<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Hi everyone,

There seem to be quite a few people who have Hypoglycemia, blood sugar
issues and fatigue problems. Here is the summary and a HUGE thank you to
those that took the time to share their stories! It is nice to have
"company" when it comes having *unusual* symptoms that seem to go hand in
hand with the Celiac disease we live with every day. :)

Some people asked if I was tested for diabetes and yes, I have... and I
have tested myself in the morning and blood sugars are normal. I have a
glucometer and I have tested at various times during the day. I don't
really keep track of how many carbs I eat but I eat more meat and protein
now and really keep the carbs that cause spikes to a minimum. I have read
that sugar is not good for us at all so I am trying to cut way way down on
all those tasty gluten free treats as much as possible and I am feeling
really good now!

Summary from those who responded:

I have had problems with hypoglycemia my whole life, as have other
relatives with celiac.  I agree that adrenal stress is one causative
factor, and that can be healed with stress management, vitamin c and
other supplements, acupuncture, diet, etc.  I still struggle with low
blood sugar but have had times of stabilizing it.  According to those
who believe in the paleo diet, if you eat paleo and become a "fat
burner" instead of a "carb burner," blood sugar problems eventually
will resolve.  I am trying paleo as I am reacting to rice and other
grains, so I'll see how I do...

Yup, I never tested for low sugar, but I used to get an immediate headache,
grouchy and feel awful between meals. I don't know if I just got over it or
whether going paleo helps me to keep burning fat between meals, but it's
largely resolved. I used to keep nuts with me at all times since protein
can be converted slowly to sugar.

It makes sense that since hypogycemia is a precursor to diabetes, and that
so many celiacs have autoimmune diabetes that it would also be more common,
but I'm not sure on the science.

Yes, my husband had this for years. You need to eat a source of highly
nutritious carb snacks. I also have to eat often due to low blood sugar, I
went on a no carb diet and never felt so weak in my life

Yes, definitely!  You are not alone.  I really try to stay away from simple
carbs, like potatoes, white rice, etc.  And I make sure I'm getting enough
protein to feel balanced.  I've read that hypoglycemia is characteristic of
celiacs.  I believe it, but it doesn't have to be that way if you stay away
from simple sugars.

 I was diagnosed w/celiac 9 yrs. ago.  I'm not sure what you are referring
to, but I have developed what the Drs. call autonomic dysfunction.  My
sodium level becomes low, I get very lightheaded, feel faint, sometimes
irritable, I can no longer control my body's response Yes, I think the
autommune thyroid part links them..  You can read some about the adrenals
at

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/adrenal-info/

I have this and there are a bunch of people at the yahoo Natural Thyroid
Hormone
group who have this as well.to heat or cold, so I turn blue if I go in an
a/c room, sweat buckets from my head if I encounter a little heat, as from
the hot water tap, or when cooking, etc. and have to drink gallons of water
to stay hydrated.

 *Hello.  And, yes.  I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia long before the
celiac's.  It seems to me that they would go hand-in-hand.  You've got to
figure though, the celiac's would be a lack of nutrient absorption.  Might
as well not be eating at all, right?  lol  And the hypoglycemia the lack of
blood sugar resulting from this.  I've further found when I've had those
better days of  absorption, the less I have problems with my blood sugar.

  *I ran into this a lot when I was first diagnosed (13 years ago).  I have
since recovered all my lost weight (darn), but I do also have episodes of
low blood sugar.

Rice and corn are fast metablolizers - they spike your blood sugar and then
it plummets.  My biggest problems with low blood sugar are 2 hours after
breakfast.  I try to add fruit to my cereal to help slow down the drop, and
I try to have a piece of string cheese for a mid-morning snack if I have
cereal for breakfast.

Adding protein to your carbs will help balance things out - toast with
peanut butter, egg, cheese are good breakfast add-in

I use to be on a blood sugar roller coaster. Every morning I would crash
around 10am. I finally figured it out by getting a glucometer. What was
happening was that my meals would shoot up my blood sugar - sometimes as
high as 200 - and then come crashing down. Now I had never been diagnosed
with diabetes because my fasting blood glucose was always "normal". Doctors
should know that after meal blood sugars become abnormal at least 10 years
before fasting levels do.

Now I can keep my blood sugars between 80-110 at all times, even after
eating. I can handle about 15gm carbohydrates per meal. I get all my carbs
from vegetables, nuts and protein.

You say you are "low carb" - how many grams do you get. I get 30-50g/day

If you get a glucometer to see what your blood sugar is doing, check out
this sheet http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/22229807.php The reason to test
at 1 and 2 hours after eating is that a 2 hour check will often miss the
highest spike.

I too have struggled with hypoglycemia but switching to a high protein diet
has helped me immensely. My doctors told me the two are not related, but I
have learned that the doctors arent always correct?!  I was told that
caffeine sodas can trigger hypoglcemia....not sure if you drink them but
that makes a difference for me as well.

-- Do you take any adrenal supplements?
Gaia Herbs has a couple that I take:
Adrenal Health
Sleep Thru

You might want to look @ their website.

Yeah, I think hypoglycemia is another manifestation of autoimmunity.  I
find that eating animal protein at every meal, eating on time every day,
eating a sweet item only with or right after a meal,  and, lately, not
drinking caffinated coffee in the morning, keeps it unnoticible. And of
course, always haveing a gf snack with you when leaving the house!

I was diagnosed with Hypoglycemia in the 70's.  I have to eat  protein
every 3 hours apx. Then about 18 years ago I was diagnosed with IBS ( a cop
out diagnosis at the time) - I had severe diarrhea.  Well 3 1/2 years ago I
was having same symptoms - severe diarrhea and was tested and had biopsy to
show that I have Celiac.  I look back in the past and think my diagnosis of
IBS was probably really Celiac but they did not do the specific test back
then for Celiac. I do not know if this answers your question but somehow I
personally believe that they are all connected?? I have not real proof
however.

I do and I also have hypothyroidism. Maybe you should get your thyroid
levels taken.
Good question.   I have reactive hypoglycemia, and it's interesting that a
glucose tolerance test just after going gf and again 12 years later showed
just the same response- no better and no worse. I wonder if it would have
progressed had I not changed my diet.  Please let us know what you find out

I definitely have this! I think it can be a pre-curser to diabetes which is
related to celiac in that once you have one autoimmune illness-you seem to
be prone to others. I have lupus and thyroid issues to.

I think the diet your following is the best you can do--I always keep a GF
protein bar with me just in case I'm out and start the dizzies!

The connection would be a condition called Pyroluria which can eventually
cause adrenal failure if left untreated. Once you start treatment sugars
start normalizing but many have found the need for a paleo type diet.
Anyway there is an awesome Facebook group for Pyroluria that's been the
best resource around.

Yes, I had this same problem which went away when I went gluten free. Now
I'm fine unless accidentally glutened. Before I couldn't eat anything other
than protein in the morning, not even grain or I'd get so bad with shakes
and nausea. Now I'm fine and can eat anything. (except gluten, of course)

Maybe you're getting occasion cross contamination or cross reaction.

That is it... thanks and good health to all!
Lydia

Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing... shining
like bright lights in a world... (NLT)

*Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the CELIAC List*
Archives are at: Http://Listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?LIST=CELIAC