I think that I may be hypoglycemic. I tend to get shaky, nauseaus, lightheaded and just an ill feeling. My question is what level should your blood sugar be at to be considered hypoglycemic. I tested my blood for about 5 days at the same time around 5:00 pm before supper and it was always around 6.1. Today I tested it around 12:30 after lunch which was only a sandwich and it was only 4.7. Is there any chance that my symptoms can be hypoglycemic related. Any information or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and God Bless.

..True hypoglycemia symptoms are sually intense fatigue, tiredness, then sleep, and coma. what your describng is what is called "reactive hypoglycemia". That was the problem I was having and when I went on a Low Glycmic index diet, it solved the problem.
..The usual cause is a thing called hyperinsulinemia which is too much insulin being released because of a rise in glucose form a high glycemic meal. As the blood glucose starts to fall, glucagon is supposed to be release to keep the blood glucose from going to low. But since there is still too much insulin, the glucagon response doesn't happen and the blood sugar drops a little bit lower. When it drops to a certain point, the adrenal gland releases cortisol and adrenaline to bring the sugar back up. The problem is that we feel the adrenaline response and get that shakey feeling you described. Sometimes our brains react a little different because it feels the adrenaline response and there's no danger!! Some people get panic attacks and such from this stuff.
...Another thing is when you test your blood sugar it will usually be high becasue of the cortisol and adrenaline. Thus it's not "true" hypoglycemia but it is caused by a malfunction in our carbohydrate metabolism and is triggered by falling glucose levels. the good news is that it is usually remedied by a low glycemic index diet. Cut back on the potatoes, rice, and other starches and that would be a start. There's also books on the Low Glycemic Index diet that can help.
Rick

I have hyperinsulinemia. The levels you describe are not low at all. Your symptoms could be from your blood sugar dropping quickly though (a condition termed "relative hypoglycemia"). I would recommend discussing your symptoms with your doctor though and looking for other causes.

I am relatively new to diabetes being diagnosed only a 1 1/2 years ago. Recently I have been experiencing hypoglycemia. I usually stark feeling lightheaded I guess and break out into sweats and sometimes start getting a shaky feeling. By this time, my blood sugar levels have really been low. Sometimes they have been around 60 mg. But twice in one day I had reading of 43 and 48 mg. Luckily I didnt go into a coma from dropping so low. When I was first in the hospital and diagnosed with diabetes, I had a few episodes when my blood sugar dropped so low that I did pass out and didnt even know it until they got me conscious again and I saw a bunch of nurses around me. I didn't know what was occurring. How do we prevent it from dropping so low. Are there other symptoms? Thanks for listening.....Allan

I am relatively new to diabetes being diagnosed only a 1 1/2 years ago. Recently I have been experiencing hypoglycemia. I usually stark feeling lightheaded I guess and break out into sweats and sometimes start getting a shaky feeling. By this time, my blood sugar levels have really been low. Sometimes they have been around 60 mg. But twice in one day I had reading of 43 and 48 mg. Luckily I didnt go into a coma from dropping so low. When I was first in the hospital and diagnosed with diabetes, I had a few episodes when my blood sugar dropped so low that I did pass out and didnt even know it until they got me conscious again and I saw a bunch of nurses around me. I didn't know what was occurring. How do we prevent it from dropping so low. Are there other symptoms? Thanks for listening.....Allan
You should see an Endocrinologist to check your adrenal gland. Were you taking corticosteroids? The adrenal gland should keep you from getting so low and it doesn't sound like it did. Steroids can cause this amoung other things. Definately you need to get this checked out.
Rick

i havent been told i have diabetes but i have been feeling really weird and my symtoms have matched up so i tested myself on a glucose meter and im 40 without eating for 2 hrs. is this bad wat should i do