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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by KellyD on April 29, 2003, at 6:36:14
I don't know where to ask this question, so I'll start here. I have GAD and hx of panic attacks. Fairly controlled at this point. Used Klonopin for a while and now use it PRN. My improvement has been good, but on rare occassions, maybe once a month, I have a toned down version of those weird feelings and mild phyical anxiety feelings, again. It is normally after not eating for a while and eating a big meal. Not a good idea to do that anyway, but it's how it is sometimes. Happens after I FINISH eating and lasts for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Then it goes away and I'm fine. I have not had blood glucose problems in the past. What is going on? Is there really a relationship there? Any ideas, it's strange ?
Posted by Snoozy on April 29, 2003, at 10:07:50
In reply to Blood Sugar Levels and Anxiety Symptoms, posted by KellyD on April 29, 2003, at 6:36:14
I can have lots of unpleasant things happen if I'm not careful about eating regularly. My understanding is that big fluctuations in blood glucose can cause these problems. If you haven't eaten in a while, your glucose is down and if you have a big meal it spikes.
(I hope someone can scientifically explain this - I know I can't!)
What works for me, and is supposed to be healthy, is frequent small meals. I try to have protein, carbs and fat in each one. It does help.
> I don't know where to ask this question, so I'll start here. I have GAD and hx of panic attacks. Fairly controlled at this point. Used Klonopin for a while and now use it PRN. My improvement has been good, but on rare occassions, maybe once a month, I have a toned down version of those weird feelings and mild phyical anxiety feelings, again. It is normally after not eating for a while and eating a big meal. Not a good idea to do that anyway, but it's how it is sometimes. Happens after I FINISH eating and lasts for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Then it goes away and I'm fine. I have not had blood glucose problems in the past. What is going on? Is there really a relationship there? Any ideas, it's strange ?
Posted by jemma on April 29, 2003, at 12:07:25
In reply to Blood Sugar Levels and Anxiety Symptoms, posted by KellyD on April 29, 2003, at 6:36:14
Are your meals high-carb? What medications are you on?
- jemma
Posted by KellyD on April 29, 2003, at 14:57:17
In reply to Re: Blood Sugar Levels and Anxiety Symptoms, posted by jemma on April 29, 2003, at 12:07:25
Actually, my meals are quite high carb, I'm looking to change habits, as this doesn't seem to be working for me. Suggestions? And I only use Klonopin prn - it's a long story full of failed trials of tolerance and little results with other meds. I really do well most of the time. It's just these occ. weird times - I do have to think the BSL has something to do with it. Need the eating habits to change. Thank you both for your comments. I am awaiting suggestions.
Posted by noa on April 29, 2003, at 19:26:16
In reply to Blood Sugar Levels and Anxiety Symptoms, posted by KellyD on April 29, 2003, at 6:36:14
Sometimes when I haven't eaten, I feel light-headed and jittery and this can be mistaken for anxiety, which, of course, then makes me anxious. But if I eat a big meal, it doesn't take very long for me to start feeling tired, like I need a nap, kind of sedated.
I wonder if it takes you at least that half hour to digest, and the digestion itself is using up energy that you already don't have enough of. This would lend itself to the idea of having more frequent small meals that was mentioned by snoozy.
But you might want to have your doctor check your blood suger, like a glucose tolerance test, where they take blood samples before and several times after (at different intervals) you drink a very sweet glucose drink, to see what your fasting blood sugar levels are and your levels after ingesting the glucose, and how quickly it returns to normal, etc.
Just some thoughts, fwiw.
Posted by Snoozy on April 29, 2003, at 20:41:55
In reply to Answers - » jemma, posted by KellyD on April 29, 2003, at 14:57:17
The testing may be worth looking into.
I don't know if this will help you, but I'll tell you what I do to keep my blood sugar on an even keel. Most importantly, always have a good breakfast. I try to have a nice balance - not too much protein, not too much carb. I hate cooking and I'm not a morning person, so I know this is a pain. But I've found some good frozen things I pop in the microwave.
Then I like to have something I can snack on between breakfast and lunch, and between lunch and dinner. I'm a vegetarian, so my snacks may not be terribly appealing. A few slices of cheese and some fruit, or yogurt. I also keep a few of those nutrition bars on hand for when I'm lazy. They're nice things to have stashed in your desk or bag.
I try to moderate my sweets and not have too much at once, same with "junk" food. If I have some, I try to have it with something "good".
I don't eat very large meals, and I try to eat slowly. Carbs affect the blood sugar more quickly than protein, possibly causing some of the swings.
I have heard that this type of eating - sometimes called "grazing" (now how appetizing is that!?!) can also help with weight loss. You might think if you're eating all day, you're getting a lot more calories. But if you maintain a fairly steady blood sugar, you're less likely to overeat a big meal. Not that this type of eating will cause weight loss, but eating throughout the day doesn't have to mean weight gain.
