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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Skinny And Alcoholic. Feels Confused After A Beer. Has Headaches. Hypoglycemia? Can It Be Detected By Sugar Monitor?

My boyfriend is very skinny and an alcoholic. Increasingly, he "acts" drunk with only one beer. He says he does not feel "right". He is confused, has trouble walking, is clumsy and has to sleep. He sometimes has severe headaches that precede these episodes. I have read it may be hypoglycemia and i would like to know if a sugar monitor can detect this? I cant get him to go to the doctor and would like to know what my options are.
Thank you for your help in this matter. Any information you can give me would be appreciated.
Katie
Fri, 30 Aug 2013
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hi,

Thanks for writing in,

As you have rightly pointed out, hypoglycemia is one of the causes of the symptoms you have mentioned. But there are also many other causes such as neurological causes, vitamin deficiency, drug interaction (in case he is taking any other medications), malnutrition etc. This has to be ruled out by a physician by a thorough physical examination along with blood investigations.

Yes blood sugar monitoring can detect it. You may check his blood sugar level when he develops these symptoms after he takes alcohol with a glucometer. Also, a fasting blood sugar in the morning on an empty stomach and a post-prandial sample taken two hours after having a meal will be beneficial.

Hope this helps.
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Is Skinny And Alcoholic. Feels Confused After A Beer. Has Headaches. Hypoglycemia? Can It Be Detected By Sugar Monitor?

Hi, Thanks for writing in, As you have rightly pointed out, hypoglycemia is one of the causes of the symptoms you have mentioned. But there are also many other causes such as neurological causes, vitamin deficiency, drug interaction (in case he is taking any other medications), malnutrition etc. This has to be ruled out by a physician by a thorough physical examination along with blood investigations. Yes blood sugar monitoring can detect it. You may check his blood sugar level when he develops these symptoms after he takes alcohol with a glucometer. Also, a fasting blood sugar in the morning on an empty stomach and a post-prandial sample taken two hours after having a meal will be beneficial. Hope this helps.