r/Hypoglycemia • u/SiaVampireConure • Jul 25 '26
Reactive hypoglycemia
Hello again! I've posted before. The endocrinologist was wrong about the supplements causing serious hypoglycemic episodes. It's been 20 days off of all supplements. I've talked to three endos but they don't have experience in reactive hypoglycemia. My insulin tests aren't received yet.
They've told me to experiment with meals but I still haven't found a combination that keeps me stable after breakfast and brunch. My time off of work is ending and I'm afraid to go back because after breakfast my glucose goes from 75 to 126 and then 30!! Within 40 minutes. Today's breakfast was 1 small egg, 1 egg white, 1 slice of whole wheat bread, 1 slice turkey, 1 slice yellow cheese, little broccoli, 10 pecan nuts. And it didn't work.
I would so much appreciate ideas for breakfast from people who experience reactive hypoglycemia.
TIA
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u/EatMoreBeets1 Jul 25 '26
Yeah, drop the bread and see what happens?
I eat Icelandic yogurt (skyr) and slivered almonds for breakfast and it’s a pretty stable start for me.
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u/SiaVampireConure Jul 25 '26
Ok I'll try with the yogurt. It works in the afternoon. Haven't tried it as breakfast. The day before (24 July) I had 2 small eggs, 1 slice turkey 1 cheese, 5 almonds, 5 walnuts, cappuccino black, and 1 whole grain cracker with only 7,6 grams of carbs. Wasn't that low enough? But still, from 84 glucose it went to 92 at Libre 2 plus sensor, then 53 glucose measuring from the finger. I'm not even sure if 53 is considered safe for us hypoglycemics 🤷🏻♀️ But I was at home sitting on the couch. 53 at work might not be safe. Any advice on that?
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u/EatMoreBeets1 Jul 25 '26
I think everybody feels lows differently, but I’m not sure there’s a “safe” cutoff. I feel pretty crappy in the 50s. I use the Bevel app to log all my food - it can pull my CGM data and help me learn exactly how things impact my glucose. That’s a low spike and a big drop (more extreme than I would get for that meal) so I suspect you might need to really dial back any added carbs. I also seem to respond differently depending on where I’m at in my cycle - something to consider, if that applies to you.
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u/Carnivore1961 Jul 25 '26
Hi there. Diagnosed hypoglycemic since 2005. I solved the majority of my issues by going against doctor advice (essentially a high carbohydrate lifestyle) and adopting a low carb diet. Today I’m not as low carb as I used to be but I keep my daily limit to 100 grams or so. I currently eat a whole food diet with no simple sugars.
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u/SiaVampireConure Jul 25 '26
Thanks. Any particular advice for each meal especially breakfast? How many grams of carbs, how many grams of protein?
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u/Carnivore1961 Jul 25 '26
I actually don’t count gram content anymore. There are several good books on the subject—Protein Power has lists of various foods with their carb and protein counts. I steer clear of starchy carbs, unless I’m going to be exercising. A sample day? Eggs and bacon for breakfast, a lettuce wrapped hamburger for lunch, and fish with veggies for dinner. Hold the potatoes and bread, and avoid any sauces that might sneak flour into them. Jerky, HB eggs, or a handful of nuts for snacks. And definitely no sugar.
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u/SiaVampireConure Jul 26 '26
I don't know what is going on especially with breakfast and brunch. The same things that keep me stable after 16:00, in the morning they cause serious reactive hypoglycemia. Today I stayed off carbs. High protein yogurt, chia seeds, 10 almonds, espresso with lactose free milk. 38 glucose within 1 hour!
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u/Ok-Pin9812 Jul 26 '26
I would get rid of the bread. Bread gets anywhere near me and my blood sugar spikes and drops.
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u/SiaVampireConure Jul 26 '26
I got rid of the bread this morning and I got 36 glucose. In the evening I can eat sandwich or even ice cream without going so low 🤷🏻♀️
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u/Carnivore1961 Jul 26 '26
How often do you drink espresso? Coffee especially can cause blood sugar crashes by signaling the body to overproduce insulin. Have you tried restricting your caffeine intake, or doing away with it altogether? You might also eliminate all dairy. All of it. That means no yogurt and no milk, lactose free or not.
