My web research has thrown me another curve ball! Fasting hypoglycemia, the kind that I have, can cause severe anxiety symptoms even when blood sugar levels are normal. I wish I could say more, but this stuff is just WAY over my head. I’ve had so many other things going on that I haven’t been able to even pick a day I can try and get a doctor appointment, but I’m going to make that a mission tomorrow. Well, today… ha, ha. I’ve been reading so much that my eyeballs hurt, but this anxiety/hypoglycemia stuff is so fascinating!
Filed under: Health, Life, chronic illness, hypoglycemia
Before asthma was recognised largely, it was often misdiagnosed as anxiety.
These days, doctors know it very well it is a biological illness, not psychological one…
IMHO, if you are not feeling anxious at the first place, the cause of symptoms is biological, organic, and etc…
It very well may be related to hypoglycemia or another simple organic primary cause. But be wary of “wanting” this to be the case, because it provides the easy answer with the easy fix.
Rachel… if you read my latest post, you’ll see that while doctors have made great strides with anxiety, they’ve still got a lot to learn about hypoglycemia, ha, ha
Blaire… I certainly get what your saying and I’m doing my best not to focus on the “why”, but sometimes fixing the Y is actually the better solution. If you have a splinter, you can apply all the bandaids in the world and the wound won’t get better until the splinter is removed, right? I just want the doctors to remember that and not just focus on treating symptoms until they have at least “looked” for the cause. The doctor I saw today has no plans to do that, by the way. +++shrug and big sigh+++
Anxiety caused by fasting hypoglycemia (sometimes called nocturnal hypoglycemia) is real. One of the problems with hypoglycemia in non-diabetics is that blood sugars may be in the normal range so it isn’t recognized as hypoglycemia. While there could be another underlying cause for your anxiety there is a way to at least try to see if it responds to a change in diet. Changing your diet won’t hurt you.
Have a snack no earlier then 1/2 before bed (eg as close to bed time as possible). Make sure that it includes protein and a complex carbohydrate. For example about 1 oz of hard cheese and 1/4 of an apple (not the whole apple its too much sugar) or cheese and whole grain crackers (about 4). Make sure the crackers are whole grain, triscuits work well for many people. An oz of nuts is good, not flavored ones, but salted is OK.
While it helps to eat before bed, the rest of the day matters as well. Stay away from refined carbs (bread, pizza, pasta) choose whole grain carbs instead but always always always pair a carb with a protein. Have lots of small healthy snacks. Have as many vegetables as you want (with the exception of potatoes), go easy on fruit.
I suggest checking out http://www.glycemicindex.com. The worst that can happen is that you will have a healthy diet. One word of caution, if you eat a lot of sugar and refined carbs now, don’t drastically cut down or you will experience worse anxiety, taper off gradually.
Ann… this is exactly the sort of thing I’ve felt like I missed out on. No one has ever said “these foods are better” or “try to avoid these foods.” All I’ve ever heard was to just eat frequently. I do it right before bedtime, but considering I also have sleep disturbance, that doesn’t always work out. I eat, then lie in bed for two or more hours trying to fall asleep. It was so neat that you mentioned cheese on triscuit crackers because I actually crave those late at night, but always went for the higher sugar foods like fruits and juices. Will certainly check out the link and thanks so much for sharing!
no doubt refined carbs = anxiety for me I have completely cut them out an I am a new person. go for it
Thank goodness I found this site! I have suffered from the debilitating symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks for 9 yrs and researching why for most of them! I noticed that if I didn’t eat often I would start to tremble,become dizzy,loose concentration,jumble my words,my heart would race,all leading to a full blown panic attack!!! I have seen a number of doctors over the years and spent many an hour in a+e convinced I was dying! Yet nobody ever suggested it could be hypoglycemia, how ignorant they were,just kept giving me anti-depressants and saying it was all in my head!!! ARGHHHHHHHHHH!!!! So many years wasted simply fom eating the wrong foods!!! Just recently I asked for a blood testing kit from my doc after having a spate of fainting,something that never happens when u have a panic attack!! My readings are low in the morning after a restless nite waking in a sweat, due to low blood sugar! At last I have proven that IT IS NOT ALL IN MY HEAD!! I have changed my diet leaving out sugar and eating more often.Every day I feel a little better although it’s early days I am very hopefull it will help me to conquer my anxiety for good and get my life back!! I hope this helps other sufferers,there is always a solution,be strong xxxx