Sometimes this happens when I'm hungry

[Scaredandworried]

I will start to shake, feel weak, get a bit lightheaded and get cold, it doesn't go away until I eat a bunch of junk. It happens probably once every 3 months. I am overweight and 16 and don't eat healthy, this always happens at night and not during the day, what could it be?

[momo2]

Have you had blood work done to check your blood sugar levels? I believe low blood sugar can cause some of those symptoms. It could also be anxiety. You should probably get checked out because of how you described yourself.

[Scaredandworried]

I've had my blood taken but I'm not sure if it included blood sugar levels or not, do they usually?

[sixpack]

I felt shaky today...   at first I thought is was because of the large cafe mocha I had had.    then I ate lunch and they went away.

low blood sugar will do this definitely.  BUT it is common for a body to do that if one hasn't eaten in a long while. 

if you eat just crappy stuff, you can expect to feel bad....

When you have blood levels for hypo or hyperglycemia, you will be told to fast for 8-12hrs prior.  In a 16yr old it is not a usual routine blood test.  That is, unless, you have gone to the doc for specific reasons.   I don't think any of my kids (except my oldest but she is in her 20's now) have ever had blood sugar bloodwork.

[sixpack]

additionally,

you would likely feel better if you ate better and got yourself on an exercise regimen.

my suggestion is to have your parents get you set up for an annual physical, if you haven't gone recently.  If you have, you should still go and have your doc give you a good plan to get your  weight back into healthy zone.  this may entail seeing a nutrionist.

[Scaredandworried]

Thanks, do you think I may have low blood sugar though? What could cause it? Also I ate quite recently before this happened so I'm not sure why it did happen. And thanks for the advice. :)

[sixpack]

anybody can get low blood sugar.

now, if much or most of your diet is on carbohydrates, it would be understandable for you to get drops like that.  AND usually when someone says they have a poor diet, that usually means lots of carbohydrates--chips, cookies, crackers.....

carbs will spike blood sugar and then it will drop quickly.  and usually when shakes are "fixed" by eating, it is a low blood sugar issue.  at least that is my experience.

[oregoncoastlady]

This happens to me sometimes. I sometimes wonder if it is a mix of low blood sugar and anxiety.  I know if i am hungry and start to get the shakey feeling, even a little bit, my anxiety kicks in and it gets worse quickly. But, if I am very busy and my anxiety isn't an issue, I can get hungry and I might feel a little uneasy, but it doesn't get out of control. I can eat something calmly and i feel better. I get blood work done periodically and my glucose level has always been pretty good. When life is calm and i don't have daily anxiety, it rarely happens.

[Scaredandworried]

That's strange, I wonder if its also a combination for me as well? I'm worrying about what is causing the low blood sugar though, could it be diabetes? 

[sassparella]

I've had this occasionally on and off for years. When I do get it, it's always when I'm hungry and goes away after eating. I just assumed it's low blood sugar and that my body needed food. I've had a few blood sugar tests and they have been fine so you don't need to have diabetes to feel like this.

[Cheesus]

It could be blood sugar variations as other people say. The problem isn't so much carbs, rather sugars. A number of different carbs turn to sugar very easily, however. That includes wheat in particular. Moreover, processed foods usually contain a lot of High Fructose Corn Syrup which is the devil in food form. Quinoa, brown rice, amaranth, millet, lentils, chick peas etc., on the other hand, are actually great sources of energy and brilliant for maintaining a steady blood sugar level.

Another good thing to remember is the acronym HALT. That is Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. I usually add a sneaky S on the end to get Stressed in there too. The point of the acronym is to remember to HALT(S) when you notice anxious thinking and check for the above problems. If you have one of those things, get it sorted before you follow your thoughts down destructive routes.