Dr. Zulfiqar Ahmed
Diabetology
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Recently, I went out to drink with my friends and had only two pegs of strong alcohol. The next day, at 12 pm, I had two slices of toast with chocolate spread and coffee for brunch. My next meal was at 4 pm. When I started cooking a few hours later, I felt my hands shaking, and I had a fast heartbeat. Also, my face flushed, and I felt like I was going to faint if I did not eat anything. Quickly, I ate an oat bar, and my hands stopped trembling. When I read about it on the internet, the symptoms were similar to hypoglycemia. I was surprised, as I am not a diabetic. The next day, I took an HbA1c test, and the results were 34.9 mmol/mL (non-diabetic). The following week, I met another group of friends, and we ended up having quite a number of drinks. But, I was sure to drink water in between as I feared the after-effects. Since then, I have decided to abstain from alcohol. Four days after that, I went for an MMR booster vaccine. I was advised to eat something after the vaccine as I had gone there after an early breakfast. So, I drank coffee, had an oat bar, and went for a shower before my dinner. Again, I felt my hands trembling, but they were not as much as in my first episode. Was it because of the vaccine, or is anything wrong with me? Kindly advise.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern. Your symptoms are vague, and it could be due to many reasons. I suggest you check your sugar levels with glucometer sticks when you have the symptoms again, as Hba1c levels indicate values over two to three months. As these symptoms can occur due to high thyroid hormones, so do get your TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) levels tested. Also, get an ECG (electrocardiogram) done, as there can be an irregular heart rhythm due to alcohol consumption. Do you have any other associated symptoms? For example, do you feel any weight loss, appetite, anxiety, or palpitations? Kindly revert with the answers. Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello,
Thank you for the response. I do not have any other symptoms like weight loss or palpitations and have a very good appetite. I went for a general health check-up one and a half months ago. I am attaching the reports for your reference. When I feel my hands are a bit shaky, maybe because of anxiety, my mind brings back the previous episode.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
A decision to stop consuming alcohol is good, but you can experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop suddenly. I suggest you consult a doctor who can prescribe medicines to cope with the symptoms. Also, anxiety can be a reason if you have disturbed sleep, low moods, worrying personality, or mental stress. However, it is better to first rule out the other causes. I hope this helps. Thank you.
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Diabetology
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