Look it up at http://en.wikiipedia.orok/wiki/Hypoglycemia for the short version? Yes, it is like diabetes, but other chemestries and conditions can cause it. The hi/lo spikes of glucose, simply spike and slump much faster than diabetes, from what I'm learning.

It's those sharp peaks and valleys that are the 'killers' as you probably know well. To make it even more quirky, using a glucose meter won't catch it. The tests have to be for all the other hormones working in what I thinkcould best be described as overdrive at the time of 'events'. Where a diabetic in trouble would eat a bit of something sweet, for me, treatment is with the starches [one of those little cracker paks] to slow down the internal processing cycle-it happens so fast. I hope you 'get' this, as I've really, really got to work out a diet plan for the both of us.

Thanks all, I'll be following up later! - hugs!!!! - j

website with the glycemic indexes of common foods:

http://www.lowglycemicdiet.com/gifoodlist.html

Try to pick items at 50 or below, with minimal items above 50.

Click on the categories and see the various lists.

Some surprises on there.

The faster a carb is metabolised as sugar, the higher the number.

You can have fruits... there are many at 50 or below.

Melody, as Alan works out more and more...there are nutritional requirements for muscles that need to be paid attention to.
Magnesium is a big one-- low magnesium could be impacting his legs.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archiv...y0504.htm?pf=1

and and B6 (pyridoxal is very important in energy use in muscles). A B complex would be a good idea, if he is not already taking one.

The whey shakes are doing a good job for him..helping with building lean muscle tissue. Good thing he is still using them!

Mrs. D.
Don't worry, he takes magnesium every day. He takes vitamins, he takes his whey shakes (he's healthy as a horse, god bless him) if it werent' for the PN, he'd be perfect. And if one more person stops me on the street asking me "why is Alan thinner than he used to be (He used to weigh over 257 ), I shall surely deck them. I have never seen so many stupid people making such stupid comments in my life.

It's like they have nothing better to do. They literally zero in on what they notice and they feel "what's on their mind is on their lips".

I have come to my own conclusion that these are basically very 'NOT NICE PEOPLE" and I don't surround myself with them. I know it takes all kinds in this world BUT, at my age, I think I have the right to associate with non-gossipy, kind, caring and compassionate souls. The world would be a better place if everybody would just think before they open their mouth.

I remember going into a chinese take out one day (to get Alan some steamed salt-free, no sauce, Chicken and broccoli).

I will never forget when the proprietor took one look at me and said "Wow, you used to be really fat, what happened?'

But the best comment, (really, this is THE BEST), came from my landlady who several years ago (when I had lost most of my weight), motions me over and says to me "you look really good, and before I could say thank you", she hits me with "you know, when you and Alan first moved here, our neighbors used to ask me "look at those two fat people you rented to, why are you renting to such fat people"? I said to her, "are you serious (now these are my neighbors and I KNOW MY NEIGHBORS, I'M FRIENDLY WITH MY NEIGHBORS". And she continued "yeah, they said that, and remember when you used to sit on their porches across the street during the summer"???

I said "yeah, (all during every summer, about 30 of us would gather in front of the 96 year old woman's house (right across the street from where I live). We would bring out drinks, and chips, (diet for me) and some would bring their glasses of wine) and we used to get hysterical (all this was before 911 and one of us lost her son on 911).

Well, my landlord continued: "do you know that when you first moved in, everybody thought you were crazy"? I said "Crazy, who said I was crazy, and why was I crazy?". She said "oh I can't tell you but that's what they said "They also said there was something wrong with Frank because he wore a school uniform" I looked her dead in the eye (now this conversation took place way before Frank was 20 and moved away and we knew about Aspergers), I looked her dead in the eye and said "why on earth would they think something is wrong with my son because he wore a school uniform?" She countered with "oh, they didn't know where he went to school and because he didn't go to school here they said something must be wrong with him".

I then said calmly and much patience on my part: "Jennie, you know that when I first moved here, my son went to private Christian elementary school, and they require a uniform". She just said "oh, it's not me, it's the others who said that". Want to know what I then found out?

My landlord has been having a war with the 97 year old lady on the corner. They have both lived on my block for 50 years and can't stand each other. And because I'm a friendly sort who gets along with both of them, they were trying to pit one against the other.

After that, I couldn't stand either one of them but because one happens to be my landlord, I don't say a word. I'm polite, pay my rent, inquire as to their health but that's it. When I saw true colors, I saw true colors.

I can't be bothered to associate with people who think they have the right to tear each other apart.

So nuff said on that topic. the world would be a much better place if a little bit more kindness were thrown around.

melody
P.S. good information by the way on the hypoglycemia. Learned much today.
By the way, my sugar was 107 this a.m. YIPEE. Toes are not bothering me either. let's hope they stay that way.

you feel. I don't actually do this, but mentally I think about sending them a 'Mass Card' to pray for their souls. It's a satisfying thought, even tho just a thought.

HUGS! - j

this is what I think we should all do.

Make up little index cards, and on them have typed something such as this:
------------------------------------------------------------------------

'THANKS FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS, BUT I THINK YOU ARE FULL OF SH#T!!!

NOW GO AND TAKE A GOOD LONG LOOK IN THE MIRROR. LIKE WHAT YOU SEE???? REALLY??? I WONDER WHY???
-------------------------------------------------------------------------


I will never have the audacity to do this, but oh, how I wish!!!!!

mel