09/24/02: Hypoglycemia

juju · 09-24-2002, 12:40 AM

I got a new toy today: a blood glucose meter. I'm not diabetic, but I am hypoglycemic. If I don't eat at least every 4 hours, I get tired, weak, shakey, confused, and very irritable. All I have to do to fix it is eat. Food is my medicine. About 5-10 minutes after I eat, I get a warm tingling sensation somewhere in the top of my body, which then rushes down my spine in a great surge of energy, Then, I feel great, as if i've snorted cocaine or meth. It's really weird to feel high just from having eaten. I've never been tested by a doctor, but my symptoms are so obvious that i've self-diagnosed myself.

So, i've seen these little gadgets in Wal-Mart that monitor your blood glucose level. It's supposed to be for diabetics, but I figured I could use it, too. They give you this little pen-looking thing to prick your finger. You cock it, and press the button, and this little needle shoots out of it and pricks your finger. Then, you put a 'test strip' into the device, and sqeeze a drop of your blood onto this little square on the strip. Your blood then reacts with a chemical in the strip, causing a chemical reaction that gives off tiny bits of electricity. The device then reads those electrical signals and figures out how much glucose you have in your blood. Then, your blood glucose level is displayed on a little screen. How cool is that?? The device was around $8, and the box of test strips was $20.

When I first tested myself, I was 80. Normal is supposed to be between 80-120, but each person is different. My wife scored a 134. After i'd been playing with this for about 30 minutes, I started feeling queasy, and I knew that if I didn't eat, within an hour i'd be freaking out. I tested myself again, and I had dropped to 74. I had dinner, and tested myself again: 82. I hope it got higher than that eventually. I think I tested myself too soon after eating.

Today, I tested a 92 before dinner, and a 109 afterwards. I had been snacking on doritos before, and I guess those really helped a lot. Yesterday i'd been at work and hadn't had a chance to eat anything.

Seeing how fast I dropped within a 30 minute period (from 80 to 74) tells me that I sometimes get a lot lower.. probably in the 50-60 range. I think it's really neat to be able to quantify it like this. I was doing okay before just going by how I felt, but this really appeals to my scientific nature.

Also, my wife bought me this killer leather chair tonight. Isn't it cool?? Much better than my old one, which was around 10 years old, not leather, and falling apart.

It was made in China, lovingly, by 12 year old amputee Chinese kids. I'm always glad to contribute to a worthy cause, whether it be killing cows or helping support kids. Won't someone think of the children?

Nic Name · 09-24-2002, 01:03 AM

Quote:

If I don't eat at least every 4 hours, I get tired, weak, shakey, confused, and very irritable.

That explains a few posts. ;)

juju · 09-24-2002, 01:17 AM

Aye, confusion and tendency to extreme irritability do not lend themselves well to intelligible posts.

Nic Name · 09-24-2002, 01:41 AM

set cookies ... and milk. :)

SteveDallas · 09-24-2002, 09:04 AM

I had a friend in college who had reactive hypoglycemia. (As I recall, the reactive part meant he shouldn't have stuff like candy.) The interesting bit is that since the university required dorm residents to buy the meal plan, they were obligated to meet any medically necessary diet requirements of the students. They dealt with my friend by allowing him to stop by & pick up food whenever he felt like it, including raw ingredients for later cooking back in the room. (He never took advantage of it to get a little extra and fix dinner for his friends. Nope, never. Not once.)

09-24-2002, 09:18 AM

Yay for the chair. Personally, I can't do leather, because I have a tendency to sit at computers for stupidly large amounts of time, and that leads to moisture build-up with leather, and that leads to discomfort. But if it works for you, then that's good. I think one should have a comfortable computer chair if they're spending any amount of time there. Comfortable, and one that forces correct posture.

