Just when I thought I was doing OK I have started to get serious episodes of what I think and GP think is hypoglycaemia. I've had it in the past but not serious and have basically ignored it but the last 3 or times have been close otgether and quite dramatic, nearly passing out in the high street and worse still in the middle of nowehere while out with the dog. I took him out for a late night pee and it happened, because my legs were so weak it took twice as long to get back and when I did I almost collpased through the front door and my husband had to undress me because I had no energy left. He said I was soaked with sweat. Anyway I asked him to make me a hot cross bun with jam and peanut butter which set me straight. This was at about 8:30 but even after eating the bun I was overwhelmingly tired and wiped out so I stayed in bed and slept til morning.
I'm having blood tests this week so will report back when I find out.
I might post this in the Lupus group too because the GP said it sometimes happens as a side effect of drugs...sooooo I looked up hydroxyc. and sure enough it is a known side effect. Has anyone else had this?
Written by
Brychni
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I have and do still have hypoglycemia attacks but that's because I'm a type 1 diabetic and take insulin to keep my blood glucose under control and it's a balancing act. You did the right thing by having the bun with jam to raise your blood sugar level but you will feel wiped out after an episode as I do. Always carry a chocolate biscuit or anything sweet to guard against it happening when you're out. In your case though a change of treatment may help. Warning signs of hypoglycemia are sweating, confusion and weakness all over. Eat your glucose/biscuit as soon as you get any of these symptoms because it can happen very quickly.
Hi Biofreak, thanks. Yes that was another thing, I realised the following morning that when I was crashing through the front door I didn't feel I was making much sense, couldn't get it together to say much apart from 'I'm not well'.
Just remembered another symptom can be shaking. I was offered hydroxyin the early days but I said I would rather not because I thought it might make controlling my diabetes harder and I already had high pressures in my eyes.
I've got used to it over the years but it's an awful feeling and quite frightening not only for you but the people around you. I think the eye problems are possible if you are on hydrochloroquine for a long period, mostly with the retina.
It runs in family but I have to eat regularly or I get shakes and I have to keep the carbs low. I have hit and miss periods of time so if I start getting it again I know reduce carbs and start pulling back on any naughty foods for 3months. Sort of a rough way it works with me and the practice nurse is happy it works for me so I don't have to take treatment. But everyone on here is so different and medication so if you can work with GP nurse and get bloods regularly.
I have had this for years but has never been diagnosed. I have had diabetic checks but don't have diabetes. The attacks are horrible and I never go anywhere without a breakfast bar in case I get the symptoms, which are exactly as you describe.
I have had non-diabetic reactive hypoglycaemia for more than ten years but I’m not diabetic and not on hydroxychloraquine either.I was advised by a dietitian to try to stop peaks and troughs in my blood sugar levels by eating protein and low carbs at every meal and not go more than four hours without eating. Between meals a small snack, also containing protein if necessary. It works!!
Whilst I was still teaching, the long time from breakfast to morning break was always a problem for me so I kept a box of cheese oatcakes in my desk and ate them during the few minutes between lessons.
Like others have said I always had an emergency sweet snack too - in my case a tube of glucose tablets in my pocket or handbag.
Are you on Prednisolone by any chance? Steroids can exacerbate the problem too. My GP referred me to a consultant and I had many tests culminating in a 72-hour fast in hospital (to rule out insulinoma). Do insist on getting this checked out properly to find the cause.
All this happened to me long before RA diagnosis. I have a condition called Reactive Hypoglycaemia (non-diabetic). After a meal my blood sugar level rises (how high depends on what I’ve eaten) then my body dumps too much insulin into my system causing a rapid decrease in blood sugar levels. I have to try to even out the peaks and troughs roller coaster with my diet. Mine is nothing to do with any drugs I take, it’s a reactive response to food (or lack of it). Keeping my carbohydrate intake low, eating protein at every meal and snack, and resisting sugary food keeps me stable. Alcohol on an empty stomach is also to be avoided!
The first time I noticed the problem was having a G&T in a bar after a busy day having eaten very little. I had the tell tale dizziness with hot and cold sweats and almost fell off the bar stool! Handfuls of nuts and raisins followed by a meal sorted it.
Hi everyone - thanks for your replies which have given me food for thought - literally!
As you all know my other major health issue is migraines and for a long time, probably about 20 years until recently, I ate a very low carb, high fat and protein diet; modified ketogentic as it is known to help. Mu migraines got really bad and became more like cluster headaches about 5 years ago and about one year ago I stopped the keto thing because it just wasn't helping any more. So after literally years of only ever eating dark chocolate occasionally and absolutely no
bread
cakes
pastry
flapjacks
crisps
potatoes
chips
pasta
etc etc I have started eating **pain au chocolat** (drool drool) , toast for breakfast, occasional pasta for supper
So after reading replies and doing some research I realise that it's just the way I am and neee to lay off the carbs!! My mother was also always saying she got headaches if she didn't eat so it's probably inherited.
Just reduce the starchy carbohydrates and make sure you always have protein with them. If you want toast for breakfast have an egg too or crunchy nut butter.
I prefer Greek yogurt with low sugar granola (by Eat Natural) and fresh blueberries. Pasta is ok occasionally if it’s wholewheat and with a meat or fish sauce.
Cinammon helps to balance blood sugar, as do the blueberries.
Please don’t attempt any intermittent fasting or try to go vegan without advice from a dietitian. I had to pay to see one privately as the NHS one I saw was useless!
Hi L - peanut butter is our friend!! I've actually always had this issue but only ever as a result of missing a meal and never to the point where I've been shaking and insensible. When I was younger I just used to get overwhelming urge to eat digestive bisuits! Also, now, I don't seem to get any warning, there's no urge to eat until it's got really bad.
It's interesting you say that eating generally affects you because this is also one of my migraine triggers. The prospect of the big evening meal fills me with horror. I just feel full, bloated, tired and headachy; just can't take it. For years I have been carrying mixed nuts around with me to stop me getting too hungry inbetween meals, basically the little and often rule and lately I have really abandoned that so perhaps it's no surprise.
Also interesting about cinnamon - my daughter told me something similar that she had heard on TikTok - so of course I dismissed it!! I'll have eat humble pie, with cinnamon on top
Yeah I’ve had the same problem since I was a teenager. It doesn’t seem as bad now I’m older but had a few years of awful problems with it when I was at work. I know the signs because I’ve had it for so long but I have found that if I replace the glucose with too much of a sugary fix the headache I get afterwards is unbearable so yeah replace the sugars but don’t overdo it. I know that’s not helpful but just my experience so you know a lot of people experience this problem and you’re not alone with this one.
It makes sense - I agree, I need the sugar fix but as you say too much seems counterproductive or gives me a banging headache. In fact, after the hot cross bun, curled up in bed my head started to feel so weird it was like I was noticing the very first flickers of a migraine. I was almost willing it to not take. It didn't come to anything but it really made me feel like there was a definite connection.
What an interesting lot of posts on this thread! As far as I know, none of this applies to me, but what it does show is how aware we should all be of any puzzling symptoms that we can't immediately connect with our medications.
Perhaps a yearly general blood test of blood sugar levels , thyroid health, calcium level and Vits B12 and D levels, for example, in addition to the usual tests directly connected to medication, should be standard practice.
This is supposed to be recommended for all the elderly, irrespective of health, but sometimes you have to press for it. Not all GPs are on the ball about it, as my husband recently found out.
Thanks to all the contributors, I feel more informed and shall not dismiss any peculiar "turns".
