Controlling Your Blood Sugar When You Have Fibromyalgia

Written By: Fibromyalgia Treating

Published Date: December 22, 2014 Last Edited: December 22, 2014

If it’s not one thing it’s something else. Many times, people who suffer from fibromyalgia also suffer from reactive hypoglycemia as well.

Fibromyalgia and Insulin Sensitivity

There is a very well-established connection between insulin sensitivity and fibromyalgia syndrome. Researchers are very well aware of the fact that most individuals suffering from fibromyalgia also suffer from hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Of course, this is made worse by the fact that individuals suffering from fibromyalgia feel like they must increase their energy by consuming more carbohydrates. This will, in turn, lead to a sugar crash.

After all, as we all know, fatigue leads to sugary carbohydrate cravings- which then means that the body simply can’t correctly process the high blood sugar that occurs as a result. This, in turn, leads to weight gain.

Carbohydrates work to stimulate the production of insulin by the body. Insulin is made to move the glucose from the carbohydrates into the cells where it can be used as fuel for energy.

If an individual has fibromyalgia, they more than likely also have a hormonal imbalance that causes their body to produce too much insulin, which means that instead of the glucose being transferred to cells for energy, it is actually moved into the muscles and cells and stored by the body as fat.

What exactly is Reactive Hypoglycemia?

The condition of reactive hypoglycemia, or RHG, is much different from hypoglycemia that occurs as a result of fasting. Fasting hypoglycemia is the low blood sugar that occurs due to not eating anything. On the other hand, reactive hypoglycemia is likely to be overlooked because it simply doesn’t manifest itself in the same manner that fasting hypoglycemia does. It actually occurs within a few hours of consuming a large amount of carbohydrates.

The quick rush of carbohydrates going into the small intestine causes a rapid absorption of glucose and therefore, causing the pancreas to produce extremely large amounts of insulin. Also, the production of adrenaline increases dramatically, which therefore, taxes the adrenal glands. The increase of adrenaline production occurs because the body is trying to compensate for the extra insulin due to flooding the body with excess carbohydrates. Then, even when the blood sugar plummets, this process continues.

When an individual does not get treated for their reactive hypoglycemia, it can end up turning into type 2 diabetes. Reactive hypoglycemia could also cause or contribute to some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome such as the following:

Fibrofog (confusion, foggy memory/thoughts)
Fatigue
Sensitivity to cold
Other symptoms of hypoglycemia

Symptoms of Reactive Hypoglycemia

Individuals suffering from reactive hypoglycemia are typically overweight and no matter how hard they try, they simply can’t lose those extra pounds- which is a very common problem for those suffering from fibromyalgia.

Additionally, those individuals who are suffering from fibromyalgia are also dealing with several imbalances- which means that the carbohydrates that their body craves so desperately simply can’t be effectively processed by their body. Following are some of the common symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia:

Dizziness
Fatigue
Headache
An increase in sweating
Depression
Irritability
Shaky hands
Nervousness
Tingling/numbness in hands/feet
Difficulty concentrating
Cravings for carbohydrates

How Can You Tell the Difference between Fasting Hypoglycemia and Reactive Hypoglycemia?

Reactive hypoglycemia is different than fasting hypoglycemia in that the reactive hypoglycemia only happens when the sugar levels in your body are upset somehow due to irregular or abnormal eating patterns or a high consumption of carbohydrates. However, the symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia typically will go away five to ten minutes after you eat something sugary.

Fibromyalgia mostly affects women and they may notice that their symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia get worse just before menstruation or even just after giving birth. Additionally, if an individual with fibromyalgia goes on a limited carbohydrate eating plan, they may notice a flare-up in their symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia.

It will take about ten days to work through the difficulty before you start to notice improvements. Be warned though- those ten days can be pure hell. You will have lots of headaches and extreme fatigue. Additionally you will have strong temptation to drink caffeine and eat sugar or carbohydrates.

What Can Be Done?

When it comes to controlling your reactive hypoglycemia, the primary thing you must do is understand that your diet has a major influence on your entire well-being. This means that you must create an eating plan that addresses your issues with blood sugar as well as facilitates weight loss. A diet consisting of a lean protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates is one of the absolute best ways to curb fluctuations of blood glucose and to create an overall sense of well-being.

Additionally, you can make sure that your blood sugar stays at an acceptable level by using a blood glucose monitor which can give you a reading of your blood glucose and help keep you focused on avoiding those foods that have high amounts of glucose.

One of the best ways to start to create a healthy fibromyalgia diet is to make yourself aware of the glycemic index. This is the measure of the speed at which specific foods increase your blood sugar levels. Foods that are high on the glycemic index will very rapidly raise your blood sugar, while foods that are low on the glycemic index do not. There are lots of books and other information available on this topic to help you better understand healthy eating plans and the glycemic index. This can help an individual with fibromyalgia to get control of their symptoms as well as lose a few pounds.