into some furniture because my legs were jelly. I lay down and ate some fiber/protein. I still was tired after that, but not weak anymore.

    It’s not about dieting… I am not heavy and don’t believe in “diets”. And the symptoms above are vague — they could be for several different disorders. But when you get some bad problems and you realize that there seems to be a pattern relating to what you did or didn’t eat, eating for your blood sugar no longer becomes a panacea — it’s the difference between being able to go about your life, or having to lay down because you are too tired, fuzzy-headed and sick with random symptoms to do what you need to do. It is about being able to function… and not begin to lose coordination and pass out when you need to physically exert yourself (which helps lower blood sugar).

    I am leary of the doctors at the moment, and the glucose tolerance test (which they tried to give my mom) seems too dangerous and unreliable. I have a harder time taking care of myself now that I am on my own (when your thinking becomes confused and cranky, you don’t always feel like eating a snack or care to… plus you sometimes crave the junk food, thinking that maybe this time you won’t pay the price for having a random slice of cake and some chips). You always have to be aware of what you are eating if you want to feel decent. I now have “rules” about grocery shopping: 90% of the time I don’t buy chips, cookies, boxed rice or pasta dishes, refined flour crackers, cereal or pop-tarts, orange juice, grape juice, apple juice… probably some other things… anything that makes me feel “bad”. I say 90% because obviously sometimes I think I can still have a “treat”, but I usually end up feeling bad when I do and especially if I don’t balance it with good food. If it’s not in the house, I can’t grab it without thinking.

    Listen to your body, and try to keep at it, and you wil figure out what you are supposed to eat.

  73. Erika

    Dear Connie,

    I read your article and although I’m not very surprised at all the symptoms- as I have read up on this before- I am a bit more relieved to hear about so many people experiencing this. I’ve ALWAYS been healthy. No colds/ flu/ allergies. Anything, nothing. But lately I’ve learned about Hypoglycemia- an annoying condition to say the least. I’ve never had a sweet tooth, so what exactly causes this?? And the most annoying of all is the itching/ allergies. I feel like I can scratch myself dead for about 20 minutes, and then it just didappears. What causes THAT and what can I do to get this under control as I have mentioned before, I really am not big on the sugars….

  74. Stephanie

    If you had hypoglcemia you would know hypoglycemics have at some time experienced nearly all these symptoms. Obviously there are other things that could cause many, if not all, of these symptoms BUT it is the consistency and intensity of these symptoms that signals a problem. I haven’t read this book yet but I am hypoglycemic and have read similar books that point to the same thing. It is easy for doctors to miss the hypoglycemia and merely treat the symptoms which is what often happens.

  75. Penny

    Connie is NOT selling her book as a diet book. If you were to read it, this would be very clear. It is written to bring your attention to the dangers of refined sugar and simple carbs. She does exactly that. If you follow her suggestions, you will find that losing weight is only a side benefit. The true benefit is feeling good and getting rid of the ‘symptoms’ she lists.

  76. Little Lisa

    Lee,
    I am a healthy size 0 at the tender age of 41.
    I do not know what book to get on what I know is this disease. When I am having an attack, pounding down sugar brings me back to life.(sugar out of a package,ie: a pixie stick or any other powderd candy.)
    I am a likeable person, I do infact say stupid things when I know that my sugar leval is dropping.
    My friends know that I am not drunk however,it appears that I am.
    I need help to stand up my knees buckle and I wobble.
    If you or anyone saw me now you would think Lisa does not have a disease.
    Well I have it, don’t like it. The 64 dollar question is….., How do I fix it? I do not want to take medication, what does one do when you have this condition that others in your life do not have nor understand?

    Thank you,
    Lisa

    • Angela

      I’m sorry but a size 0 doesn’t sound healthy to me, especially given your symptoms. I used to diet extreme and nearly killed myself. Are you evaluating your diet to ensure you’re getting everything you need? Once I changed my diet to a more balanced approach, I recovered.

  77. Definitely Hypoglycemic

    Hey there!

    I have been told several times that if one is hypoglycemic, another illness is probably lying underneath. I have been tested for plenty of illnesses and the tests have always come back negative. I have 110/80 blood pressure or less, a resting heart rate of around 60, am extremely active, and the overall picture of perfect health EXCEPT for being hypoglycemic.

    I was normal weight until I hit 20 when my lifestyle decreased in activity and my teenage metabolism vanished. I gained 50 pounds in 6 months, held onto the weight for around a year, then decided it was time to lose that weight and bring the sexy back! However, after losing all the weight (not before or during), I began experiencing nearly half the symptoms you mentioned above. I used to be able to go for MUCH longer amounts of time without food, yet now, if I don’t eat every 2-3 hours, I become lightheaded, disoriented, and shaky. If I don’t eat for 5-6 hours, I feel as if I am about to faint (unless I ate a SUPER HUGE meal). I began to put two and two together and realized I was probably hypoglycemic. It has interfered (albeit in a minor way) with my quality of life and productivity at work. I have been able to maintain my weight loss for over a year now, but the hypoglycemia just plain sucks.

