Medical Minute: Porsha Williams and Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)

Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams recently experienced a mid-air emergency on a flight from Atlanta to Miami.

Williams, 34, suffered a hypoglycemic attack, which means low blood sugar. Williams’ sister, Lauren, told gossip tabloid TMZ.com that her sister often suffers from attacks of low blood sugar.

Low blood sugar is defined as blood glucose that is lower than 70 mg/dl on a glucose monitor. Normal blood sugar is 80-100.

Low blood sugar is usually associated with diabetes. But you don’t have to be a diabetic to suffer from low blood sugar. This post will focus on conditions other than diabetes that can cause low blood sugar.

Those conditions include certain tumors of the brain, pancreas or liver, hypothyroidism, kidney failure, alcoholism, severe infections, starvation diets, or drug addiction.

The brain (and other internal organs) needs sugar to operate normally 24/7.

The human brain has a very low tolerance for low blood sugar. Blood sugar that dips too low (below 50 mg/dl) can cause coma and even death.

Most people feel their blood sugar begin to dip after they eat candy, drink soda, or consume sugary confections. These episodes are referred to as “sugar crashes.”

Sugar crashes are not as severe as hypoglycemia attacks. Eating or drinking something sweet can bring sugar levels back up after a sugar crash.

But Williams is rendered unconscious before she can even take a bite of a candy bar or sip soda.

The symptoms of low blood sugar includes:

Feeling of hunger

Profuse sweating

Shakiness

Dry mouth

Dizziness

Weakness

Confusion

Fainting spells

Seizures

Death

Please note that drug addicts or alcoholics may not be able to recognize the early symptoms of hypoglycemia to treat themselves quickly.

You should know the symptoms of low blood sugar so you can recognize the symptoms in others.

Some athletes and very active people can experience low blood sugar after vigorous exercising. They usually eat a protein bar or drink a sugary beverage to keep their blood sugar within the normal range.

Doctors advise people who suffer from hypoglycemia to take something sugary like mints or sugar pills when they feel the symptoms or low blood sugar coming on.

But for some reason, Williams is unable to reach for something sugary to keep herself from passing out. She should always carry a Glucose monitor with her and check her blood sugar periodically. She should also inform people around her that she suffers from hypoglycemia since she is apparently unable to react quickly enough when she feels the symptoms coming on.

This has been your Medical Minute.

More Info On the Web

Hypoglycemia – Diabetes.org
http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/hypoglycemia-low-blood.html

Hypoglycemia – WebMD
http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/diabetes-hypoglycemia

Hypoglyceemia – Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypoglycemia/basics/definition/con-20021103

Prevent Hypoglycemia – Joslin.org
http://www.joslin.org/info/what_can_i_do_to_prevent_serious_hypoglycemic_episodes_when_I_am_hypoglycemic_unaware.html

DISCLAIMER

Any medical information published on this blog is for your general information only and is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice. You should not take any action before consulting with your personal physician or a health care provider. Sandrarose.com and its affiliates cannot be held liable for any damages incurred by following information found on this blog.

Photo: Wenn.com

starbright9449

Those conditions include certain tumors of the brain, pancreas or liver, hypothyroidism, kidney failure, alcoholism, severe infections, starvation diets, or drug addiction.

The brain (and other internal organs) needs sugar to operate normally 24/7.

The human brain has a very low tolerance for low blood sugar. Blood sugar that dips too low (below 50 mg/dl) can cause coma and even death.
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That’s kind of scary. Thanks for the MM.
nicelyput32

I like Porsha. She’s dingy as hell but I like her.
Cricket404

Poor thing. I hope she gets the help she needs. I used to self diagnose myself with low blood sugar after dizzy spells in the mornings before consuming anything.
Mel

all them symptoms can be from extreme dieting and not eating she better put down the flat tummy tea and start taking care of herself the right way.
It’s Taurus Season

So….are you saying now that she didnt OD?

Glad she aint manage to die.

