Managing Hypoglycemia

[kiyowara]

Hi all! I'm really glad to see this board up and running. I suffer from hypoglycemia and I wondered if there are other folks out there who are also dealing with this. PP has kept me sane, and is the only way I can manage my low blood sugar and attendant side affects. However, after several years of managing things quite well, I had some emotional events occur that popped me into a dangerous mode eating, and I've had a terrible time getting back on track since then. I am terribly sensitive to most sugar alcohols - I might as well have the sugar since it seems to have the same affect. I seem to have slipped into a phase where my emotions drive my food choices, and inevitably the choices are ones that lower my blood sugar into the basement. Of course, that makes dealing with the emotional aspect that much harder.

I love to have some tips on getting back on track and fighting the poor food choice urges!

-Sandi

[gitfiddle]

Sandi, I can certainly identify with your post.

Emotional upsets are very hard for me to work through while remaining on program. It's even worse, however, if I go off the program. The series of events during the year before I joined PP left me with high lipids, high blood sugar, hypertension, anxiety, etc. I really believe the Hand of God intervened in the form of a doctor friend who knew about Protein Power just at the point where I was ready to despair. I was SO willing that nothing else mattered.

Now that my life has evened out I'm busy and fulfilled and sometimes NOT so willing to take the time to work the program. I've been in a stall since last summer. This is not how I envisioned my future, and I realize I am not as dedicated as I was the previous year when I had the excitement of pounds dropping off and blood test results returning to normal. This is the mundane existance that can get boring--and dangerous.

I have to remember how miserable I was in 2004. "Raising the bottom" is one way to put it because we have to "hit bottom" before we're willing to do all that work. Willingness is the key.

I also can have hypoglycemic episodes, and I have to be prepared. I keep nuts around for that. Those tube packages carry well in the purse. Beef or turkey jerkey is also easy to carry. I used to use protein bars, but the sugar alcholols are not for me either. If I'm on a trip and need to eat, I try to go to a grocery store deli where I can just buy meat without a bun or breading or sauce, etc. If I get fast-food when I'm hypo, I will likely make a bad choice and eat it.

I've also found that if I nibble on a carby food, I can minimize the effect by having some protein with it. That's not permission, that's a band-aid for when I'm really feeling rebellious!:p

[kiyowara]

Thanks for the encouragement. I do find that boredom makes staying on program harder. I also found that protein bars with lots of sugar alcohols made life worse, but got so bored with nuts. *sigh*

Anyhow, I guess I need to go back to carrying the appropriate emergency food stuffs, as well as doing a better job of packing more appropriate food for lunches and snacks. I like the idea of stopping in a grocery store rather than a convenience store to get emergency food. Thanks!

[banshee]

I used to have hypoglycemic episodes before I started PP, but now I rarely suffer the effects. I suspect I wasn't "medically" hypo, although I sure had all the symptoms when my blood sugar got too low! Hubby could tell over the phone when I need food NOW. I would get irritable and snappy, and I felt extremely shaky and brain fogged.

Of course, now I always have something to snack on, even if it's just a sugar-free candy to suck until I can get to real food. I keep nuts at work, but I also started keeping cans of protein pudding at work. (It's marketed to weight builders, but Sly Stallone's protein pudding comes in individual snack packs with a pop top lid that I find is perfect to keep at work for when I get hungry. I don't like it cold, so I just keep it in a drawer and grab one when I need it.) I also keep cans of ready-made protein shakes at work. I know these are convenience/prepackaged foods and some PPers try not to use these, but for me the convenience is worth it. Plus neither of these contain sugar alcohols, so I don't have to worry about "overdoing" and having the gastric effects at work! :p

[gitfiddle]

I know these are convenience/prepackaged foods and some PPers try not to use these, but for me the convenience is worth it.
Any port in a storm, I say. Plus you remind me, Bashee, that I always keep a roll of sugar-free breath mints or a package of breath strips in my handbag. There is just enough in them to get me through about a half hour, which saves me during a business meeting or a church service where there is absolutely nothing to eat. Coffee with real cream will work, too.

Do you find the protein puddings on-line or at a local store? I'm sick of nuts, too! ;)

[banshee]

Do you find the protein puddings on-line or at a local store? I'm sick of nuts, too! ;)

I buy mine through Netrition (www.netrition.com). I place an order there about once every month or two because we have very little locally, plus their prices on a lot of things are cheaper than the local grocery stores! The actual Brand name for them is "Instone", but the label has a picture of Sly and says "Sylvester Stallone's High Protein Pudding".

[gitfiddle]

Thank's Mary. I'm familiar with that place. I got my whey powder there and my DaVinci syrups. Looks like I'll have to do a little more exploring!