But I try to eat this way to keep my mental state balanced and also prevent headaches. I hope this helps in some way.
Oh, and watch out in restaurants - they give you such huge portions that it's easy to overindulge.
> Actually, my meals are quite high carb, I'm looking to change habits, as this doesn't seem to be working for me. Suggestions? And I only use Klonopin prn - it's a long story full of failed trials of tolerance and little results with other meds. I really do well most of the time. It's just these occ. weird times - I do have to think the BSL has something to do with it. Need the eating habits to change. Thank you both for your comments. I am awaiting suggestions.
Posted by KellyD on April 29, 2003, at 20:57:50
In reply to Re: Answers - » KellyD, posted by Snoozy on April 29, 2003, at 20:41:55
You have certainly given me "food for thought". I need to make changes and this is certainly pushing me to do so. I did have a fasting BSL several years ago, maybe time to check it again. A Glucose Tolerance Test is a good idea, too.
Thanks very much.
Posted by jemma on April 30, 2003, at 10:18:30
In reply to Thanks to you all, posted by KellyD on April 29, 2003, at 20:57:50
I posted this yesterday, but it seems to have disappeared. You could be experiencing insulin spikes after eating high-carb meals. An insulin spike causes transient symptoms similar to low blood sugar - the symptoms are irritability, mood swings, light-headedness, and often hunger, even though you've just eaten. It's exacerbated when your blood sugar is already low from fasting when you eat your high-carb meal. It's called hyperinsulinism, and it won't show up on a blood-glucose test or on a fasting blood-insulin test. You need a non-fasting insulin test, preferably within an hour of consuming a meal. It's surprisingly common, and often an early sign of more serious glucose regulation problems to come. I personally think this simple test could prevent the development of late-onset diabetes in thousands of people.
Hyperinsulinism, or insulin resistance, can be treated with glucophage, but there are often side effects, including diarrhea. The best way is to attack it through diet. Someone with insulin resistance should stay away from foods that are high on the glycemic index - simple sugars, fruit juices, popcorn, white bread, raisins, white rice, etc. And some fat should be consumed with each meal - preferably healthy, non-hydrogenated fat like olive oil, avocado, and nuts. Even butter, eggs, and non-hydrogenated mayonaise, in moderation. Nuts are particularly useful - half a dozen cashews can keep hunger at bay and regulate blood sugar. The nurses' study showed that even a few servings of nuts a week dramatically lowered the risk of diabetes.
The other possibility is that your reaction to meals is caused by a food allergy or intolerance. But these usually have gastro-intestinal and histamine (sneezing, rash, inflammation) symptoms. If you're eating high-carb, and going without food for long stretches, insulin resistance could well account for your symptoms.
- jemma
Posted by pelorojo on April 30, 2003, at 14:28:41
In reply to Re: Thanks to you all » KellyD, posted by jemma on April 30, 2003, at 10:18:30
It is my understanding that the latest glycemic concept is "glycemic load" which helps take into account how much of a particular item people actually eat. Carrots, for example, were originally identified as high glycemic index. The way the testing is standardized, however, meant that a huge quantity of carrots were used in the test. The "glycemic load" measure takes this into account and re-ranks items accordingly.
Food combining is also relevant as fiber, fat, and protein all affect the rate at which glucose is processed and released from the stomach. Popcorn is another theoretically high glycemic index food that practically doesn't impact the insulin response as much as its GI would have you believe.
Posted by worrier on May 2, 2003, at 20:58:31
In reply to Re: Blood Sugar Levels and Anxiety Symptoms, posted by noa on April 29, 2003, at 19:26:16
> Sometimes when I haven't eaten, I feel light-headed and jittery and this can be mistaken for anxiety, which, of course, then makes me anxious. But if I eat a big meal, it doesn't take very long for me to start feeling tired, like I need a nap, kind of sedated.
>
> I wonder if it takes you at least that half hour to digest, and the digestion itself is using up energy that you already don't have enough of. This would lend itself to the idea of having more frequent small meals that was mentioned by snoozy.
>
> But you might want to have your doctor check your blood suger, like a glucose tolerance test, where they take blood samples before and several times after (at different intervals) you drink a very sweet glucose drink, to see what your fasting blood sugar levels are and your levels after ingesting the glucose, and how quickly it returns to normal, etc.
>
> Just some thoughts, fwiw.> One more point to consider...it seems that once people have a few panic attacks, the pathways in the brain that cause those feelings (the whole fight/flight thing) are much more easily activated than in "normal" people. Therefore when you experience sensations that resemble panic attacks (such as a drop in blood glucose) your brain automatically says " here we go again" and you think..."panic". I find myself doing that when I notice that my heart rate increases even for perfectly normal reasons (exercise,etc.). It can be frustrating. Worrier.
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