    While my diet is reasonably low in refined carbs as well as somewhat low fat, I am now planning to cut out refined carbs entirely and hoping to see what happens then. I’m hoping this will be the solution to regulating my blood sugars! Thanks. 🙂

  78. killagigi

    hi there

    I am overweight and tried all diets, but my hunger could not be staved, I was rocking on the floor crying as I was so hungry, in the end I would give in and eat almost all day constantly,I also suffer from shakiness which is cured by eating something sweet. I searched the internet for reasons on being constantly hungry and realised i was definitly hypoglycemic and the dr had givin me antidepressents as he could not find a reason for my shaking episodes….glad to say i refused to believe him and never took them.

    I have been 3 days on almost no carbs and i must admit i feel fantastic i may not be losing weight , but i havent felt this good in years..
    thanks to you all.

    gigi

  79. Mindy

    Also, as a side note, a hypoglycemic diet is not purely for weight loss. I have to live on a hypoglycemic diet just to remain conscious daily (low blood sugar can cause fainting) and I in now way wish to lose weight. I am 5’7″ and 112 lbs. So, do a little research, ‘critics.’

  80. Mindy

    I am hypoglycemic and I found your article helpful and will be purchasing the book. For the children here who have to post nasty comments: My father was unaware that he suffered from hypoglycemia. On a surprisingly warm day in early Spring 2 years ago, he decided to go for a motorcycle ride. He was hungry, but wanted to ride while the chance was available. He was to eat after the ride. About 20 minutes after he left home, his blood sugar crashed and he fainted, causing his motorcycle to lose control and crash him into a tree. He died instantly, and thankfully, without pain. But, if he had been aware of what his symptoms may represent, perhaps he’d be here today. Shortly after, I was diagnosed and am trying to locate everything on the subject that will help. I wish more material was available and easier to understand. I hope you people wouldn’t make fun of my father for his disease as you make fun of the woman in this article. Thanks for the information. God Bless.

  81. Mel

    I have suffered for over 5 years with several diagnosis but no “cure”. I am disabled due to suffering from thousands of anxiety/panic attacks, which I have now been told by doctors were hypoglycemic attacks. After years of therapy and meds that havne’t worked, I have finally gone on the diet for about 2 weeks now, though still have alot of anxiety. It looks grim, but I hope to one day be back to “normal”. Any advice on this would be appreciated.

  82. Ed

    I’m so glad I found out about Reactive Hypoglycemia.
    When I’m off sugar or caffeine I’m a completely different person.

  83. Lee

    Hi, I haven’t exactly been diagnosed with having hypoglycemia. Yet, there are times that my sugar levels do fall way low and i become weak, dizzy, and even come close to passing out. If I get something into my system that is sugar I am fine and my sugar levels stay at a good level for the rest of the day. I have a very physical job which takes a lot out of me each day. Therefore, I have to snack in order to maintain energy. Since I do that I gain weight because my body is so used to my job. Doctors have warned me about my glycemic levels, saying they are very low and I need more protien in my diet. They often ask me if I am “tiny” but, I am not. I am 180 lbs. since my weight gain of 20 lbs. I have basically all of the systems above, but I don’t want to talk to a doctor and have them look at me like I’m stupid.

  84. james

    this is mega crap you ugly fools

  85. ginger

    Reducing sugar intake is a good, common sense idea, but I think many readers/consumers are now wary of the “single source solution” approach to health–especially when advocated by someone who is NOT a health professional. While the urge to share one’s success story is understandable, I am highly skeptical of those who are not doctors, nurses, dieticians, professional nutritionists, etc. telling us they have the “cure.”

    Our bodies and minds are complex and cutting out one element doesn’t always solve other problems. Seems it would be wiser to go to your doctor first to be tested, get an official diagnosis for hypoglycemia, and then modfiy your diet with the help of a professional dietician or nutritionist. People go to the trouble of obtaining RD degrees and certification so they can help others get a handle ontheir health.

  86. Terri

    If you are happy spending your hard earned cash on a book that is just going to point out the bleedin’ obvious, then you have more money than sense.

    We have, as a society, been told for YEARS and YEARS now to cut down on sugar, about all the bad things about sugar, all the effects it can have (try typing “sugar” etc into a search engine)…..this is not new! Just old information rehashed.

    I’m thinking of writing a diet book myself – on how you can lose weight by just eating less! WOW!Mind blowing information! If I pad it out, and give my “new” diet a snazzy name, it should sell by the cart load! (And some of you may well be my first buyers, by the look of things……

  87. B

    The author is not advocating (in her posts) that you should go to a doctor for a hypoglycemia diagnosis and then buy her book to help you manage your properly diagnosed condition. She is saying that, if you have any of a number or symptoms, you could have hypoglycemia and you should follow her program.

