OTHER SYMPTOMS

Q: I experience increased weakness and low blood sugar while doing moderate exercise (mainly walking). I follow a strict Paleo diet and eat very little sugar. What else can cause reactive hypoglycemia?

A: Your symptoms may be related to adrenal fatigue. (Sometimes, having a low-carbohydrate, low-sugar diet can exacerbate adrenal issues.) 

I have found that most people with Hashimoto’s and autoimmune illness tend to have advanced levels of adrenal dysfunction, where their bodies don’t secrete enough cortisol. Traditional exercises like running and biking, can further reduce that cortisol load, worsening the adrenal dysfunction. 

When it comes to exercise, a rule of thumb is that you should be able to do the exercise once more after you are done, to determine if the exercise is right for you. If you can answer “yes” and you feel well, then you’ve found the right exercise for your body, at the right time, in the right amount. If not, you will then want to give yourself time to recuperate and try a different exercise, or lessen the amount. 

Check out the Day 2.6 exercise in the Week 2 Workbook (found in the Handouts tab of the portal) for more information about adrenal fatigue and appropriate amounts of exercise.