low blood sugar and panic attacks
Has anyone ever noticed a correlation between these? Thanks!
hugs&kisses,
Karilynn
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
Frank Herbert
"How you climb up the mountain is just as important as how you get down the mountain. And, so it is with life, which for many of us becomes one big test followed by one big lesson. In the end, it all comes down to one word: grace. It's how you accept winning and losing, good luck and bad luck, darkness and the light."
Karilynn
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
Frank Herbert
"How you climb up the mountain is just as important as how you get down the mountain. And, so it is with life, which for many of us becomes one big test followed by one big lesson. In the end, it all comes down to one word: grace. It's how you accept winning and losing, good luck and bad luck, darkness and the light."
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Guest
Oh my gosh Im going through this now its my "new thing". I have a post on this general forum titled blood sugars and anxiety there are some great responses so check it out if you get a chance.
I have been to the doctor for my annual check and my sugars came back a bit higher. Ive been feeling those lows for a long time. I asked my doctor if anxiety can make it happen or if an attack can show itself as a false low so that I feel the symptoms but dont have low sugar. She told me yes to both. Panic/anxiety can and does make the sugar flucutate....for me I was eating snacks and stuff cuz I felt so crappy and then I would feel that low later and so I would eat again and then the low....it was just a cycle.
I started changing my diet (its only been one full day) but Ive made some changes....I am introducing higher protein snacks like peanutbutter on whole grain with glass of milk, cutting down on the carbs and sweets tremendously and drinking fruit juice like 100% grape for a little lift in the afternoon. I bought a couple cookbooks online for healthy diabetic eating (since they follow the best eating guidlines)
I still feel my lows especially in the morning or in the late afternoon...so I might go and buy a monitor to prove to me Im not and its just anxiety but its pricey.
Oh one more thing...the doctor told me there is a test can be done Non fasting called something like a hemoglobin c3 test. its a simple draw and it monitors the sugar in the red blood cells for the 3 months prior to the draw she said it would be a great indication of sugar issues without having to fast....(I hate to fast)
Well I hope it helps you. Im always happy to share so if you have more questions please ask If I have any answers Ill let you know....I can also let you know anything I find out if you like just say so.
Great post. Dodger
I have been to the doctor for my annual check and my sugars came back a bit higher. Ive been feeling those lows for a long time. I asked my doctor if anxiety can make it happen or if an attack can show itself as a false low so that I feel the symptoms but dont have low sugar. She told me yes to both. Panic/anxiety can and does make the sugar flucutate....for me I was eating snacks and stuff cuz I felt so crappy and then I would feel that low later and so I would eat again and then the low....it was just a cycle.
I started changing my diet (its only been one full day) but Ive made some changes....I am introducing higher protein snacks like peanutbutter on whole grain with glass of milk, cutting down on the carbs and sweets tremendously and drinking fruit juice like 100% grape for a little lift in the afternoon. I bought a couple cookbooks online for healthy diabetic eating (since they follow the best eating guidlines)
I still feel my lows especially in the morning or in the late afternoon...so I might go and buy a monitor to prove to me Im not and its just anxiety but its pricey.
Oh one more thing...the doctor told me there is a test can be done Non fasting called something like a hemoglobin c3 test. its a simple draw and it monitors the sugar in the red blood cells for the 3 months prior to the draw she said it would be a great indication of sugar issues without having to fast....(I hate to fast)
Well I hope it helps you. Im always happy to share so if you have more questions please ask If I have any answers Ill let you know....I can also let you know anything I find out if you like just say so.
Great post. Dodger
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Guest
Hey Dodger,
Thanks for the response. I've been feeling like an entirely new person lately. Been going everywhere, doing lots of things. Last night at work I went at least 5 hours without eating anything, which was my big mistake. I started to feel weird before I left work, but driving home I had a really big panic attack. It was weird though, because if I had felt that way a year ago, I would have freaked out entirely and pulled over to the side of the road and called someone. I kept driving and remained somewhat calm despite the fact that my chest got really tight and I felt the weirdest I've ever felt before. I shouldn't say EVER felt before, but I get those random panic attacks at least twice a year where I feel VERY strange and I feel completely like I'm losing it. It only lasted maybe 15-20 seconds, but the entire drive home was pretty bad, I was shaking and when I got home I had to force feed myself, because I got to the point where I felt so sick from not eating. After eating, I felt better, not 100%, but better. I was trying to figure out what brought it on, and I'm pretty sure it was the lack of sugar in my blood. I leave work at 10:30 and I hadn't eaten since 6. For me that's a while. I have to keep my blood sugar pretty balanced it seems.
It's great that you're going to work on your diet. Food plays an important role in how we feel, I truly believe that.
