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Why Do I Have Hypoglycemia-like Symptoms Every Hour Despite A HOMA-IR Indicating Moderate To Severe Insulin Resistance?
Hey I found out I have insulin resistance with a HOMA-IR of 3.4, I’ve been having symptoms of hypoglycemia (Lightheaded, Hunger, Shortness breath, my arms start to feel weak first, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate, brain fog or confusion) but my levels of blood glucose are always within 5.2 mmol/l and I feel absolutely terrible always when I’m in these levels, it occurs every hour to hour and half, and also when I wake up every morning and I’m within these levels of blood sugar I always test my self with my glucose meter(Contour next gen) i am vitamin D3 deficient but honestly I don’t know why I feel absolutely terrible every hour and starving, I’ve tried to let the symptoms pass but it just gets worst please I’m trying to get answers.
posted on
Tue, 1 Aug 2023
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 22 Jul 2025
Answered on
Sun, 3 Aug 2025
Last reviewed on
Hello,
Despite normal blood sugar, you are facing hypoglycemia symptoms because with insulin resistance (range-HOMA-IR-3.4). Your body tend to produces excess insulin that may causes rapid drops in blood glucose levels. Sometime not low enough to show in meter reading but high enough to trigger symptoms. This condition is known as relative hypoglycemia or reactive hypoglycemia symptoms as you mentioned specially when blood glucose is around 5.2mmol/L.
In addition, deficiency of vitamin D may worsen your symptoms, causing your body cells in the brain and muscle parts not to get sufficient energy, even if blood sugar parameters are normal. How you can manage and treat it is by regularly monitoring blood glucose through testing. Adjust your diet to stabilize blood sugar. Consider more fibrous and correct carbohydrate intake.
Avoid fasting and feasting. Take a more balanced diet and focus on macronutrient recovery. Correct your vitamin D deficiency with supplements and recheck levels in 3 months as vitamin D worsens insulin resistance and impairs glucose uptake. (Consult with expert dieticians-dieticians are available 24/7 to assist with your diet requests.
You can raise a diet plan request from your dashboard, and an expert dietician will provide you with a personalized Diet plan as per your health condition while addressing your complete medical condition.
Consult an endocrinologist or healthcare professional immediately if symptoms worsen, especially with loss of consciousness or fainting, seek emergency care. Take immediate assessment, if there is frequent vomiting, weakness, or low glucose.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Priyanka Singh, Dietitian & Nutritionist
Despite normal blood sugar, you are facing hypoglycemia symptoms because with insulin resistance (range-HOMA-IR-3.4). Your body tend to produces excess insulin that may causes rapid drops in blood glucose levels. Sometime not low enough to show in meter reading but high enough to trigger symptoms. This condition is known as relative hypoglycemia or reactive hypoglycemia symptoms as you mentioned specially when blood glucose is around 5.2mmol/L.
In addition, deficiency of vitamin D may worsen your symptoms, causing your body cells in the brain and muscle parts not to get sufficient energy, even if blood sugar parameters are normal. How you can manage and treat it is by regularly monitoring blood glucose through testing. Adjust your diet to stabilize blood sugar. Consider more fibrous and correct carbohydrate intake.
Avoid fasting and feasting. Take a more balanced diet and focus on macronutrient recovery. Correct your vitamin D deficiency with supplements and recheck levels in 3 months as vitamin D worsens insulin resistance and impairs glucose uptake. (Consult with expert dieticians-dieticians are available 24/7 to assist with your diet requests.
You can raise a diet plan request from your dashboard, and an expert dietician will provide you with a personalized Diet plan as per your health condition while addressing your complete medical condition.
Consult an endocrinologist or healthcare professional immediately if symptoms worsen, especially with loss of consciousness or fainting, seek emergency care. Take immediate assessment, if there is frequent vomiting, weakness, or low glucose.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Priyanka Singh, Dietitian & Nutritionist
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