Posted by awake at last on September 28, 2002, at 19:28:59
In reply to Re: blood sugar has nothing to do with anxiety., posted by Mr. SadPuppyDog on September 27, 2002, at 13:43:23
Mr.Sad Puppy Dog
My comments are neither my "opinion" nor considered to be alternative medicine. They are facts from my doctor and are well established in the medical profession. As well, they are supported by many well founded Organizations for Hypoglycemia and Alcoholism (including AA).
Panic_Attack and others interested:
It has been documented in the medical profession that a very high percentage of Alcoholics are hypoglycemic. Here are a few sites that you might find interesting, but information can be obtained from most doctors regarding these topics as well.www.healthrecovery.com/alcoholism_hypoglycemia.html
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Hypoglycemia (especially reactive hypoglycemia) is hard to diagnose from a test. Often a 5-6 hour glucose test is given, but even this can not always detect the disease.
When the blood sugar drops, the body's adrenaline kicks in and can restore the body's blood sugar levels in less than 3 minutes, so if blood is only being drawn every 30 minutes, it is very easy for the lowest reading to be missed.
My last doctor chose a different route. He gave me a glucometer and told me to keep my normal life routine, but told me to take my blood sugar levels every hour (during the day) for several days and as well to take it at times when I felt weak, tired or faint.
During any of my glucose tolerance tests the doctors were never able to register a blood glucose of less than 70 g/dl, but continual monitoring at home showed my blood sugar often falling in the 60's and as low as 49. (note that a reading of <50g/dl is a diagnosis of hypglycemia, 51-69 is diagnosed as hypoglycemia if other symptoms are confirmed. A normal glucose level is 70-110 g/dl).
If anyone suspects or is curious that this could be the case - you can purchase a glucometer at any pharmacy or most convenience stores and check your own blood sugar levels. If you find low readings, take the glucometer to the doctor with you and show them your results.Each of us must choose our preference for treatment...after 2 years of trying various anti-depressants to no avail...I choose to do what it took in order to keep off of as many medications as possible and restore my health. I have been diagnosed with Hypoglycemia and Narcolepsy (both derived from Fibromyalgia). Today I live a happy, healthy life, and the only medicine I take is Provigil, and I take 1 multi-vitamin a day (not a horde of vitamins, minerals and herb as in some alternative medicine practices). I maintain a healthy hypoglycemic diet and regular exercise routine in order to stay this way. At age of 21 I enjoyed a hardy College party life and would have found giving up my social drinking difficult (I was fortunate to not have become an alcoholic). But now at 34 I find that the price I pay in poor health far out ways the need for a drink.
I won't lie and say that giving up alcohol will be easy at first - sugar was my weakness - giving it up was very difficult for me, but being on the hypoglycemic diet really did initially reduce and now completely eliminate the uncontrollable cravings I once had.
Good luck in whatever endeavor you take....________________________________________________
> > Do you have a history of problems with low blood sugar? I'm hypoglycemic and I know that drinking alcohol can cause this effect for me.
> > When I drink alcohol - which contains a high amount of sugar and carbs, my body over-reacts to the increased level of sugar in my blood and produces too much insulin. To offset this imbalance, my body then tries to decrease the insulin to a normal level by releasing adrenaline (ie...causing the panic attacks).
>
> How do you know this? Has a doctor told you this information? Or is this just your "opinion" of what happens to you based upon reading alternative medicine books? Alcohol worsens both anxiety and depression thru depressing the central nervous system. It has nothing to do with diet or blood sugar. Alcohol, thru its CNS depressant qualities, just makes ALL mental illnesses worse...much worse.
>
> > Since you said that Remeron seems to help, I suspect this could be the issue. Remeron is designed to suppress the production of nor epinephrine....thus you are suppressing the release of adrenaline.
> > Unfortunately there is no magic pill to make this better. Had I known when I was younger that this was what my problem was, I would have quit drinking back then, because continuing to expose your body to high levels of carbs and sugar will only make the hypoglycemia worse - or turn a minor blood sugar problem into full hypoglycemia.
> > Now, you might be thinking that taking the Remeron is a good way to get past this - but I wouldn't advise it. By suppressing you body’s ability to naturally level out your insulin levels - you may find that your insulin levels then stay too high.
> > It's a vicious cycle I know - I've lived with having to control mine for years now. Note that hypoglycemia is a major cause of depression.
> > Do you ever get this same feeling after eating a large meal of carbs - like pasta or potatoes, or after eating a dessert full of sugar? Or does your family have a history of hypoglycemia or diabetes in it?
> > If so you might want to check it out.
> >
>
> I dont think diet has much to do with panic attacks. Sorry. In fact, I find eating a meal loaded with carbs to be relaxing afterwards. I read that carbs release endorphins and serotonin in the brain after you eat them. Thats why they say eating starch at bedtime will make you sleep and relaxed.
>
> This thing about diet is way way overhyped in this country. As long as you eat a basic diet thats decent is all that matters. I dont believe anxiety or panic is in anyway related to diet...sorry I do not go for this "alternative medicine" theory. Please do not fall for this alternative medicine stuff, its mostly BS designed to sell you OTC supplements, which is a multi-billion dollar, totally UNREGULATED business BTW.
>
> Mr. Sad PuppyDog
poster:awake at last
thread:121218
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020922/msgs/121434.html