I have been considering lately getting my blood taken to see if everything is alright. The majority of my anxiety symptoms have diminished, but I seem to still have issues with hunger/food. I go through periods of extreme hunger, where I can eat a large meal and be very hunger 2 hours later. I'm figuring out that with myself, I need to keep myself satisfied. A small meal every 2-3 hours or so, so I don't get to the point where I'm starving and shaking, nor do I get to the point where I'm full beyond belief and can hardly move around.
Thanks for the response. I've been feeling like an entirely new person lately. Been going everywhere, doing lots of things. Last night at work I went at least 5 hours without eating anything, which was my big mistake. I started to feel weird before I left work, but driving home I had a really big panic attack. It was weird though, because if I had felt that way a year ago, I would have freaked out entirely and pulled over to the side of the road and called someone. I kept driving and remained somewhat calm despite the fact that my chest got really tight and I felt the weirdest I've ever felt before. I shouldn't say EVER felt before, but I get those random panic attacks at least twice a year where I feel VERY strange and I feel completely like I'm losing it. It only lasted maybe 15-20 seconds, but the entire drive home was pretty bad, I was shaking and when I got home I had to force feed myself, because I got to the point where I felt so sick from not eating. After eating, I felt better, not 100%, but better. I was trying to figure out what brought it on, and I'm pretty sure it was the lack of sugar in my blood. I leave work at 10:30 and I hadn't eaten since 6. For me that's a while. I have to keep my blood sugar pretty balanced it seems.
It's great that you're going to work on your diet. Food plays an important role in how we feel, I truly believe that.
I have been considering lately getting my blood taken to see if everything is alright. The majority of my anxiety symptoms have diminished, but I seem to still have issues with hunger/food. I go through periods of extreme hunger, where I can eat a large meal and be very hunger 2 hours later. I'm figuring out that with myself, I need to keep myself satisfied. A small meal every 2-3 hours or so, so I don't get to the point where I'm starving and shaking, nor do I get to the point where I'm full beyond belief and can hardly move around.
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Guest
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Guest
I deal with this quite a bit. One day I thought if I denied the feeling it would go away--and believe it or not it did. That was just one day. On other more stressful days it will not leave until I eat. I get very shaky and can't get words out correctly and my thinking slows way down. I have noticed I'll be fine and then think, man I should be feeling shaky I haven't eaten in a while and sure enough less than two minutes there I go--I really believe for me my mind is controlling that part of me. There is also a correlation between Hypoglycemia and blood pressure--when your blood pressure spikes in a panic attack the sugars hit rock bottom. I see when I'm out of my everyday environment and my anxiety is very low, I have no issue at all with blood sugar. I can go all day and not eat--feel ravenous hungry, but not the least bit weak, dizzy or shaky. I have a glucose meter in my house and check the blood sugar when I'm feeling lightheaded and it has been really low sometimes--the issue is my anxiety level that day--it makes all the difference. The day before I could have eaten the exact same breakfast at the exact same time and not had one problem till lunch, but on laundry day--forget about it, I'm weak with hunger all day.
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Guest
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Guest
I have issues with low blood sugar and have handled it with smaller, more frequent meals. I've always had a problem with this since I was in my 20's. I started to have Panic\Anxiety when I was in my 40's and now when I have a blood sugar low it can kick off a panic attack. I think this is because the body symptoms are so similar that my brain interperates the feeling as panic.
The best thing to do is eat a snack as soon as you feel the symptoms, waiting is a killer. Also I like to get on the tread mill and walk for a mile or so.
The best thing to do is eat a snack as soon as you feel the symptoms, waiting is a killer. Also I like to get on the tread mill and walk for a mile or so.
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Guest
I've noticed the same thing. My racing thoughts that I may have hypoglycemia have tortured me for years. I had a serious wakeboarding accident two years ago and was knocked unconscious. When I cane to I had the worst panic attack of my life and went into shock. Once at the hospital the doctor told me my sugar was a little low...that was my killer! I obsessed about what he said ever day since. I looked up the symptoms and sure enough they matched. But that was before I realized that increased anxiety causes low sugar! What a relief to know that my stress causes these feelings! Control the stress and the sugar will become stable! Good Luck to all!
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Guest
This is very true. I have noticed that ever since I started therapy and exercising on a daily basis, my stress levels have gone down significantly. I've also noticed that my low blood sugar fears have as well. I've stopped eating as much and even when I am hungry, I don't panic about it like I used to. I don't feel shaky and out of it either anymore. Great point!Originally posted by Buc Soccer:
I've noticed the same thing. My racing thoughts that I may have hypoglycemia have tortured me for years. I had a serious wakeboarding accident two years ago and was knocked unconscious. When I cane to I had the worst panic attack of my life and went into shock. Once at the hospital the doctor told me my sugar was a little low...that was my killer! I obsessed about what he said ever day since. I looked up the symptoms and sure enough they matched. But that was before I realized that increased anxiety causes low sugar! What a relief to know that my stress causes these feelings! Control the stress and the sugar will become stable! Good Luck to all!