Dizzy after eating, Please Help.

[dawnieM]

I don't know why but after eating I feel dizzy.  It's worse if what I eat has alot of carbs/sugar.  Also, I notice it seems worse when I first eat in the morning.  What could be causing this?  My doc did a glucose test about 1yr ago, it came back normal.  Any info would be helpful.  Thanks

[JDRF-Team-cg]

Hi Dawniem,
I am a Type 1 diabetic but not a doctor. I was diagnosed with diabetes as a teenager when i stopped producing insulin. Personally when my blood sugar is running high (normal is between 70-120mg/dl) I feel somewhat light headed as well as sick to my stomache. In addition quite fatigued. You do not mention any other systoms such as frequent urination or extreme thirst which are also signs of high blood sugar and possible diabetes. My suggestion is you go back to see your doctor a lot can change over 1year.
Feeling dizzy can be symptoms for quite a number of illnesses.
Hope this helps and you feel better soon Carolyn

[JDRF-Team-JW]

I'm a volunteer here, not a medical professional, and I have had diabetes for 11 years. I also have felt dizzy on numerous occasions but have never really linked it to diabetes itself. I agree with CG's comment that dizziness could be a symptom for many other illnesses. It is interesting, though, that you say you experience this feeling after eating. Are you taking any medications, especially any that you take before or right after eating, that could be causing this dizziness? I had an experience like that once. As soon as my doctor took me off the medication my dizziness stopped. At other times my doctors couldn't determine exactly what was causing my dizziness and they seemed to get more frustrated than me, not being able to pin point it. Usually they would give me the prescription drug "meclizine" and that would solve the problem. I do not recommend that as a solution to you by any means -just sharing my experience to illustrate that the cause of dizziness is not always diagnosed, or is diagnosed incorrectly.

I'm not quite convinced that it's diabetes that is causing your dizziness, especially since you say it was ruled out a year ago, but to be on the safe side have your doctor check your glucose again. If it turns out ok then talk to your doctor about any other possible causes. It may be worthwile to consider seeing an ENT doctor as it could be an ear problem (like a middle ear infection), a neurologist, or even a GI (gastrointestinal) doctor, since it seems to be happening after eating -maybe it's a digestion issue. I know I sometimes feel dizzy when I'm nauseous after eating. And as CG mentioned above, high sugars do make you feel light headed (as do low sugars -anything out of normal range), but since you don't mention any other symptoms associated with diabetes it seems there's something else causing your dizziness.
Let us know of the outcome and feel better!

[Kimberleee]

Hi Dawniem.  Have you heard any more news regarding your dizziness after eating?  I have the same symptoms and we might have hypoglycemia.  My mother has it.  I get extremely nauseaus and, shaky and dizzy around noon if I haven't had any breakfast.  I eat lunch at 1pm, then I am dizzy again at 4:00pm and I am dizzy now as I type this.  The bottom line is I know I don't eat right.  When I was eating salads and baked chicken everyday, I never had a problem. Now that I am back to Starbuck's chai latte for breakfast and meat and carbs for lunch I feel terrible.

[Deb196841]

Hi, I have the same problem actually and am experiencing it right now as I type - about 30 minutes after eating.  I believe my issue is caused from insulin resistance (pre-diabetic condition).  At present my body makes insulin but the interplay between my blood sugar levels and my pancreas releasing insulin is more like a slam dance vs. a waltz.  I experience "morning syndrome" also.  At about 4-5 am I wake up feeling jittery & dizzy.  In my case, I believe my blood sugars get low (either from not eating or over-releasing insulin) then my body releases sugars from the liver (including cortisol & adrenaline)...and on and on the dance goes.  I get a jittery/buzzy/vibrating feeling when this is going on.  I monitor my blood sugar regularly & have actually captured this interplay (the bouncing) accompanied by the jitters as my blood sugars go up.  Unlike some people whose blood sugar fluctuates wildly with diabetes my body keeps my sugar in a very tight window, all the time.  From about 95mg/dl to about 110 mg/dl.  On occasion I have caught it going as high as 180mg/dl (during a religious fast).  So if I had to guess, I'd say one possibility is that your body is doing the same as mine...over responding and trying to keep your insulin levels "normal" with a very unharmonious release of both sugars (by diet or liver) and pancreas over compensating.   The good news is that a diet of meat and green, with a small portion of healthy carbs like a small potato, whole grain slice of bread, etc. quells the jolt a bit.  Good luck

[K_baby522]

Hey :) Just another Diabetic, not a doctor. I'm 16 years old and was diagnosed two months ago. Thats how I felt a lot, I also urinated frequently and was constantly thirsty. MY friends even made fun of me because of how often I used the restroom. But whenever I eat something high in sugars, I normally just want to sleep. All last year for instance, I'd pass out in 5th and 6th periods, you should probably get checked again