MEDICAL MATTERS

  • Medical Matters features questions asked by Members of the ME Association on health-related topics.
  • Dr Charles Shepherd and the ME Association's other advisers answer these questions by sharing their expert knowledge.
  • Medical Matters is based on the popular ‘Ask the Doctor’ series in ME Essential magazine.
  • It is a free resource that supplements the detailed information contained in the full range of literature that can be found in the website shop.

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Questions in the Category: Hypoglycaemia

Symptoms: Low blood sugar

ME Essential Winter 2023

I sometimes have acute and short-lived episodes involving symptoms that are found with low blood sugar: feeling weak and dizzy, looking pale, sweating, increased pulse rate, blurred vision and confusion.
I’ve read on the internet that one of the symptoms of ME can be episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia). However, I cannot find hypoglycaemia being listed in any of the official diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS, or in the symptom list in the MEA purple book.
As my brother is diabetic, I’ve been checking my blood sugar levels at these times and found them to be low. My GP said he didn’t know if this could be related to ME/CFS and has arranged for me to see an endocrinologist (hormone specialist) for further assessment.
Please could you clarify if there is a link between ME/CFS and low blood sugar. If so, what is the best form of treatment? I should add that I have a healthy balanced diet with no food restrictions.

Blood sugars: Hypoglycaemia

ME Essential Autumn 2023

I sometimes have acute and short lived episodes involving symptoms that are found with low blood sugar:  feeling weak and dizzy, looking pale, sweating, increased pulse rate, blurred vision and confusion.

I’ve read on the internet that one of the symptoms of ME can be episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia).  However, I cannot find hypoglycaemia being listed in any of the official diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS, or in the symptom list in the MEA purple book.

As my brother is diabetic, I’ve been checking my blood sugar levels at these times and found them to be low.  My GP said he didn’t know if this could be related to ME/CFS and has arranged for me to see an endocrinologist (hormone specialist) for further assessment.

Please could you clarify if there is a link between ME/CFS and low blood sugar.  If so, what is the best form of treatment?  I should add that I have a healthy balanced diet with no food restrictions.

 

 

Symptom: Tremor

ME Essential Spring 2018

I understand that a tremor, or shaking in the hands, sometimes occurs in ME/CFS. But it could also be a sign of Parkinson’s disease. I’m in my mid fifties and have had moderate ME/CFS for about five years. It is fairly stable but the tremor, which is in both hands and tends to be more noticeable when I’m fatigued, has only been present for a few weeks. Should I see my GP?

Charles Shepherd

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