I have an Aeron and I think it's pretty great. It's solved the "sitting at a computer for hours and hours and then getting up and having a sweaty ass" problem, and it's comfortable to boot. You can see it here: http://www.metastudios.com/images/temp-setup.jpg

Anyway... yay for blood glucose testing kits too. I might have to pick one up just to play with and see how I'm doing. :)

juju · 09-24-2002, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kbarger
I had a friend in college who had reactive hypoglycemia. (As I recall, the reactive part meant he shouldn't have stuff like candy.) The interesting bit is that since the university required dorm residents to buy the meal plan, they were obligated to meet any medically necessary diet requirements of the students. They dealt with my friend by allowing him to stop by & pick up food whenever he felt like it, including raw ingredients for later cooking back in the room. (He never took advantage of it to get a little extra and fix dinner for his friends. Nope, never. Not once.)

That's a great idea. :) They let me eat at work when we're not busy, though we're not supposed to eat unless we mess up a pizza. I feel really guilty about exploiting it, though. I feel like i'm playing the victim, and I'd like to think that I can "take care of it myself", even though unless I eat, I really can't. I try to just eat before I get there.

Tobiasly · 09-24-2002, 01:42 PM

Now if only you can figure out how to use the tungsten white-balance feature on your camera, you'll be all set!

MaggieL · 09-24-2002, 01:54 PM

My lifepartner has some of the same bloodsugar metabolism issues, although after a long period spent on a severe low-carbohydrate diet, things were a lot better for her, even after leaving the diet.

One important issue to keep in mind is the distinction between simple and complex carbs; sugar will burn off quickly yielding a spike, followed by a secondary crash while starches have a slower burn and will stick with you longer.

Speaking of burn rate, didn't fuckedcompany have an "Aeron chair index"? It was based on the theory that the more Aeron chairs a dotcom had, the more quickly it would burn though it's VC money...

09-24-2002, 02:03 PM

Then the market is flooded with them, the price drops and it's time to buy! I sure do love dot-com burnouts. :)

A lot of people look down at the Aeron. "Must be one of those uppity bastards, has an Aeron." Well, mine was free and worth every penny. My back doesn't hurt after sitting in it for hours, it's comfortable and adjustable to just about any body shape/size. I highly recommend them. They're not all hype.

juju · 09-24-2002, 03:34 PM

Hmm... I think I can discern a tiny difference...

I do try to look for complex carbs. The only problem is that I am a very picky eater. It's really hard for me to find something that's good for me and tastes good, too. I have started eating potatos occasionally. I haven't come across much else, though.

EDIT -- fixed vertical lines.

juju · 09-24-2002, 03:46 PM

Argh! I don't know where those vertical lines came from. Maybe feh corrupted it when I rotated and saved it. Anyway, you get the idea. I like a chair that completely envelopes you. Sort of like a lightweight recliner. I should be able to sleep in my chair comfortably.

MaggieL · 09-24-2002, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dhamsaic

A lot of people look down at the Aeron. "Must be one of those uppity bastards, has an Aeron." Well, mine was free and worth every penny.

"Free" is a pricepoint that's hard to argue with.

Workstation ergonomics are extremely important, and the more you use a workstation the more important they are. I'm sure an Aeron must be a very nice chair. Were someone to offer me one free I'd thank them very kindly and take the chair before they could change their minds

elSicomoro · 09-24-2002, 07:14 PM

Okay...hold the presses here.

You've not been checked out by a doctor, juju?

*slaps Juju 30 or 40 times*

Being well-read on it is one thing, but you really SHOULD get checked out by a doctor. They have a health clinic on campus that's dirt cheap, right?

juju · 09-24-2002, 09:13 PM

LOL. You're right, of course. I haven't had health insurance until a couple weeks ago, though, and I just didn't want to pay for it all myself. So that's really why I never went. I'm pretty sure they don't have a health clinic on campus.

