A Revelation!

The other day I was shopping with Mamabird and Marleigh. Now I don't care too much for shopping, and I made this pretty clear after the 3-hours-in-WalMart line was crossed. Needless to say, I got pretty darn cranky. Not really in a mean way or anything, just in my own way. When we got home, Laurie (Mamabird - Josh's mom) called it to my attention that I have hypoglycemia. Anyways, I found this really interesting and looked it up - and I think she's right on. For those of you unfamiliar with this term, I'll sum it up as simple as I can. I don't know too terribly much about it, but from what I do know, people with hypoglycemia have abnormally low levels of glucose - or sugar - in their blood. To top it off, this level of sugar in the blood is usually affected by what and when you eat. When you don't eat, your blood sugar levels get very low. Hypoglycemia can cause different symptoms in anyone, depending on the person that has it. It can cause weakness, shaky hands, cold hands and feet, and - bingo - crankiness, irritability, and affect emotions and mood swings. The description fits me well. A lot of times, my emotions and moods will change for what I once took for no reason at all - I just saw myself as perhaps an unusually overemotional person. For example, sometimes I'd get in a bad mood - and I'd KNOW I'm in one, and I wouldn't WANT to be, but I just couldn't help it. It's like I had to be. It really confused and upset me at times. I didn't know what was wrong with me. So, after mamabird called it to attention, I thought about it and I began watching myself after that, self-observing my moods before and after eating. My conclusion? A very possible hypoglycemic! It might also explain the reason why my hands and feet are cold pretty much all the time - even in the middle of summer. Without eating every few hours or so, I'll begin to feel cranky, lightheaded and weak, and usually have to sit down. But right after eating I can notice an immediate change in my mood, feeling better and stronger and much more improved than before.
I think my possibility of having hypoglycemia explains a lot about me. It really put things into perspective. Without even looking for an answer, I might very well have found one through someone's observation. At first I was upset to learn this news, but now that I have, I'm kind of glad about it, really. I feel far more in-control of myself, and I understand myself maybe just a little better. I don't have to wonder so much about why my moods can be like they are at times - I actually have an explanation! I don't seek to use hypoglycemia as an excuse for how I act. I'm just glad to feel more in charge and know how to avoid things like that in the future. Hopefully I can improve myself now - that's my goal. I don't have to be stuck forever wondering what on Earth is wrong with me. Plus, here's a funny thing - Josh has hypoglycemia too. So hey, at least we match, right?
Yours - Lacy.