Treatment for passing out due to hypoglycemia?

Question

I have been experiencing very frequent episodes of hypoglycemia over the last month. I am not diabetic. I have been to the doctor on multiple occasions and am going to see a specialist next week because my doctor believes that I may have an insulinoma. All my doctor has told me to do so far is to avoid foods high in sugar and to eat small frequent meals/snacks. I have gotten fairly confused several different times but the problems subsided when I ate a few pieces of candy and then had a snack. Today I was home alone all day and I started to feel like my blood sugar was dropping but instead of eating the candy first, I just had popcorn. I passed out and woke up approximately an hour and a half later with a really bad headache. I got up and almost fell over on the way to get something to eat. Several hours later I still have a headache but I am able to walk around and function without a problem. Is there anything that I should do tonight and what should I do if this happens again?

Answer 1

According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoglycemia#Treatment_and_prevention

"Reversing acute hypoglycemia
The blood glucose can be raised to normal within minutes by taking (or receiving) 10-20 grams of carbohydrate. It can be taken as food or drink if the person is conscious and able to swallow. This amount of carbohydrate is contained in about 3-4 ounces (100-120 ml) of orange, apple, or grape juice, about 4-5 ounces (120-150 ml) of regular (non-diet) soda), about one slice of bread, about 4 crackers, or about 1 serving of most starchy foods. Starch is quickly digested to glucose, but adding fat or protein retards digestion. Symptoms should begin to improve within 5 minutes, though full recovery may take 10-20 minutes. Overfeeding does not speed recovery and if the person has diabetes will simply produce hyperglycemia afterwards.

If a person is suffering such severe effects of hypoglycemia that they cannot (due to combativeness) or should not (due to seizures or unconsciousness) be given anything by mouth, glucose can be given by intravenous infusion or the glucose can be rapidly raised by an injection of glucagon. Further details of glucagon use are provided in the article on diabetic hypoglycemia."

The article continues:
"The term hypoglycemia literally means "under-sweet blood" (Gr.hypo-, glykys, haima). Hypoglycemia can produce a variety of symptoms and effects but the principal problems arise from an inadequate supply of glucose as fuel to the brain, resulting in impairment of function (neuroglycopenia). Derangements of function can range from vaguely "feeling bad" to coma, and (rarely) permanent brain damage or death."

I suggest that you read the entire article and keep some fruit close to hand. The dose of carbohydrates are quickly converted into sugar by your body to reverse the low blood sugar. A direct infusion of sugar is to risky and harder for the body to control. Remember your body's capability to handle sugar is the problem, so if you get too much then you start swinging between highs and lows. Eating sugar is not the best way to handle your illness.

According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulinoma
"An insulinoma is a tumour of the pancreas derived from the beta cells which while retaining the ability to synthesize and secrete insulin is autonomous of the normal feedback mechanisms. Patients present with symptomatic hypoglycemia which is ameliorated by feeding. The diagnosis of an insulinoma is usually made biochemically with low blood sugar, elevated insulin, pro-insulin and C-peptide levels and confirmed by medical imaging or angiography. The definitive treatment is surgery."

Clearly, your doctor is going to have to conduct more tests before he can make a firm diagnoses, but it is possible that you could be cured. Look at that point and you might feel better. This article doesn't mean you have cancer; it is just one form of the disease, and the worst diagnoses. No matter what the actual cause of your problems are there are treatments for it and you can have a much better quality of life once your doctor helps you get your situation under control.

If it is cancer then there are well known and tried treatments for it. If you check my profile you will see that I have a lifetime disease that dooms me to a long life filled with pain, depression and insomnia. It is also incurable, be happy that yours may not be so. During one hospital stay I actually found my self hoping that I had cancer, because at least that can be treated and is a proven disease. Since no one knows what causes or created my condition there is no way to cure it, and the only treatment tries to reduce the symptoms.

Answer 2

Hypoglycemia is the result of low blood sugar, not high blood sugar. Your doctor might be suggesting foods lower in sugar to try and regulate your blood sugar better. Although, if you do feel that it is low, taking a sugary snack is a quick fix. A better approach is to eat a granola bar or fruit (which has natural sugars). It provides better energy and is healthier than a candy.

As for the popcorn...it is not a good idea to eat popcorn on an empty stomach. It really doesn't have any nutritional value and doesn't react well with an empty stomach. I did something similar and got quite sick. To this day, even the smell of popcorn makes me a little ill.

Answer 3

Avoid all sugars like the plague. What may be happening, and the specialist will tell you if this is the case, is that when you consume sugar your body is producing way too much insulin. Insulin is what breaks down the sugar. Too much insulin causes you to lose conciousness. Eat complex carbohydrates as often as you can remember. Until you see the specialist, try eating a handful of crackers or equivalent snack every hour or two. That will help to keep your blood sugar level normal. The specialist will have a better idea of what is going on and can advise you of a better diet when you see him/her. In the meantime, keep some juice boxes handy. Orange juice is what most diabetics use. When you feel light headed, drink the orange juice and eat a handful of crackers.

Answer 4

Set an alarm, every 3-4 hours or so have a small glass of orange juice (4oz) (simple glucose) and a 1/2 sandwich of whole wheat bread and peanut butter (complex carbs, protein and fat)

The OJ should get your glucose up shortly and the sandwich should help to sustain the glucose level with out any spikes. Have a sandwich before you go to bed and have some more OJ as soon as you get up in the morning.

Answer 5

Gypsy girl is wrong.... do not avoid sugar, you actually need sugar. At the end of her answer, gypsy girl said you should have OJ. But OJ is sugar - fructose - fruit sugar. You need sugar because hypoglycemias is "low blood sugar." In diabetes, you either don't have insulin, or it can't get into cells, this is not your problem.Take OJ, bread, sweets, sucking candy etc. NEver let yourself pass out. You may be pre-diabetic

Answer 6

I am diabetic, when you blood sugar is low you need sugar fast (as you can tell from passing out). The best thing to get is a large cup of juice. After you get your blood sugar up you should always eat food.

Answer 7

Straight sugar will bring you out of a fainting episode, but it seems to make people crash worse afterwords. The idea is to keep your sugar levels on an even keel. Eat more complex carbohyrates such as fruits and vegetables and whole grains because they 'burn' more slowly and don't flood your system with sugar.

Answer 8

Consult a doctor about your current condition.

Answer 9

keep a bar of chocolate handy and nibble it if you feel giddy