Is it hypoglycemia? Could it be something else?

[GhostOf1901]

Hello,

I'm hoping someone can help me out here: recently, I seem to be getting suddenly drowsy during or a few minutes after almost every meal, no matter the size or composition. Sometimes it's worse than others. Most of the time it just feels like dry eyes, but at other times I feel a bit light headed. (During these times, I also tend to get very lightheaded upon standing.) Lower carb meals (veggies only, or high protein/fat + low carb) don't cause this quite as badly, but they still do. I seem to get very hungry every 2 hours or so, to the point where I feel I have to eat something. (It's very rare I get shaky or anything, but frequently I get very, very... peckish.)

Basically, I'm wondering whether I've developed reactive hypoglycemia, or whether this could be due to other causes. If so, what could those causes be?

Here's a little history:

About a year and a half ago I had a glucose tolerance test (2hr) and the following were my results:

Fasting blood sugar: 79
1hr blood sugar: 81
2hr blood sugar: 71

At that point I had been feeling very similar symptoms. My doctor said my pancreas may be overproducing insulin, particularly because he expected higher numbers after 1 and 2 hours. Changing my diet and engaging in more exercise eventually eliminated the symptoms. Since that point, I've lost nearly 14 lbs, mostly due to dietary changes due to gastroparesis (post viral idiopathic; this has since started to clear). (FYI: I've lost almost 100 lbs in the past 5 years, going from 324 to 226.)

I stopped exercising as much and started to eat a higher carb diet (mostly whole grains and fruits, but white bread and junk food have slowly snuck back into my diet, especially after my dad opened a pizza restaurant). Despite the weight loss, I still have most of my fat around my midsection: it's a family thing. Family also has a very long history of diabetes. (My mom's side: everyone has it, except my mom, but only because she's worked for years to avoid it.) I recently started working out with a trainer, although these symptoms started after I started working out again.

Now, I know I'm not diabetic: recently I had my fasting blood sugar levels tested various times (buying life insurance). All fasting blood tests came in between 77 and 82. Could these symptoms be caused by anything else other than hypoglycemia, like sinus infections, changes in weather, anxiety, environmental allergies (which recently caused a case of eosinophilic esophagitis) or migraines (which I have, with auras, currently untreated)?

Thanks for any advice.

[DES530]

for me i start to feel hypo under 100. but in most  people they don't feel it tell they are under 70. I get shaky, sweaty, light headed   if i stand up or sit up. and my legs feel like gel-lo. And if i keep moving i get out of breath and can feel my heart pound. After i eat about a half hour to hour i get tired. and my eyes feel like i have been crying for a long time.Head ach and pressure feeling in my head.  when i test then im over 140-167. i also get mad very easy. Do you test your sugars? If i was you when you   start to feel shaky try drinking a cup of orange juice and see if you feel better after 15 min if so eat some thing with protein > (like a peanut butter sandwich) if you don't then the OJ will make your sugar spike and then drop  lower then what you started. then this is a good sign for hyop.

[GhostOf1901]

By the way, some personal stats: 6'1, 30 year old male. 226 lbs. Puerto Rican. Moderately active. I work from home, so most of my meals are home made, although I sometimes fall into the trap of eating too much pre-packaged foods. I usually eat between 1500 and 2400 calories per day, usually around 2000, usually in small meals every 1 to 2 hours.

By the way, I started noticing my symptoms about 2 weeks ago after eating bowl of instant oatmeal (2 packages). First symptoms were lightheadedness after eating and frequent lightheadedness upon standing quickly, particularly after eating. I've been getting headaches and migraines, too, but these are caused by a recent neck injury.