Is it normal to get dizzy from eating things containing sugar?

[Anonymous]

So last night I got up to get a drink of apple juice. I was really thirsty so I had a couple of glasses. This morning I woke up feeling extremely dizzy, like my head was literally spinning and I couldn't stand up straight without nearly falling over. I'm actually still dizzy now and its been about 12 hours since I drank the juice. This has happened to me a few times after eating or drinking things containing sugar. Does this happen to anyone else?

[Camilus]

Could be...

1) You only consumed foods with a high glycemic index ( link ), and when you eat that and no proteins or low glycemic/starchy foods then your pancreas dumps insulin into your bloodstream and your sugar high becomes hypoglycemia.

2) You are dehydrated. You were extremely thirsty but didn't drink enough free water (juice is a hypertonic beverage because it's full of sugar), and because your vestibular system in your ears, which maintain your balance, use fluid to work it could be thrown off by dehydration. Are you running a fever or have you had diarrhea/vomiting lately?

3) You could be a diabetic, which would be the primary cause to your dehydration and blood sugar being out of whack. You can buy a glucometer and test strips at any drug store and check your fasting blood sugar (2-3 hours after you last ate anything) a few times. It should be anywhere between 60-120 mg/dL - if it's much higher than that then you need to talk to a doctor. Signs/symptoms of hyperglycemia = extreme thirst, hunger, and peeing a lot. You can also buy urine test strips on the cheap if you don't have a lot of money and check your urine for protein - it should be pretty much zero if you are regular.

4) Your blood pressure is low and you aren't perfusing your brain adequately. If it happens when you change positions from sitting/lying to standing up then it's called orthostatic hypotension, and it happens a lot to people who take blood pressure medications. Maybe you need to exercise more. Maybe you have a heart murmur or other condition that needs to be checked out.

5) You could have an inner ear infection. Do you have ear aches/pains? Do you have ringing in the ears? The organs for balance are in the inner ear and can be thrown off by pathogens.

6) You could have hypothyroidism, which would be a primary cause to your low blood pressure (if you do have low BP). Are you tired all the time and sluggish? You could get blood drawn and check for hormones that your thyroid and anterior pituitary gland produce, and if it is out of whack then a physician can put you on meds to correct it.

7) You could be anemic. Your blood pressure could be fine but the red blood cells themselves are doing their job delivering adequate oxygen to your organs/brain. Are you tired all the time? Feel weak/shaky? Cold intolerant? You would have to get blood work drawn so a physician can see if all of your levels are normal. A lot of menstruating women need iron supplements ...or it could be one of a few other different kinds of anemia caused by deficiency in different vitamins.

8) You could be deficient in some minerals, especially sodium. You could have too low or too high salt content in your body, which would explain the thirst. Do you eat a lot of canned foods/soups? Do you eat a lot of salty things? Take diuretics? Again, a blood draw could show your sodium levels in your blood and it may be high or low of normal.

[Kain6th]

BA

[Asker]

Wow. Thank you for all these answers. There are a couple there that I think might be possibilities. I'll check em out. Thanks again.

[RealMenFly]

Lol. Impressive.

[RealMenFly]

I don't think it's normal, see a doctor. Or Camilus.

[candlewax]

Camilus pointed out a lot of viable options. Based on the info you gave us, you should go see your doc and get tested for diabetes/hyoglycemia/hyperglycemia/any of the related. To consume sugar and get dizzy afterward is a bit disturbing. However, instead of spending all this money on testing supplies (the stuff isn't cheap), you should really go see your doc first.

[gingergirl94]

this happens to me a lot I've gotten tested for diabities, but they all came back normal... I just make sure that I always have a bottle of water with me and that I balance my sugar intake with my starch intake. If I eat too little sugar I also feel dizzy.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it happens to me. I love chocolate and sugary food, but when I eat a lot I feel really dizzy.

[Asker]

See I was thinking it might just be the sugar, but I didn't have that much really. Thanks for the answer.

[Mr_Solo_Dolo]

Maybe you're diabetic but I'm not a doctor that's just what comes to mind.

[Anonymous]

That's something you might wanna get checked out. Go see a doctor.

[ZenQueen]

usually I get that way with a lack of sugar...

[heyitsdan]

Your pregnant

[Asker]

No I'm not pregnant.

[heyitsdan]

Denial..

[Asker]

I've had my period about 8 times since the last time I had sex. Not sure if you learnt sex ed, but that usually means you aren't pregnant.

[heyitsdan]

Aww what's wrong, you mad ?

[Asker]

No not at all. Its not your fault you didn't understand the female body.

[RealMenFly]

You're*

QA, you could have been pregnant.

[Asker]

@RealMenFly: If I thought pregnancy was a possiblity I wouldn't have denied it straight away. I haven't had sex in around 8 months, and as I said I've had my period many times since which is why I said no. Its obvious this guy was just being an ass. Why even gratify him by saying he could be right? Honestly..

[heyitsdan]

You sound mad, who's the father ?