Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 4/23/2009

Question
QUESTION: 1) What age is too young to take the GTT Test?
2) What is your impression of St. John's Wort, I've been taking 300mg 2x a day for about a year and it seems to take the edge off of my anxiety.

I am so excited to have found your blog/communication forum.  I found your website very informative, and haven't yet found another like it.I came upon your website because I was searching about anxiety disorders for myself.

I am a diagnosed hypoglycemic having taking the GTT test back around the age of 19yrs and it came back positive, I believe the low score was somewhere around 40 or 50 (the techs seemed concerned at how low it was I believe they said some would be in a coma), don't have the records my symptoms were sleeping and tiredness.  I tested again a few years ago, and was told I had reactive hypoglycemia (low score was appx 58 symptoms shakey, cranky and on edge).  Since I was 19 I have put myself on what I call a higher protien diet (I'm now 46) trying to manage it.  Since about my 40's though the anxiety has really kicked in, I've gone to counseling (for self/family issues) which has helped quite a bit without meds but now he thinks I should go on Lexepro, due to some continued anxieties (worries).   And the indecisiveness part of HypoG just ruins everything, must be the worst part about it for me, I'm learning to take a break, get some fresh air and eat or drink water.

Interestingly, my oldest son was diagnosed with ADD (inattentive) at about 16 yrs, he also tested with the GTT a couple of yrs later, though his score was suggested HypoG, he didn't appear to have symptoms so the Endocrin doc didn't confirm him HypoG.  

Now it appears my youngest son (13) has ADD (TOVA test) and he's loaded with allergies according to symptoms and skin testing (He has anaphylaxis to dairy).   He's also extremely picky about what he eats.  He's having problems in school which is why I had him ADD tested.  I want to have him GTT tested, but at what age is too young?  

Thanks, look forward to your response.  


ANSWER: Hi G,

The same rules apply to children when taking an OGTT See:
"Children ingest 1.75 g/kg body weight in a similar volume of water by ratio (max 75g as for adults)."
at:
http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40001588/

It is not so much the drop but rather the instability of blood sugar levels going up and down, that can cause the production of excess stress hormones, such adrenaline, responsible for anxiety attacks.

See:

Hypoglycemia an unnamed Medical condition. at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/PTStress.html#Hypoglycemia

and

The Food-Mood-Body Connection By Gary Null, Louise Bernikow Page 18 at:
http://books.google.com/books?id=ZdjuAVVqCzMC&pg=PA18&vq=hypoglycemia&dq=mood+fo

Apart from hypoglycemia, you have to treat any possible allergies and food sensitivities that could be responsible for stress hormones.

If self-help therapy does not work I strongly suggest to see a Clinical Nutritionist, Nutritional doctor or a Nutritional Psychologist for a more precise assessment. Also see:

ADHD and ADD The Hyperactive Child by Dr Lendon Smith --> page 7 at:
http://curezone.com/upload/Newsletter/Hypoglycemic_He/HYPONL2002_12.pdf

and

ADHD at Alternative Mental Health at:
http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/default.htm#A

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychologist
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



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your informative responses.  Do you have any nutritional doctor references out here in Southern California?

Answer
There are plenty of doctors around your way. Try to google search for them.

Also see;

Looking for Complementary Health Practititioners at:
http://curezone.com/upload/PDF/Articles/jurplesman/Looking_for_Doctors.pdf

_______________________________________________
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