My brother is severely overwieght & says he was diagnosed hypoglycemic, but I heard true "reactive" hypoglycemics have great difficulty gaining wieght.
Is there a cause of low blood sugar for someone this heavy? He actually passes out sometimes! 3 of our 4 grandparents were diabetic as is one of our brothers. (adult onset)
When he feels his bloodsugar dropping, he eats peanut butter. Claims that is the best for him.
My brother used to be nearly a pathalogical liar. While he doesn't lie much now, he does "lie to himself" alot. (Denial) The point being, I take anything he says with a grain of salt.
2006-12-19 08:33:15 · 9 answers · asked by Smart Kat 7 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Diabetes
He has told me a doctor told him he is hypoglycemic. "Grain of salt" thing again.
2006-12-19 08:43:46 · update #1
He could very well be hypo., but since you indicate he has bad eating habits, the hypoglycemia could just be a forerunner to diabetis. It's showing his blood sugar is out of whack. He is right about the peanut butter too, just a teas. or so should be enough to straighten him out for the time being, but he really needs to see a doctor about this problem again until it is under control.
2006-12-19 14:26:38 · answer #1 · answered by smcdevitt2001 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reactive hypoglycemics are often normal weight or even overweight. It's NOT true that reactive hypoglycemics have trouble gaining weight.
Reactive hypoglycemia can both cause obesity and result from it.
Obese people often have insulin resistance, which causes their blood sugar to spike after meals. The pancreas panics, and drops them quickly because it makes too much insulin to overcome the resistance. Thus, eating lower carb meals and losing weight will help. The lower carb meals will prevent that spike in the first place, and losing weight will help the IR.
Hypoglycemics, and anyone who makes too much insulin, can gain weight because that extra insulin facilitates carbohydrate conversion to fat. Also, some hypoglycemics eat too much to try and relief or prevent their symptoms.
Peanut butter is probably a good thing to eat, as it has some carbs to raise their bs, but also has protein and fat to keep it there and prevent it from dropping further.
Also, it's actually true that certain types of hypoglycemia can be a precursor to diabetes. If he has insulin resistance, that's a precursor to type 2. And as I explained earlier, IR can be involved in reactive hypoglycemia. If the pancreas constantly has to over produce insulin, it will burn out.
2006-12-19 10:13:42 · answer #2 · answered by blondy2061h 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The peanut butter is a protein not a carb/sugar. If his sugar was low the peanut butter wouldn't bring his sugar level up. I am a type 1 diabetic and when mine (sugar) is low I drink a little juice then take some peanut butter for the protein to keep my sugar steedy. There is more to the story he isn't letting on to.
2006-12-20 00:58:48 · answer #3 · answered by BAR 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Does he have or use a glucometer? You can usually get one for free (and strips are prescription items if you are hypoglycemic or diabetic). Does he just feel low or actually test low (70 or below)?
He might be treating something he is imagining. Peanut butter is a good (if high fat) choice, but I suspect your question whether he really is hypoglycemic or not. Get him testing his blood sugar and you will know for sure.
2006-12-19 09:59:24 · answer #4 · answered by naniwako 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
actually he is probably telling the truth on this one.
the reason is because he is probably in a pre-diabetic state called insulin resistance.
on the way to type 2 diabetes you first have insulin resistance. that is it takes more insulin to process sugar. so the pancreas makes more insulin. as long as the pancreas can keep up with demand you are no diabetic, but you are insulin resistant. When you don't eat, you still make too much insulin, as a result blood sugar plummets and you become hypoglycemic.
if insulin resistance isn't treated then you can become "pre-diabetic" or what is called glucose intolerant. that is high sugar foods induce temporary high blood sugar which return to normal when you don't eat. in this cases the pancreas having a hard time keeping up with insulin demands, but hasn't completely failed.
when it no longer can keep up with demand, even when you are not eating, then it is diabetes.
so,he may be using this to justify not having diabetes, but in fact he is on the way to diabetes.
by the way, did you notice if the skin at the base of his neck is darker and perhaps a little "velvety"? it is called acanthosis nigricans and is associated with high insulin level and "pre-diabetes."
there is a nice link below on insulin resistance http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010315/1165ph.html
2006-12-19 09:17:08 · answer #5 · answered by Janice M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
that's horrible.. I'm hypoglycemic and I'm 5'3 at 145... I've passed out and actually peanut butter is good.. but he really needs to eat smaller and more meals a day to keep his blood sugar steady.. its the opposite of diabetes.. i dont think hes in denial if in fact you know for sure he was diagnosed with it..
for the girl above me.. hypoglycemia isn't remotely related to diabetes.. so that mess about it turning into it is ridiculous
2006-12-19 08:36:50 · answer #6 · answered by yourmygoodfeeling 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just a note in response to yourmygoo. OFTEN, hypoglycemia is a forerunner of diabetes. You may be low for yrs and then it will turn the other direction especially in the obese.
2006-12-25 17:58:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everything you need to know about it here.
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/hypoglycemia/#nodiabetes
2006-12-19 08:50:11 · answer #8 · answered by lollipoppett2005 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He needs to start taking his health seriously. At this rate, it'll turn into full-blown diabetes before he knows it.
2006-12-19 08:35:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