Could frequent hunger and dizziness be signs of low blood sugar?
Ask the expert
Q. No matter what I eat, I can't gain weight. This has been a problem all my life. For the last five years, I have had the additional problem that if I don't eat as soon as I get hungry (which is about every two hours), I start getting sick. I first get stomach cramps. Then, after about 20 minutes, I start to get really hot and dizzy and feel like I'm going to throw up. I suspect that if I didn't eat at that point, I would pass out. What could be causing these symptoms?
A. Your symptoms suggest episodes of low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia. Many people experience similar but much milder symptoms of dizziness, warmth, and nausea related to sudden drops in blood sugar. Most often, if we measure the person's blood sugar level during a "spell," we find that it is not dangerously low. It's just that some people are more sensitive to rapid changes in blood sugar levels.
However, your symptoms are significant enough to warrant medical evaluation. There are some rare causes of hypoglycemia, such as a pancreatic tumor called an insulinoma.
What is a bit unusual in your case is your problem gaining weight. Often, the opposite is true. People with hypoglycemic symptoms need to eat often in response to feeling dizzy or nauseous, and they tend to put on extra pounds. However, if you are a big-time exerciser, you may be burning so many calories that you won't gain weight.
Once you have made an appointment to discuss your symptoms with a health professional, consider making some dietary changes. Try avoiding all foods and drinks that have a high content of simple sugars, such as sodas, juices, and dessert foods. These simple carbs are absorbed quickly from the intestine, dumping sugar into the bloodstream. In response, the pancreas may overreact, sending out a big shot of insulin that then pushes down the blood sugar so fast that it causes symptoms.
Whole-grain foods, most vegetables, and many fruits don't create blood sugar spikes because you absorb these carbs very gradually.
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About the Author
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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