Woman's issue

[verasteine]

Question: anyone ever get hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) while on their period? It's the second time it's happened to me in six months, and while I'm not unfamiliar with blood sugar crashes, these were both so extreme they made me very ill. We're talking extreme cramps, nausea, walking up and down the stairs made me have to lie down, shallow

Comments

[superbadgirl]

No, alas. My hypoglycemia episodes have never coincided with my period, but boy I hate them. I do think there's an obvious connection there for you, but I don't know if there's an actual medical diagnosis. Methinks Western medicine is still too catered to men's health issues over women's that it hasn't been considered.

I'd imagine with all the fluctuating hormones, it could easily muck up your blood sugar levels.

[verasteine]

There seems to be, yeah. And I don't want to see a doctor over only two episodes, because, well, what you say. My bff, who was with me yesterday and works in the medical world in a different specialty suggested it might be the body's reaction to bleeding and cramps, ie. too much blood volume rushes to the uterus and creates deficienies elsewhere. I thought that sounded plausible, but what do I know? :)

Yeah, hormones are an option too... I usually just get it because I don't eat enough, these were times that I had eaten enough, which is why it freaks me out more than when I get it because I just don't have enough sugar in my system.

[mcparrot]

I'm a nurse, but my area is not endocrine, or anything similar ... HOWEVER... a normal person, eating well, should not be getting sudden dives in their blood sugar. I know you have other issues that may affect things, but I wouldn't expect having your period to have that affect.

Do you know this "episode" was due to low blood sugar? Do you have a blood sugar readings from the time to compare to your base line? Your symptoms look like they could be related to other imbalances, for instance acid/base or electrolytes, rather than sugar. That would fit more plausibly with your period and the fact that it was only an hour after lunch.

Regardless, I personally, would feel that two episodes like this (did you allude to more similar episodes?) is worthy of investigation. It does not sound normal to me.

Good luck
McP

[verasteine]

I'm not, generally speaking, "a normal person eating well," so I'm not sure if that's relevant. And it hasn't happened to me often. If it occurs more frequently, I'll see my GP about it, but my blood sugar can get low sometimes due to my eating habits, so it's not completely unusual, it's just the manner in which it happens. But thanks for the advice!

[kel_reiley]

We're talking extreme cramps, nausea, walking up and down the stairs made me have to lie down, shallow breathing, etc.

Oddly enough, this happens to me EVERY time I get my period. Only on the 1st day, sometimes I feel sick right before I start, which lets me know 'Hey you're gonna feel like HELL tomorrow!'

I don't know that it's caused by low blood sugar, and I can't go see a doctor b/c I currently don't have health insurance. I kinda just suck it up and deal. Although, last time eating did help a little, I felt better but only right after I ate, then I felt crappy again. Of course, the only thing I could eat was bread b/c everything else made me want to puke.

So... hm. I'm not helpful, but you're not alone!