Blood sugar was 40mg/dL. What happened to me?

[Tryingforone]

I am not diabetic, but I have been on the South Beach diet for about 12 weeks, which is a diet that greatly restricts the use of refined sugars (i.e. table sugar, fruit juice, white bread, white pasta, etc.) but encourages the use of complex carbohydrates, such a beans, whole wheat/grain products, starchy vegetables, etc. I eat small meals about every 2-4 hours. I have lost 25 pounds so far. Anyway, for the past three days, I have been feeling somewhat disoriented, shaky, nervous, having heart palpitations and headaches. Initially, I didn't connect these feelings to low blood sugar, but after a quick Google search of my symptoms, a light bulb went off. I borrowed my MIL's glucometer (changed the needle) and tested my sugar - it was an alarming 40mg/dL!!! I quickly ate a pudding cup and fruit cup. It rose to 120, but after two hours it dropped to 70 and I started feeling the symptoms, again. I just ate an apple, and I will check it after one hour.

Here are my questions:
What should my level be after I consume a small meal?
What should my level be immediately after consuming the small meal?
What should my level be at one hour after the meal?
What should my level be at two hours?
What should me level be at in the morning?

How often should I be checking my levels to make sure that I'm not bottoming out?

Thanks!

[Tryingforone]

Thank you for your reply. I typically eat 5-6 times a day. I have two small meals, which usually consists of 4oz portion of lean protein, one serving of vegetables and one low fat serving of dairy. My lean protein is cooked in extra virgin olive oil. I supplement these small meals with 3-4 snacks, which consist of veggies and low fat dip, a piece of cheese wrapped in low fat luncheon ,meat, peanuts, fruit, etc. I eat at 9, 11, 1, 3, and 5. I will have a small snack at 7 if I am still hungry.
I have an appt. with my dr on Friday. In the meantime, I'm trying to establish my baseline glucose levels. I am taking them in the morming (before my first meal) and 1 and 2 hours after each meal or snack. Here are my numbers so far (do you see a problem)?

Fasting: 76
1 hour after first meal/snack: 103
2 hours after frist meal/snack: 96
Prior to second meal: 74
1 hour after second meal: 98
2 hours after second meal: 82
Prior to third meal: 77
1 hour after third meal: 111


I know this is a lot of testing, but I'm trying to see how my body is regulating the sugar. I only plan on doing this for a few days, to obtain a baseline. I think it's more beneficial than relying on a single test done at a random time (since I'm not diabetic, I can't see an MD taking urgency with me).
What I need help with is determining if my levels are not rising and falling appropriately. Do they look okay, or do they appear to go too low between meals?

[KevinHarney]

OK I will do my best to answer your questions.  But many of them are dependant on what you eat and what is a small meal etc.

Small meal.  Not really sure what you consider a small meal.  Like a snack like a banana or like a smaller portion of a normal meal.  But anyway here goes.  It will usually take 15-30 minutes for simple carbs to be absorbed and it can take over 2 hours for complex ones to be absorbed.  So Immediately after a meal you will probably see a very small change.  It will rise slightly between 30 minutes and 3 hours and then begin getting back to normal quite quickly after that.  I believe that normal blood sugars for a NON- DIABETIC are in the area of 80-100.  But those levels can easily be higher after meals.  In the mornings after essentially fasting for 8-10 hours your levels should be normal.

As far as testing.  Well, I would test at the onset of any symptoms just to be sure.  I would go off the South beach diet immediately and go to see a Dr.  Discuss it with the Dr and see if you can go back on the diet or not.  Why take any chances.  Having low blood sugar can be deadly.  Luckily you had the sense and ability to test and treat it immediately.  If your MIL had not had the meter you would have missed that opportunity.