Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 5/17/2010

Question
Hello,

I am a 32 yr old female and have recently been diagnosed as having adult ADHD. My doctor prescribed a low dose of a stimulant medication and assured me that this was the best treatment option.

Unfortunately, although I do feel more clear and focused while on the medication, a few hours after taking it I experience significant low blood sugar. (As an aside, I also have this low blood sugar reaction when I drink too much coffee.)

This is troubling to me, as I am pre-diabetic and have a strong family history of diabetes. My fear is that these low blood sugar reactions are an indication of my deteriorating ability to handle glucose properly. Should I avoid taking this medication and seek alternative treatments? My doctor seems to know very little about hypoglycemia and the endocrine system, any help or insight that you could offer would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,
Elizabeth

Answer
Dear Elizabeth,

You are so right, doctors generally know very little about hypoglycemia and pre-diabetic people. I suggest that you ask your doctor to be referred to a Nutritional doctor or  Clinical Nutritionist for proper assessment and treatment.

Please search our web site for ADHD and you'll find articles about the nutritional treatment of hyperactivity. Also look up:

Treatments of ADHD at
http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/default.htm#A   

For some of side effects of Ritalin (if this is drug you have been prescribed) look up:
http://www.medicinenet.com/methylphenidate/article.htm

I hope I have been of some help.

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist.
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman