Questions for those of you with RH

I basically discovered I have RH last night. I had been waking up some nights in a cold clammy sweat starving, for a while and just last night when it happened I decided to check my blood sugar and sure enough, it was low. 68 to be exact. I'm going to start having a spoon of peanut butter before bed and see if that helps the issue.

So, my questions are...

Is it possible for me to have these low blood sugar episodes in my sleep and not know, or my body not wake me? I'm concerned about hypoglycemic comas and whatnot.

Also, any tips would be appreciated. This is a new issue for me and I did get some feedback earlier but would like to compile some tips and advice to keep on hand and ideas to help the situation. I rarely eat sugars or carbs without protein so I'm hoping I can manage it well. Like last night, I had proteins for dinner and ended up awake at 4am with low blood sugar.

Anything you think I should know about it would be great. Thanks so much. I'm very worried and concerned because it's such a new issue for me, and being in diabetes remission I thought I was done with my meter for a while. Should I see my doc regarding this or is it something I should be able to manage without medical intervention? I have read of people having seizures because of this condition... I'm scared.

Thanks for reading and sorry for seeming so freaked out..

68 isn't really that low.  Mine was in the 30's before.  Not that it makes it any better.  Fortunately it didn't happen often and not since May but I learned to eat frequently to keep my blood sugar stable and avoid things that will raise it too much and then crash.  I always have a snack before bed, usually something like peanut butter on gluten free toast.  I eat every 2 or 3 hours except when I am sleeping, of course.  I have had any more issues since May, like I said.

Keep something near your bed in case you wake up feeling that way again.  I found a few things that always helped me, like a hard boiled egg or peanut butter with gluten free crackers, and kept them with me all the time.  Even a protein bar works for me, or can of a protein drink.  With careful management it shouldn't cause any problems.

I am 2 1/2 years out and I can't remember the last time I dumped.  I had a period where even a protein shake with too many carbs would cause me to dump.  Part of it seems to be adaptation and the other part seems to be learning how to do things to keep me from having any bad reactions.

Thanks for the reply and thank you for the information. I plan on keeping a jar of peanut butter by my bed in case the issue comes up again. I know that 68 isn't terribly low but it concerns me because I don't know what my numbers were the other times it has happened since I just realized it was a sugar issue. I don't dump but have noticed that too many carbs usually make me very sleepy. I haven't checked my sugar when I get sleepy with carbs but plan to keep a close eye on my numbers from now on. I am guessing I will have to just play around and see what works for me. Thanks again!!

Like right now... I'm obsessing over my sugar.

A hour and a half ago it was 119, 45 mins ago 97, 15 mins ago 79 and right now it is 66

I'm freaking the **** out lol. Seriously.

Stop testing.

 

I never told you that one of your posts made me change the way I was eating - I eliminated gluten from my diet (and other starchy carbs) but since then - I can tolerate some other carbs that I was not able to tolerate before without getting severe low BS.  I don't do that often - but now i can have some fruits and my BS remains OK. Same with extra veggies - like tomatoes. I am not sure if gluten made me intestines more sensitive to any sugars - but I welcome the change...  

I am so glad I could help you.  I have gotten so much help from your posts and I was glad to see that you were doing better.  I don't know why but some of us seem to be sensitive to things with gluten even though we don't have celiac.  I know that things are pretty normal for me as long as I avoid gluten and sugar.  Pretty small price to pay to have a nice post op life.

I know...right?  I had the idea of no gluten from you.   After a few weeks on a really clean diet (just proteins and veggies) I noticed that I can go for hours and my BS was stable.  And I did try to eat some fruit over holidays and my BS remained stable. But when I ate crackers (with wheat) combined with cheese spread (no carbs in spread) my BS started dropping 2 hrs after...   I also was able to have some candies with no problem.  (unless I had too many) .  I am not sure of that will last - but for now I avoid gluten and white starches - I am doing OK. I can even exercise...  I hope I can lose a few lbs - 10 or so..

Hugs...

This is why I always suggest people that are having issues to give it a try.  It seems that those are the most resistant are the ones that have the biggest problem.  My feeling is that if you don't have a problem with something then you don't care about not having it.  The more you fight to keep something in your food plan the more you might need to look at why it's so important to you.  Like an alcoholic.  People that don't have problems with alcohol give it up without a thought when presented with a reason to do so.  Those who are unwilling to consider giving it up for whatever reason, even though they think it's not a problem, it  probably is.  The more I want to hang onto something the more I need to look at why it's so important to me to keep it.

 

Certainly talk to your doctor if you're concerned.  I think you're probably freaking out more than necessary, though.

Try having the protein before bed with some complex carbs.  Like, put the peanut butter on a couple whole grain crackers.

I've never heard of someone with RH going into a coma during the night because their sugar dropped so low and they didn't wake up.  I did have a seizure about 18 months ago, which I think was due to RH, and it was very scary, but it only happened one time.