AboutMichele Damiano Expertise I can answer questions regarding hypoglycemic symptoms and how to prevent/treat them through various food and lifestyle measures. I can't diagnose anyone or provide information about how to regulate hypoglycemic episodes in diabetics using insulin or other medications.
Experience Please note that I am not a doctor, and you should seek the advice of a physician if you are suffering severe and/or frequent hypoglycemic episodes. I am a health and nutrition editor with 8 years experience working for national consumer magazines. During that time, I have worked on stories about diabetes and hypoglycemia/coping with blood sugar "dips" while dieting. I frequently consult with doctors, nutritionists, and other medical experts. I also have some personal experience with this topic, as I suffer from mild hypoglycemia and had a grandmother who was an insulin-dependent type 1 diabetic for many years.
Publications Any advice that I provide as an expert for allexperts.com will be coming solely from me, and can not be endorsed by any current or former employers.
Expert: Michele Damiano Date: 4/3/2008 Subject: Possible hypoglycemia?
Question QUESTION: Hi there,
I started to have problems last January. I'd get very anxious for no apparent reason and have dizzy spells that made me quite panicked. I'd often feel nauseous then when I'd eat (often something stodgey) it would be like an instant cure and I'd feel well again pretty much straight away. I had a few spells of feeling extremely weak, which was cured by eating. I'd also get quite big twitches in my leg, where my leg would kick out, and this would happen every day.
This seemed to improve as my diet improved (cutting out biscuits, chocolate, etc.).
I get very anxious and agitated when I miss meals and frequently feel light-headed, and I will often have a panic atttack when this is combined with having a cup of tea or coffee. These panic attacks vary in severity.
Initially I didn't relate these symptoms to my diet, and went to the doctor about it. I saw a couple of different doctors, but when I mentioned the possibility of having a connection to food they instantly dismissed it and said this couldn't be the case. Instead I was sent to a neurologist.
Not surprisingly, all the tests came back clear. I mentioned to the neurologist I felt my dizziness and panic attacks were diet related, but he again dismissed me and told me he thought my symptoms were psychological, which is completely demoralising to hear.
I have had a fasting blood test which was normal. I do not seem to have problems after eating meals, so I don't know if I have hypoglycemia even though my symptoms seem (to me) to be similar.
Please could you advise me? Do you think it sounds like I have a problem with my blood sugar?
Many thanks,
ANSWER: Even if your problems are purely psychological (though I'm not sure if that's the case), please don't think that means that they're not real. While I am in no position to diagnose you, it sounds to me like you may have both an anxiety disorder and a case of mild hypoglycemia. Although these conditions are very different, some of the symptoms can be quite similar (shakiness, dizziness, etc.). It's possible that once you start to have some of these symptoms because your blood sugar has dipped that they remind you of previous panic attacks... which then sends your body into panic mode. This is purely a guess on my end. I think you would benefit from talking to a psychiatrist or other mental health professional about your anxiety issues. In the meantime, try minimizing the sugary foods (and reducing caffeine as well, since it can make you jittery) and don't go more than a few hours without eating something. Hope you feel better.
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QUESTION: Thanks very much for your answer. :-) It's nice to have someone from a medical background who will listen!
I'm generally not an anxious or nervous person, and times when I get anxious (often from missing a meal) I can be in quite comforting surrounds such as with family relaxing in front of the tv. The dizzy spells can also come out of the blue, and are often unrelated to any stresses. I'm pretty sure the feelings of anxiety are related to missing meals, although I'm not sure about the dizzy spells.
Would you still think that this could all be related to an underlying anxiety issue afterall?
Thanks again for your help, it's much appreciated.
Answer I really can't say for sure but it's possible. Just because you don't feel stressed at that moment doesn't mean you don't have an underlying anxiety problem. Anxiety disorders can be linked to chemical imbalances; they're not always the direct result of a specific stressor in your life.