The End
https://www.etsy.com/shop/AMarieNaturals Lovezoe

Sandra, if you are nothing you are shady.
felinelurker

I will never have this problem…
MotherOfDragons, GetOffMyENuts

She’s technically saying she didn’t OD but still managing to insinuate she’s either a lush or pill popping. I think it’s more likely related to her diet. She works out like crazy, has been traveling a lot, and strikes me as someone who doesn’t always eat healthy. Glad she’s ok.
nicelyput32

And I love it…..well most of the time.
MotherOfDragons, GetOffMyENuts

As the Redwood Forest. It’s ok, that’s why we’re here…
lil goodie

The shade to me is that she is a druggie and alcoholic
Full Monty

Yeah saw this on the other websites. Sandra Sandra Sandra what happened to the OD hmmmmmm?
Full Monty

LOL Always! She gives semi-retractions with a side of shade with her messy self but I am here for it.
MotherOfDragons, GetOffMyENuts

I like Porsha. I applaud her hustle. She’s done well for herself financially after the divorce, much better than most expected I’m sure. I’d love to see her enroll in some college classes, maybe get a degree. I think it would benefit her long term.
Paige

So did she OD or did she have a hypoglycemic attack? Get better Porsha!
imright

i thought i read somewhere she OD’d? ???
mssangel

Wait. Yesterday she was a druggie who Od’d ? ???
Wuts got Petty Davis Eyes..

kidney failure, alcoholism….
Case solved…
felinelurker

I was just reading on LSA yesterday about her. We hear a lot about her grandfather but I’ve never seen a picture of her father.
Nelleoftheball

This seems like a cover up, yesterday the doctor aboard the plane that revived her told a witness moments after the incident that Porshe had been taking too many pain pills. So now it’s low blood sugar? Oh ok, hope the check was fat bc the journalistic integrity is pretty slim
Queen

This has happened to her before. The whole pill thing was not true I’m quite sure… If she had overdosed on pills they would have had to rush her to the nearest hospital! Y’all stop reaching. Not all black folk are pill poppin animals and syrup sippin negros…
100milesperhour

Extreme dieting? Porsha eats everything moving & standing still. Chewing is her hobby. She picked up where Kandi left off.
Mel

Lmaoooo I’m sorry but “chewing is her hobby” tickled me ?
Meme81

Porsha, sweety, you’re doing too much if you can’t remember to eat. I like you because you seem cool, but keeping up appearance means nothing if you’re dead.
SameoleJ

I still maintain that she misread the bottle= Not 4 every hour, Hun 1 every 4 hours…..but as it was said: She didn’t manage to die!! so all is well! The Very End
SameoleJ

OT: I look at every little thing as a blessing……today my big little man, 4 yr. old grand boy, had an accident at school. I work close enough to his pre-school to be able to run to Carter’s grab clothes, take them to his school, talk to him for a minute and get back to work, without missing a beat. Look at God!!
stanhope

What about those conditions include abject stupidity and thot-dom?
Scroogwap

In Hollywood there is a lot of pressure to be skinny because the camera puts weight on you
88

Porsha looking good and thick right here. Her body is on point but I wish she would lose all of that horse hair.
missy

The symptom list is something else..Death???? that not a symptom, thats a result of…
AnonymousRose

y black people want to be a size 2, you are not them sprites, you naturally have meat on the hips thighs,breast… not overweight but healthy meat……. #lovetheskinyourin
WetPntees

*Most people feel their blood sugar begin to dip after they eat candy, drink soda, or consume sugary confections. These episodes are referred to as “sugar crashes.”

Sugar crashes are not as severe as hypoglycemia attacks. Eating or drinking something sweet can bring sugar levels back up after a sugar crash.*

I’m so confused right now! So you’re telling me that you can pass out from a “sugar crash” from drinking and/or eating something sweet BUT can bring sugar levels back up by eating and/or drinking MORE sweets!? O_O
WetPntees

*screams* SHE SAID LOOK AT HIM!
http://www.facebook.com/lisa.daniels.7311 Lisa Daniels

Porsha, pack you some mints or something before you get on the plane.
http://www.facebook.com/lisa.daniels.7311 Lisa Daniels

That is very plausible, this is the grandchild of Hosea , who thought that the underground railroad was a real train.
Readytochokemothernatureonout

I hope she manages it better. That is nothing to take lightly.
ATL White Guy

Porsha is a cutie. I’ll carry some sugar around for her and inject it whenever wherever.
Mister Fantastic

Waist trainer too tight. That is all…
Matix B

All those tummy teas instead of wholesome food.

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