After I was diagnosed with low
blood sugar in 1992, I bought a Blood Glucose Monitoring Kit. I
checked my blood sugar levels 4-6 times a day. Many diabetics use a
kit like this.
I kept a detailed log, which
recorded the following information:
This information was valuable
for my physician and me. It helped me better determine my condition
and establish better eating habits. I did this over the course of 2-3
years. It took me this long to really find a diet that controlled my
condition.
For a detailed list of the foods
I found to control my blood sugar problem read my book, "A
Practical Guide To Health & Nutrition."
Normal
Blood Sugar Levels
A normal blood sugar reading is 70-120.
Like blood pressure monitoring, one high or low reading does not indicate a
serious condition. The key is to monitor for 10-14 days. If a
pattern exists then seek professional advice. When seeking a diagnosis
this information will be helpful for your doctor.
Glucose
Tolerance Test
In 1992, my doctor had me take a
3-hour glucose tolerance test. This test is designed to see how well
your body tolerates glucose. Many times pregnant women take the test
to make sure their blood glucose readings do not rise too far. This is
to ensure their baby is not harmed.
The test usually consists of a
12 hour fast before your appointment. When you arrive, blood is drawn
from your arm to determine a fasting level. This is a very important
reading.
Next, you drink what looks like
a 12-16 oz. bottle of orange pop. It is all glucose and sickening
sweet. You have to drink it in 60-90 seconds.
Now you sit and wait.
Blood is drawn every half-hour and the readings are recorded. At the
end of the test if your blood sugar level is lower than your fasting level
this may indicate a blood sugar problem.
At the end of my test, I was
hurting. My fasting level was between 60-70. After drinking the
glucose, it shot up to around 160. About 90 minutes later it
plummeted. At the three-hour mark, it was around 40. I had to
lie down and then rush home to eat.
Diagnosis:
Hypoglycemia.
I felt the test hurt me more
than it helped. You may experience something entirely different.
There is a 6-hour glucose tolerance test, also. Personally, I could
not have survived such a test.
I went on to have more blood
tests. My insulin and thyroid levels were also checked. Because
of the anxiety associated with low blood sugar, my doctor started me on
Ativan. (This is all explained in, "My
Story.") This medicine is used to treat mild forms of anxiety
for short periods.
I trust this information has
been helpful to you. Please pass it along to a friend or loved
one. We need to get the message out that there is help for those who
are hurting and suffering from blood sugar disorders. We also want to "prevent"
a serious condition from developing in those who are borderline diabetics
and hypoglycemics.
"A
Practical Guide To
Health & Nutrition"
(Low Blood Sugar Handbook)
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