What It Really Means When You Get Shaky Before Eating
Do you ever notice that you get shaky before mealtime? Is this your body telling you that you're hungry or is something more serious going on? According to Livestrong, hypoglycemia, aka low blood sugar, may be to blame. Your body turns the carbs you eat into sugar or glucose. Insulin helps that glucose circulate through your blood, and then it's used for energy or stored for later. Blood sugar levels between 70 and 110 milligrams per deciliter (mg/DL) is considered normal. However, if you have hypoglycemia, your blood sugar can drop below 70 g/dL.
According to Everyday Health, other symptoms of low blood sugar are blurry vision, anxiety, trouble concentrating, feeling sleepy, headaches, increased heart rate, lightheadedness, and pale skin. In severe cases of low blood sugar, you could faint or experience seizures. But what causes your blood sugar to drop and you to feel so shaky?
Reasons you may experience low blood sugar and shakiness
According to Medical News Today, hypoglycemia and feeling shaky before eating can be caused by a wide variety of things: some medications, alcohol, certain liver diseases, not eating enough, a pancreatic tumor or cancer, an increase in physical activity, adrenal or pituitary gland problems, or the pancreas creating too much insulin after eating.
If you're often feeling shaky before mealtimes, you should consult your doctor. Your doc will ask about your symptoms, medical history, medications, and the amount of alcohol you drink. You may also be advised to get a blood test to determine your blood sugar level.
If you have hypoglycemia, you'll likely need to test your blood sugar levels daily and have sugary foods — like hard candies, fruit juices, soda, raisins, or glucose tablets — on hand in case your blood sugar dips too low, according to the University of Michigan Health.