    Honestly, I’m not impressed with this series or with this author, who is not a nutritionist or a health-care professional, but a journalist who took a single course on nutrition. Like the other posters, I don’t think she has anything new to say on the subject.

    Giving up sugar is in your best interests regardless of what ailments you face–but you probably already knew that without having to buy this book.

  88. Judy Wyatt

    I haven’t read the book, but I have read Connie’s posts. It sounds to me that she isn’t saying that giving up sugar will cure what ails you. She’s saying that *IF* you have hypoglycemia, then giving up sugar will clear up a host of symptoms that go along with hypoglycemia, symptoms which can also mask as other ailments. *IF* the symptoms are caused by other ailments than hypoglycemia, then, of course, giving up sugar won’t cure those ailments.

    Hypoglycemia is indeed a nasty problem. I haven’t given up every speck of sugar from my diet, but I HAVE learned to use it in small quantities after I’ve eaten a real meal of protein, carbs and fat. If I eat too much sugar, or eat it between meals, then I get a lot of those symptoms listed above.

    This isn’t a diet aimed at everyone, but I would venture to say that eating a lot more veggies and a lot less sugar (or even eliminating sugar entirely) would make most people feel a lot better.

    I’m actually interested in the book. More power to you, Connie.

  89. dive

    As one who has suffered from hypoglycemia for years (since childhood)undiagnosed until I had a glucose tolerance test, I can affirm that what she says in this post is true. While my blood sugar is stable, some of my symptoms have not gone away (depression, lack of drive, forgetfulness). I am on meds for depression, and they are helping. Do not discount hypoglycemia. it is real, and it SUCKS!!!

  90. Jan

    Well, I see nothing wrong with an attempt to sell her book. Every author is trying to sell their book; if you are going to criticize it, criticize the content of the book, not the fact she wants to sell it.

  91. anya

    This is NOTHING more than a blatant attempt to sell your book lady.

  92. Former Fat Child

    Clever, J. Anything else to offer?

  93. KJ Hanz

    Hi Connie please conatact me, you might be the answer to a lifetime of quesitons
    KJ

  94. Dr.J

    People who like love songs are unhappy or ill??

  95. Former Fat Child

    I think what’s wrong with it is the fact that someone is, yet again, trying to make a buck off of people who are unhappy or ill. Giving up sugar may cure some of the symptoms, but it doesn’t cure the quote-unquote underlying disease.

    And from the above comments, it sounds like a few people at least have tired of the same old silly, sugary sweet songs.

    Not that I don’t agree with sugar-restriction (as I do practice it myself), but giving up sugar hasn’t cured my allergies, alleviated my depression, or made my insomnia disappear–nor has it made my laundry whiter and brighter and my morning commute shorter. It’s not a cure all and it shouldn’t be sold to intelligent adults as such.

  96. Dr.J

    It’s like silly love songs, the world can’t get enough of them! And really, until peolple start paying attention, what’s wrong with that?

  97. powerpuffin

    I agree with Terri. What all of this really comes down to is yet another self-help book that tells you to eat clean, wholesome food and not eat processed foods or too much sugar. Yaaawn.

  98. Terri

    This is a joke, surely? That checklist covers just about every sympton that can be present in any illness – all artfully vague too (e.g.allergies, depression, forgetfulness, muscle pains).

    Yes, it’s important that we all try and cut down on sugar. But this is just nonsense, another load of hype and spin to sell yet another diet book!

    Look, let’s KISS. (“keep it simple, stoopid”). If you want to lose weight you cut down on the amount of food you are eating, eat good wholesome food instead of junk and get off your ass and go for a walk.

  99. Talia Mana, Centre for Emotional Well-Being

    Hypoglycaemia is frequently misdiagnosed as depression or chronic fatigue, or fibromyalgia as well as the other illnesses mentioned above. Unfortunately that’s also true of thyroid problems too.

    I’m the Queen of misdiagnosis. If I had a penny for everything I’ve been misdiagnosed with (including Hypoglycaemia)… now finally they have discovered what I have been saying; the problem is my lack of refreshing sleep.

    Connie, I like the fact that you’ve given readers some specific information and checklists to help people. I’m looking forward to reading your book when it wings its way to New Zealand

  100. Tess

    Hi Connie! Just finished your book. Very informative. I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia about 30 years ago. I was told to eat 6 meals a day carb and protein together. Nothing else. Oh they gave me a small booklet that didn’t really say much of anything. Later I would find myself taking antideppresants for years, never realizing it was the hypoglycemia. I never followed the diet, I didn’t really understand and it was never explined to me. 3 years ago I weighed 283 lbs and started a low carb diet, after losing 140 lbs I decided I wanted off the antidepreeants and slowly weaned myself. I have felt fine ever since and I am still following a low carb diet. Now, after reading your book I know why iI could quit taking the pills and feel just fine. The depression was the only sympton. Just wanted to say “Thans”

    • Ol

      Hi, what’s your low carb diet if you don’t mind me asking?