How do you feel when BGL is low/high?

[Ruthxxx]

I have had a couple of incidents of low (3.2) and high (11.1) fasting BGL readings and seem to feel the same as usual.

What are the symptoms of high/low GLs?

Thanks.

(By the way, I know why I got the 11.1 - Girl Guide cookies at bedtime!)

[Lisa N]

When I go low, I will typically feel shaky and light headed. I may also break out in a cold sweat if it gets very low. These are signals to me to eat something NOW and I know from experience that they are not to be ignored. I have never had a hypo where I did not experience at least one of these symptoms.
Highs are a bit trickier as they often have no symptoms that can't be explained by something else, but for myself when I get that "cotton mouth" feeling, I know that my blood sugar is probably higher than it should be. Another symptom that I get if my blood sugars are staying too high is that I get cramping in the muscles in my lower legs during the night. Not just the calves, but muscles I never knew I had down there are they are very hard to stretch out and if I try, the opposing muscle will often cramp. When this happens to me, the only recourse that I have is to get up and walk the floor until the muscles uncramp...very painful.
I have to say, though, that with low carbing I have not experienced a hypo or a high in quite some time as long as I am being honest with myself about how many carbs I am eating and what types.

[CarolynC]

As far as I know, I've never had a low. When my blood sugar was routinely high--prior to low carbing--I would get extremely thirsty and tired. Now, if I have an occasional high, I don't feel any different than when my blood sugar is normal. But, my highs now are very rare and usually only occur if I eat something that wasn't low carb.

[Sherrielee]

As my blood sugar is daily dropping towards a normal reading...I get shaky and light headed before meal...BG is around 110. Dr Bernstein said this sometimes happens. Anyone else have this experience whilst dropping BG points?

[amyfish]

thank you Lisa N, my legs hurt so bad at night, and I never knew why, it has to be because my blood sugar is too high. I am so glad you shared that! I get the same cramping you are talking about, I am so glad I now know why! thank you!

[Lisa N]

Originally posted by Sherrielee
As my blood sugar is daily dropping towards a normal reading...I get shaky and light headed before meal...BG is around 110. Dr Bernstein said this sometimes happens. Anyone else have this experience whilst dropping BG points?

Yes, Sherrielee...this can sometimes happen when your blood sugars have been elevated for some time. Your body gets used to the higher concentrations of blood sugars even though they are very destructive. When the come down very quickly, even though they are not technically "hypo", you can feel that way because you are not used to having normal blood sugars.
Even though you may feel hypo, don't try to raise your blood sugars unless you meeter tells you that you are experiencing a true hypo (blood sugar reading 70 or less). You can try having a protein snack instead. The good news is that your body readjusts to the normal blood sugar readings quite quickly...usually within a few days.

[Lisa N]

Originally posted by amyfish
thank you Lisa N, my legs hurt so bad at night, and I never knew why, it has to be because my blood sugar is too high. I am so glad you shared that! I get the same cramping you are talking about, I am so glad I now know why! thank you!

Glad my sharing helped! :) I feel for you because I know how painful those muscle cramps can be. I've had sore muscles for a couple of days after a night of those cramps and I remember walking the floor in the middle of the night with tears streaming down my face because it hurt so much (and I have a very high pain tolerance). :p Happy to report, though, that it hasn't happened since I started low carbing 2 years ago. :thup: