Low blood sugar and thyroid connected?

[Decant]

Hi everyone.

This afternoon I went to hospital to have a hernia surgery wound dressed. I arrived with the shakes (noticeable in my hands). I missed lunch today. The nurse did a finger prick blood test and it was 3.5 mmol/L. She wouldn't let me leave until it was above 4 at least (she gave me biscuits, hot chocolate and a a sandwich = impressed). My level went up promptly.

I've had these occasional shakes for decades, certainly many years before I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism.

My wife knows when I've not eaten because my breath stinks of ketones.

I'm now hypothyroid after RAII almost 20 years ago (on T4 137.5 and T3 12.5). I'm currently fine tuning my meds.

I have never been diagnosed with diabetes.

My beginners understanding is that "normal" people's blood sugar regulates itself, near enough regardless of fasting status. Homeostasis. I've only started looking at this today.

My questions

1. Is this likely to be thyroid related?

2. Should I get GP to look at this? It's so rare that I've ignored it.

I have a full raft of Medichecks results should that help. Any other ideas welcome!

Thanks!

[DoeStewart]

Hi there, I could have been reading about myself when I read your post. Over the years, certainly since I was around 15. I too have episodes when I get the shakes and need to eat something promptly. I did not eat extra sugar at all when younger and oddly enough hardly ever ate sweets or chocolate. When the episodes happened I would go to the nearest sweet shop and buy a bar of chocolate, eat the whole lot and start to feel ok again. I don't seem to get as many episodes now as I did when younger. I am also not diabetic. I didn't start with my thyroid problems until I was 35 years old after the birth of my first son and became hyperthyroid. I had surgery to remove most of the thyroid so am now hypothyroid. I wonder if there are any others on the forum with the same ?

[Decant in reply to DoeStewart]

Yes, sounds pretty much like me. I went hyper soon after the death of my father about 19 years ago (also stress of a new baby). I skimmed somewhere that there is a relationship between blood sugar and hormones, but I'm just learning!

[Moonglo]

Hi, I don’t think your shakes relate to either diabetes or your thyroid - you simply skipped your lunch. Most people would experience the shakes if their blood sugars got low.

Untreated diabetics get abnormally high readings for those finger prick tests. The reading would go down over time either with a carb controlled diet or insulin. The unit of 4 is considered a safe lowest limit for blood sugars, particularly for those on insulin, to avoid a hypoglycaemic episode (hypo) - the shakes that you experienced, only more sudden and violent.

You found that biscuits, hot chocolate and a sandwich helped you to get back to normal that day. However, consider the shock your body went through by experiencing very low blood sugars, then given a huge boost of literal sugar. If you do this regularly, you have a higher risk of developing diabetes because of the stress you’re putting your body under.

If you really want to know if you’ve got diabetes, you could ask your GP to do a blood test measuring your hba1c.

[Decant in reply to Moonglo]

My understanding (and it's barely anything), is that the body of healthy people works to maintain homeostasis (everything in balance). I think that means that blood sugar should (in non-diabetic people) also keep at a healthy level (i.e. above 4). I could be wrong of course. I am not diabetic. My Medichecks HbA1c in October was 34. It was 34 in August, so seems pretty stable.

Thank you!

[Moonglo in reply to Decant]

Yes that’s right, and diabetic bodies have to work much harder to reach that balance. The reading of 4 would be the minimum, healthy readings would be 5-7 around 2 hours after eating. And your hba1c level looks good!

[Andie222]

Hello Decant I have the shakes if I don't eat. Chocolate fixes the problem. I always take food with me when I go out. I've had this since I was a teenager and was checked for diabetes. My thyroid (hypo) wasn't diagnosed until I was 30 although, looking back, I am sure I had it as a teenager. From what I have read it sounds like hypoglycemia.

[Decant in reply to Andie222]

Reading the NHS page on hypo (nhs.uk/conditions/low-blood... ) it says (under "A low blood sugar level without diabetes") "A low blood sugar level is uncommon in people who do not have diabetes. ... possible causes ... other medical conditions, such as problems with your hormone levels, pancreas, liver, kidneys, adrenal glands or heart".

It's probably nothing but I'm going to spend a bit of time looking into it!

Thanks!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Decant]

👋 link not working

[Decant in reply to TiggerMe]

Fixed link. Thx

[CoeliacMum1]

Have you had a HbA1c blood test before?

Ask GP to do one we were offered these at age of 50 in a check up at our surgery.

The blood test will show you your levels what have been circulating over few months and gives a bigger picture of how blood sugar is doing, the finger prick ones are useful for on the spot levels and reactions from a previous meal (or not in your case) but not necessarily an accurate indication of being able to diagnose diabetes conditions.

I’m actually having a glucose intolerance test in January at hospital along with synacthen test (adrenal) ruling out more autoimmune conditions, I’m going along with it see what comes of it all 🙄

Since a teenager of normal weight and quite fit as I was a horse owner/rider, played in all team sports and also athletics at school and at 16 developed asthma, I had always had eczema from child and along with this, bouts of shakiness sweating dizziness/lightheadedness indicator of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) but as I was active I realise glucose is used up in our muscles and I was just probably not having enough for my level of exercise.

I was diagnosed with coeliac disease and pernicious anaemia and hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s) all at same time approx 10 yrs ago.

At 50yrs old (I’m now 56) my levels of HbA1c were on the high side of NHS normal, and I still get these episodes periodically and I have been told you can still get these so called hypos, even though your blood sugar is normal/high re a HbA1c test, it’s just when generally your blood sugars are fluctuating but doesn’t necessarily mean you have a low blood sugar condition, it’s probably indicating blood sugars are unstable and can still be borderline diabetes obviously this is what I was told regarding my symptoms… I told this to the endocrinologist and what GP said and why they’re doing a glucose intolerance test. I don’t think for one moment I have Type1 majority know by my age they have that problem but it’s not unheard of, I’m still probably closer to type 2 as overweight but I do try to eat well and have over the years controlled this level with altering my diet a bit, I get it checked every year now at annual review … I definitely don’t shun carbohydrates just eat lower glycemic ones I don’t eat much sugary things but do have some…starchy white carbs are the ones more likely to spike as lower in fibre content.

As for connecting thyroid to blood sugar, or other hormone conditions in my opinion blood sugar (insulin) can be precursor to many metabolic conditions due to causing inflammation and best kept under control.

Update… missed off oops!

If you’d just had surgery also anxiety (adrenaline) would play part in everything, along with a missed meal.

[Decant in reply to CoeliacMum1]

Sorry for not replying sooner. I came home from work early today (mostly WFH) as I felt poorly after a pizza with colleagues. This reminded me to say I possibly have IBS (or worse) as I have diahorea most of the time (for years probably) and sometimes I have, ahem "emergencies" with the urgency. I drink very little beer and only 1 coffee per day, but when I do the emergencies may happen within the short walk home. I shall be calling my GP asap to look into this. I've never tested coeliac or gluten, I don't have auto immune issue (both are low).

Thanks for your reply.

[Decant]

I've been on the waiting list for Zoe for months now. I shall look into buying the monitor as I like data! Could be interesting.

My HbA1c was 34 (20-41.9 mmol/mol) when I had it tested in October. Above mid-range.

Thank you!

[Decant]

An update. I'll probably do as full post later.

I've just had results of poop test and I had calprotectin of 380mcg/g which is high and I need to find a gastroenterologist. A pisser if I have IBD. This explains the diaoreah and possibly my low energy.

I've been on the Zoe scheme (not overly impressed) with the blood glucose monitor. I have lows (as low as 2.5mmol/L on one occasion but typically mid 3). This is worrying but I don't see any real pattern to it yet. Sometimes twice per day, but on a few days none. I'm now keeping my own food, mood and health diary as the Zoe app isn't very flexible.

Good news that my blood tests this week showed a healthy improvement to my cholesterol status after thyroid dose increase in October 22.