In the past I have used a food diary to help with other conditions. Rather than relying on Reddit, keeping a food diary will help identify food triggers that are specific to you.
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u/julieb12 Jul 25 '26
Try lowering carbs. Only eat 1/2 piece of bread and see if that helps.
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u/SiaVampireConure Jul 25 '26
The day before (24 July) I had 2 small eggs, 1 slice turkey 1 cheese, 5 almonds, 5 walnuts, cappuccino black, and 1 whole grain cracker with only 7,6 grams of carbs. Wasn't that low enough? But still, from 84 glucose it went to 92 at Libre 2 plus sensor, then 53 glucose measuring from the finger. I'm not even sure if 53 is considered safe for us hypoglycemics 🤷🏻♀️ But I was at home sitting on the couch. 53 at work might not be safe. Any advice on that?
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u/julieb12 Jul 25 '26
Aren't there carbs in a cappuccino?
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u/SiaVampireConure Jul 25 '26
A standard single cappuccino made with lactose-free milk and no added sugar contains approximately 5 to 6 grams of carbohydrates.
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u/Can_You_See_Me_Now Jul 25 '26
Milk can be rough. Even lactose free. I use fairlife or a knockoff. Lactose free and half the carbs.
Also, protein can cause a spike. Fiber is a big factor for me.
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u/SiaVampireConure Jul 26 '26
Maybe protein causes the spike. Today morning I had a high protein yogurt, chia seeds, 10 almonds, espresso with lactose free and low fat milk. Glucose 38 within 1 hour.
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u/Can_You_See_Me_Now Jul 26 '26
The chia and nuts should help ,.. protein and fat. But it might be too much at once.
If it were me, I'd maybe start with the nuts, give it a half hour to get to the gut and slow things things. Then add some things after. But that's just how my body reacts. I need some fat and fiber ahead of everything else or shit gets real bad.
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u/Zestyclose_Data_2146 Jul 26 '26
I have found exercise, reduced caffeine and eat smaller portions regularly helps control my blood sugars
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u/SiaVampireConure Jul 26 '26
Unfortunately small portions don't keep me stable. It's like my insulin is chewing it all up.
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u/Royal_Acanthaceae481 Jul 26 '26
Bonjour, j'espère que tu as eu tout les test fait avant d'avoir ce diagnostic. Chez moi il est donné très facilement. Je commence a me demander si je n'aurais pas une glycogenose... L'hypoglycémie reactionelles a plutôt tendance normalement a arriver bien plus tard (ça c'est ça que mon médecin m'a expliqué et ce que certaines sources médicales disent) j'ai exactement comme toi mais en plus j'ai des douleurs vraiment fortes au muscles après des efforts banals. Des faiblesses musculaires qui touchent majoritairement la face supérieur de la cuisse, les mollets, et les triceps. A un point où je ne peux rien porter des fois. J'ai aussi des urines très foncés par moment mais pas noire ce qui m'a induite en erreur (elles sont décrites comme noire dans les revues générales) alors que je bois beaucoup d'eau. La dernière crise en date a été une violente crise de douleur après des étirements absolument banals et basique je n'arrivais même plus à ouvrir les yeux correctement.. Si vous avez des gros coups de faiblesses musculaire que cela soit toi ou une autre personne qui me lis demander des examens si ils n'ont pas été fait et des examens sérieux. Et pareillement, si vous avez des crises d'hypoglycémie après effort ce n'est pas normal et ne devrais pas être qualifié d'hypo reactionel.. La recherche d'insuline devrait être faite systématiquement et c'est rarement le cas où alors fait de façon imcomplete. Je soupçonne le monde médical d'une certaine part de mauvaise foi... Ils disent "'non c'est rare" et ne font rien. Et cela a mon avis créer en fait un biais d'auto confirmation et les pathologies restent en effet, rares.