I guess I should go. I know what they're going to do, though. They're going to starve me for a very long time, then give me this orangy-drink, and then see how my blood sugar level changes. I hate crashing, so i've kind of been putting it off a little. It not only slams my body while my blood sugar is low, but after it's risen again, I still feel tired from having undergone such shock.

You're right, though. I'll make an appointment. I'll feel like a fool if they tell me I don't have it, though. I'm pretty sure they won't, though. If I don't have it, there's sure as hell something wrong with me.

On the plus side, perhaps my new insurance will cover the $20 test strips?

09-24-2002, 12:40 AM	#1
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	09/24/02: Hypoglycemia I got a new toy today: a blood glucose meter. I'm not diabetic, but I am hypoglycemic. If I don't eat at least every 4 hours, I get tired, weak, shakey, confused, and very irritable. All I have to do to fix it is eat. Food is my medicine. About 5-10 minutes after I eat, I get a warm tingling sensation somewhere in the top of my body, which then rushes down my spine in a great surge of energy, Then, I feel great, as if i've snorted cocaine or meth. It's really weird to feel high just from having eaten. I've never been tested by a doctor, but my symptoms are so obvious that i've self-diagnosed myself. So, i've seen these little gadgets in Wal-Mart that monitor your blood glucose level. It's supposed to be for diabetics, but I figured I could use it, too. They give you this little pen-looking thing to prick your finger. You cock it, and press the button, and this little needle shoots out of it and pricks your finger. Then, you put a 'test strip' into the device, and sqeeze a drop of your blood onto this little square on the strip. Your blood then reacts with a chemical in the strip, causing a chemical reaction that gives off tiny bits of electricity. The device then reads those electrical signals and figures out how much glucose you have in your blood. Then, your blood glucose level is displayed on a little screen. How cool is that?? The device was around $8, and the box of test strips was $20. When I first tested myself, I was 80. Normal is supposed to be between 80-120, but each person is different. My wife scored a 134. After i'd been playing with this for about 30 minutes, I started feeling queasy, and I knew that if I didn't eat, within an hour i'd be freaking out. I tested myself again, and I had dropped to 74. I had dinner, and tested myself again: 82. I hope it got higher than that eventually. I think I tested myself too soon after eating. Today, I tested a 92 before dinner, and a 109 afterwards. I had been snacking on doritos before, and I guess those really helped a lot. Yesterday i'd been at work and hadn't had a chance to eat anything. Seeing how fast I dropped within a 30 minute period (from 80 to 74) tells me that I sometimes get a lot lower.. probably in the 50-60 range. I think it's really neat to be able to quantify it like this. I was doing okay before just going by how I felt, but this really appeals to my scientific nature. Also, my wife bought me this killer leather chair tonight. Isn't it cool?? Much better than my old one, which was around 10 years old, not leather, and falling apart. It was made in China, lovingly, by 12 year old amputee Chinese kids. I'm always glad to contribute to a worthy cause, whether it be killing cows or helping support kids. Won't someone think of the children?

09-24-2002, 01:17 AM	#3
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	Aye, confusion and tendency to extreme irritability do not lend themselves well to intelligible posts. Last edited by juju; 09-24-2002 at 01:20 AM.

09-24-2002, 01:54 PM	#9
MaggieL in the Hour of Scampering Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Jeffersonville PA (15 mi NW of Philadelphia) Posts: 4,060	My lifepartner has some of the same bloodsugar metabolism issues, although after a long period spent on a severe low-carbohydrate diet, things were a lot better for her, even after leaving the diet. One important issue to keep in mind is the distinction between simple and complex carbs; sugar will burn off quickly yielding a spike, followed by a secondary crash while starches have a slower burn and will stick with you longer. Speaking of burn rate, didn't fuckedcompany have an "Aeron chair index"? It was based on the theory that the more Aeron chairs a dotcom had, the more quickly it would burn though it's VC money... __________________ "Neither can his Mind be thought to be in Tune,whose words do jarre; nor his reason In frame, whose sentence is preposterous..."