Ooooh noooo Brychni 🤦♀️That’s the next drug I’m meant to start ( have put it off for 6months) Was it helping you at all? How long have you been taking it? Sorry for all the questions… I know we’re all different but I don’t understand why we’re put on one drug after another many with serious side effects . The drugs companies must be making a fortune selling these … where’s the incentive to find ones that are totally safe ? Hope you’re over this set back really soon xxx
Hi LinaM - I took it for about a year and felt it did something. Then they added methotrexate becasue new things were happening, then more things started to happen so I binned both - I just got sick of the lack of follow up and monitorng. After several appointments with differetn rheumatologists, my original diagnosis was confirmed and all told me I should restart. So after a few months off hydroxyc. I started again a couple of months agom maybe 3? Anyway, I think it has done a lot, mainly for my Raynaud's which I suddenly realised has almost gone since I first started a couple of years ago. Also, I think the HRT has done a huge amount and I've just had a physio appointment and she really praised HRT for autoimmune arthritis and backed up what I had read about it. Very interesting.
Anyway L - I don't think, after all the replies I have read that the hypoglycaeimia is becasue of hydroxyc. It's just tha way I am and need to stop scoffing the pain au chocolats!! Also - although it is a known side effect, I've read that it is in fact quite rare.
I've had absolutely no other side effects and I intend to stay on it!!
I used to be very ‘wibbly wobbly’ on my legs and had several falls. Not entirely sure what the cause was. I don’t know if I’m just more careful now, but don’t seem to have these issues lately….. BUT…… I have been housebound for best part of 2 years 🤣. Trying to unpick things can be difficult. I take a multi-vitamin and omega daily, so wasn't sure if I had a nutrient missing.. But I am also now ‘medically retired’ so it may have been stresss related. That does affect my physicality/ and fibromyalgia.
Oh no I feel your pain as I have had this for years. I was always worried that I had diabetes that was not detected, but the tests always came back fine. So now I have cut right back on cards, and a few nuts if I feel peckish and have gone back to having Porridge with cinnamon and yogurt for breakfast. I always keep some almonds in my handbag as I get about 10 mins warning and they seem to do the trick. I did have one episode like you where I was on a dog walk and felt really faint and the only thing we had on us was a dog biscuits, so that's what I had 🤣 it was OK, but I don't think Pip was impressed me eating one of her biscuits, but needs must ha ha ha . Hopeyours keeps better. Also apparently women approaching or going through the menopause are more prone. 😒 Great another thing to deal with.
Dog bisuits!! We all want to know: what did they taste like??
Interesting about the age thing. I have been on hrt patches for 4 months now mainly for migraines as I had no perimenopause symptoms. The surprise outcome is that it seems to have helped a lot with Inflammatory Arthritis (nothing for my head). Anyway, I would have hoped that the hypoglycaemia thing would have improved with hrt. Still, can't have everything! I think I'd rather that than the sheer hell of the pain I was in before. I had physio yesterday and she reiterated that it has been established for a long time that a drop in oestrogen plays a huge part in autoimmune conditions - why rheumatology can't get on board with hrt is beyond me. She said there just isn't the interest in looking across the board or specialisms joining up. Ridiculous.
I’ve noticed that ‘more’ women have onset of RA at mid-life. Not surprised no-one has looked at links (we are women after all 🙄). Because some people get it quite early (age-wise) may be the reason, but I ‘know’ of a few people who have had rapid onset as a result of childbirth. We (as women) are an overlooked species historically as well as currently when it comes to healthcare and research especially 🤬.
Ha ha ha the dog biscuit, thankfully was pretty tasteless, but it enabled me yo get home 😀 I know I get frustrated that our health service does look at illnesses on a holistic level, rather looking at everything singularly, as alot of illnesses are connected. Hay hum. I don't think my hrt has done that much for my Arthritis, but then again if I came off it itmightbesurprised in what it's helping. Good that yours is helping you.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Hypoglycaemia and hydroxychloroquine 
phone call from my Rhuemy consultant!!!
Hair loss on Hydroxychloroquine?
Received letter this morning feeling terrified 
Desperation boulavard