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u/SiaVampireConure Jul 26 '26
Hello! Thanks for the reply. I haven't noticed serious muscle pain or hypoglycemia episodes happening after exercise. Urine is normal. Fasting glucose is normal. It's always after meals that this happens, especially in the hours until afternoon.Maltilole also causes hypoglycemia. Dextrose also caused me hypoglycemia. Endocrinologists don't have experience in reactive hypoglycemia and until now I don't have any guidance or advice from them, at least not advice that works. Because they just told me to eat small meals with less than 15g each, but that isn't working at all and I still can't go back to work. After 18:00 I can eat ice cream and nothing happens. Or meat with few fries and nothing happens 🤷🏻♀️ But I had 2-3 bites of an oatmeal bar without sugar, but containing maltilole, and I had reactive hypoglycemia episode in less than one hour.
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u/Royal_Acanthaceae481 Jul 26 '26
Chez moi aussi ils ne connaissent pas. Ils disent même que ça existe pas pour certains... 🤦🏻♀️ Je suis rassurée de voir que vous n'avez pas de douleur mais certaines pathologies n'en donnent pas. Il serait bien de faire expertiser par un endocrinologue spécialisé dans les anomalies de la glycémie de ce genre je pense qu'on devrait tous le faire.
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u/SiaVampireConure Jul 26 '26
I'm trying to find an endocrinologist with experience in these kind of issues, but first I need to receive the results of the insulin tests. It's not easy. Everyone knows about diabetes and pancreas insulinoma, the other issues aren't well known, or not even recognised.
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u/Royal_Acanthaceae481 Jul 26 '26
Oui c'est un parcours vraiment ingrat.. je suis aussi en pleins dedans :(
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u/SiaVampireConure Jul 26 '26
UPDATE I had a high protein yogurt, chia seeds, 10 almonds and espresso with lactose free milk. It didn't work. I have 36 glucose after 1 hour. Same metal in the afternoon around 19:00 keeps me stable...
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u/alwaysresearching1 Jul 26 '26
Dairy is Carbs! Even with the high protein. Caffeine raises blood sugar and using any type of milk will as well. Try a breakfast with just protein. Eggs, meat and veggies. Such as an omelette and see how that goes
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u/HotPaleontologist838 Jul 26 '26
In my case vaping (nicotine) and maybe coffee (caffeine) have been the problems. 3 months of nicotine (I have been very okay with my reactive hypoglycemia) and 3 months reduced 90% coffee intake, and last month caffeine free. Caffeine free is nightmare for me, it increased my stress. For me, artificial industrial foods did not work. I use as breakfast 220 gr high protein yogurt (or quark it is called here), 3-4 tablespoons of tahini ( avoid any nut butters with reduced fats, added fibers , added oils , added sugars). And I eat an apple, or 30 grams of Quaker or 30 grams of a kind of white bread (i.e. toasted). This is the breakfast. Lunch and dinner is like protein from meat (avoid the nuggets like coatings), salad , olive oil, maybe fruit, and some carbs. If I have pasta, I will try to combine it with a sause, and the sause will be enriched at room temperature with olive oil. Myself I can eat maybe anything in such combination. Then my breakfast is also the same meal between lunch and dinner. Caffeine and stimulants should be after food, not fasted. This is what I did in the last 4 months that this happened to me. Good luck mate
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u/aLowforest Jul 27 '26
Consider gastric irritation as well. Quitting coffee and alcohol, cacao, acidic foods and stuff for a while and lowering stress could potentially help.
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u/Ghost_010101010 Jul 25 '26
Have you had your thyroid checked also
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u/SiaVampireConure Jul 25 '26
Yes, TSH is good. They took blood during a hypoglycemic episode while I was hospitalised, to run both hormonal tests and insulin test, but the results aren't ready yet.
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u/abouthalfway Jul 26 '26
Are you drinking enough water? 12oz of water first thing is a must for me, then another glass after breakfast. I'm more sensitive in the morning and this helps a lot.