09-24-2002, 03:34 PM	#11
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	Hmm... I think I can discern a tiny difference... I do try to look for complex carbs. The only problem is that I am a very picky eater. It's really hard for me to find something that's good for me and tastes good, too. I have started eating potatos occasionally. I haven't come across much else, though. EDIT -- fixed vertical lines. Last edited by juju; 09-24-2002 at 10:15 PM.

09-24-2002, 09:13 PM	#15
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	LOL. You're right, of course. I haven't had health insurance until a couple weeks ago, though, and I just didn't want to pay for it all myself. So that's really why I never went. I'm pretty sure they don't have a health clinic on campus. I guess I should go. I know what they're going to do, though. They're going to starve me for a very long time, then give me this orangy-drink, and then see how my blood sugar level changes. I hate crashing, so i've kind of been putting it off a little. It not only slams my body while my blood sugar is low, but after it's risen again, I still feel tired from having undergone such shock. You're right, though. I'll make an appointment. I'll feel like a fool if they tell me I don't have it, though. I'm pretty sure they won't, though. If I don't have it, there's sure as hell something wrong with me. On the plus side, perhaps my new insurance will cover the $20 test strips? Last edited by juju; 09-24-2002 at 09:15 PM.

09-24-2002, 01:41 AM	#4
Nic Name retired Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,930	set cookies ... and milk. :)

09-24-2002, 09:04 AM	#5
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	I had a friend in college who had reactive hypoglycemia. (As I recall, the reactive part meant he shouldn't have stuff like candy.) The interesting bit is that since the university required dorm residents to buy the meal plan, they were obligated to meet any medically necessary diet requirements of the students. They dealt with my friend by allowing him to stop by & pick up food whenever he felt like it, including raw ingredients for later cooking back in the room. (He never took advantage of it to get a little extra and fix dinner for his friends. Nope, never. Not once.)

09-24-2002, 09:18 AM	#6
dave Guest Posts: n/a	Yay for the chair. Personally, I can't do leather, because I have a tendency to sit at computers for stupidly large amounts of time, and that leads to moisture build-up with leather, and that leads to discomfort. But if it works for you, then that's good. I think one should have a comfortable computer chair if they're spending any amount of time there. Comfortable, and one that forces correct posture. I have an Aeron and I think it's pretty great. It's solved the "sitting at a computer for hours and hours and then getting up and having a sweaty ass" problem, and it's comfortable to boot. You can see it here: http://www.metastudios.com/images/temp-setup.jpg Anyway... yay for blood glucose testing kits too. I might have to pick one up just to play with and see how I'm doing. :)

09-24-2002, 01:42 PM	#8
Tobiasly hot Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Jeffersonville, IN (near Louisville) Posts: 892	Now if only you can figure out how to use the tungsten white-balance feature on your camera, you'll be all set!

09-24-2002, 02:03 PM	#10
dave Guest Posts: n/a	Then the market is flooded with them, the price drops and it's time to buy! I sure do love dot-com burnouts. :) A lot of people look down at the Aeron. "Must be one of those uppity bastards, has an Aeron." Well, mine was free and worth every penny. My back doesn't hurt after sitting in it for hours, it's comfortable and adjustable to just about any body shape/size. I highly recommend them. They're not all hype.

09-24-2002, 03:46 PM	#12
juju no one of consequence Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,839	Argh! I don't know where those vertical lines came from. Maybe feh corrupted it when I rotated and saved it. Anyway, you get the idea. I like a chair that completely envelopes you. Sort of like a lightweight recliner. I should be able to sleep in my chair comfortably.

09-24-2002, 07:14 PM	#14
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	Okay...hold the presses here. You've not been checked out by a doctor, juju? slaps Juju 30 or 40 times Being well-read on it is one thing, but you really SHOULD get checked out by a doctor. They have a health clinic on campus that's dirt cheap, right?

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