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I’m Worried About A Possible Connection Between Reactive Hypoglycaemia ,

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Posted on Sun, 9 Jun 2019
Question: I’m worried about a possible connection between reactive hypoglycaemia, insulinoma, sugar consumption late at night, and mild rem sleep behavior disorder symptoms. Years ago, I was diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia although I thought I was now symptom free. However, for about a year, I have at times had mild dream enactments (like kicking or punching in a dream and real life). I had a sleep study done, which showed some muscle activity during REM sleep but nothing substantial. The dream enactment happens only occasionally though and didn’t that night. However, I think the dream enactment is much more likely to happen if I have either a sugary desert before bed or a lot of carbs (like bread). I’m worried because I just saw a study about insulinomas causing low blood sugar and REM sleep behavior disorder in some patients. One final note is that I have had a couple of swollen neck lymph nodes for a while but an ultrasound said that they were benign.

So I’m not sure if any of this is connected. I’m wondering if I could be experiencing low blood sugar at night (either reactive hypoglycemia after deserts) or due to an insulinoma, and that could then be causing the mild RBD symptoms. I’m a little worried about it potentially being a metastatic insulinoma that spread to my neck lymph nodes (and perhaps the ultrasound result was wrong). I tend to worry a lot though I’m otherwise healthy. I saw a neurologist, and all the neurological testing she did came back normal. All my routine blood work has come back normal too.
What would be the best thing to do at this point? Are my worries unlikely? Would a fasting glucose test be a reasonable first step? Is there anything else to do? Also, is it possible that, for other reasons, sugar consumption at night is worsening the RBD symptoms?
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Answered by Dr. Mirjeta Guni (37 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
About low blood sugar:

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking!
I have gone carefully through your concern.
It is very easy to confirm hypoglycemia, you just need to check the blood sugar at the moment you have hypoglycemic symptoms, if it is under 70 mg/ dl, hypoglycemia is confirmed than a fasting test is done ( hospitalised) to confirm/ rule or insulinoma.
Reactive hypoglycemia happens 2 hour after eating a carb rich meal, meanwhile hypoglycemia due to insulinoma happens fasting.
There is no connection between the lymphnodes and insulinoma as it is a benign tumor that does not metastasize at lymphnodes.
So i would suggest to check the blood sugar at the moment you do not feel well or you think you have hypoglycemic symptoms.
See your physician if blood sugar results low.
Best wishes,
Dr.mirjeta
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Mirjeta Guni

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 2413 Questions

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I’m Worried About A Possible Connection Between Reactive Hypoglycaemia ,

Brief Answer: About low blood sugar: Detailed Answer: Hello and thank you for asking! I have gone carefully through your concern. It is very easy to confirm hypoglycemia, you just need to check the blood sugar at the moment you have hypoglycemic symptoms, if it is under 70 mg/ dl, hypoglycemia is confirmed than a fasting test is done ( hospitalised) to confirm/ rule or insulinoma. Reactive hypoglycemia happens 2 hour after eating a carb rich meal, meanwhile hypoglycemia due to insulinoma happens fasting. There is no connection between the lymphnodes and insulinoma as it is a benign tumor that does not metastasize at lymphnodes. So i would suggest to check the blood sugar at the moment you do not feel well or you think you have hypoglycemic symptoms. See your physician if blood sugar results low. Best wishes, Dr.mirjeta