TMZ

Has any one heard that "when the A has low blood sugar they are most likely to relapse?"

I was flipping through channels on TV and caught that line form a speaker that was giving a seminar on channel 9 not sure what he was about but that phrase has stuck in my mind and wonder if any one has any info on it. I know when they go to rehab they always have a lot of donuts, cookies, and cake for them on a table all the time.

I am wondering if there is any medical facts to back that up.

cangel2

In my experience low blood sugar is my worst enemy; when it drops everything but getting it back up takes a back seat. For me this is usually unhealthy carbs, ice cream and cheese.....basically I am a very healthy eater but I just don't care what goes in my body in those moments. Not as serious as a relapse but just saying all the filters just flee.

My AS has the same issue - high metabolism and crashes horribly if he doesn't eat. When he was in rehab attending meetings he took the "HALT" acronym to heart - shared it with me too 'cause he thought it made a lot of sense for everyone not just people in recovery. Framed for him as a self diagnosis on what he needs to when he is feeling urge to use, anxious or irritable. First you halt then assess H=Hungry A=Angry L=Lonely T=Tired. 9xs out of 10 he says he discovers he is Hungry....

Chino

There are a ton of medical facts to back it up, but you'd probably have to speak with a specialist about it. I have a couple of friends who are MD's and what they've shared with me has been invaluable.

Random fact for the day, that I just learned the other day in one of those conversations:

Excess alcohol and caffeine, and any amount of nicotine, stimulate the liver to release it's stored sugar in the bloodstream. That massive release makes the pancreas over produce the right amount of insulin to handle it, which then completely wipes out the blood sugar and causes hypoglycemia.

I posted that because most A's and RA's drink a lot of coffee and smoke. Hypoglycemia is just a hop skip and a jump from type II diabetes, and many A's and RA's are type II. It's personal to me because I drink about 8 cups of coffee a day and I smoke *whistles to self*

The substance addiction cycle is wicked!

wellnowwhat

When my AH was released from the hospital after detoxing for 2 weeks (had seizures and small stroke) the doctor warned that he would crave sweets and to have them available. AH hates sweets. He relapsed almost immediately. Don't know if there's a connection, but sure seems plausible.

And yes, he drinks coffee and has a pack a day habit too.

wicked

You mean I am supposed to give up caffeine too!
That is my last vice!
Dammit.

Chino

wicked, I'm making 4 cups a day my goal. Moderate consumption won't affect insulin and I refuse to give it up! I'm pretty sure I sound like an addict right now lol.