Hi, there.  sorry for the lengthy message.  

I am experiencing a quite frightening health situation and I can't help but believe that stevia has something to do with it.  I quit using stevia after 4 years about 2 weeks ago and now I'm experiencing dizzy spells and loss of balance after eating anything with even the smallest amount of sugar in it.  I can eat fruit, but not sugar.  Needless to say, I'm avoiding all sugar.

First off, let me say I saw my endocrineologist Friday about this and had an insulin test run Saturday a.m. - am waiting to see what it says.  My doc suspects hypoglycemia.  I told him about quitting stevia, but he's not very familiar with it.

I had been a stevia user for about 5 years. I first started using it before a pregnancy.  I wanted to use a sweetener that would be safe for the baby.  I ended up having a miscarriage.  I'm not blaming stevia for it.  I continued to use stevia because I thought it was healthier than all alternatives.  I could find NOTHING saying there were any dangers in using it except for those on blood pressure medications because it can cause blood pressure to decrease.

I'd have stevia about 3-4 times a day - and worked up to a dropper full each time. Very shortly after starting to use stevia - I'd say about 2 weeks, I started to develop horrific gas and constipation and had a very difficult time losing weight after losing the baby.  At the time I attributed these symptoms to pregnancy and post-pregnancy. I've been to countless specialists and had numerous unpleasant gastro tests performed, all to normal results.  I never dreamed stevia was the culprit - after all, it's natural and supposedly NO side effects, right?

Along with the gastro issues I was constantly exhausted and had typical hypothyroid symptoms.  I started seeing my endocrineologist and he prescribed Armour Thyroid.  

From March 2007 to mid-October 2007 I walked at a brisk pace every day for an hour. In October 2007 I started working out in a pilates move based class that uses 3-12 pound weights. I worked my way up from 3s to 12s within 2 months. I got down to 147 pounds (female, 42). By the time I got to 12s, after every workout I felt so drained that I either wanted to throw up or pass out. A few times I felt myself about to faint, but was able to stop it. So, on the advice of the my instructor, I started adding more protein to my diet. This didn't really help. The only thing that made me have strong workouts was eating a sizeable lunch of rice (salted) and veggies, but the amount of food that made me have a good workout (without leaving me feeling like I could pass out), made me start gaining weight. So, I cut back on the food and resumed weak workouts. I began to make a point of noting what I ate/drank when I felt the worst. At first I throught it was coffee. Then I thought it was tea. Then I realized I felt the worst after a workout where I had stevia in my drink with my meal before working out.

So, I have now been off of stevia for about 2 weeks. And now I am experiencing scary symptoms. I am having dizzy spells. They come after I've had food, drinks or gum that contain ANY amount of sugar in it.

I even reacted this morning to my Armour thyroid.  I'm also wondering now if I ended up cleaning up my thyroid to the point that I don't need as much medication and the reaction I'm having is a hyperthyroid reaction.  I am not having any hyperthyroid symptoms like palpitations, etc.

One thing to note is that while using stevia (up to 2 weeks ago), I could eat anything sugary like a piece of cake or OCCASIONAL soda or chocolate and have a totally normal response to the sugar - a little tiredness, but nothing like the raging dizzy spells.

Since I stopped using stevia, my digestive system has vastly improved to what I can happily call normal.  A few other aggravating issues are gone now too (like sharp pains in my breasts and strong body odor from my right arm pit only).  

Eating salty things helps me to feel better, but can't eat salty all day.  I am NOT pregnant.

I also will have my thyroid levels checked on my next blood test.  

I'm wondering if stevia did something horrible to my system and if there's a way to recover from this.  Or if it's the thyroid medication.

I look forward to your opinions.

Quoted from Emster

  My doc suspects hypoglycemia.  

Seems like the logical place to start. Even if it's something else (or a combination), hypoglycemia has to be considered given your symptoms.

Also found this on the web:

Quoted Text

Research has shown that a whole leaf concentrate has a regulating effect on the pancreas and helps stabilize blood sugar levels. Stevia is therefore useful to people with diabetes, hypoglycemia, and Candidiasis.

http://reid_j.tripod.com/stevia.htm

a lectin free diet following the diabetes health book recommendations would be helpful in clearing your insulin receptors and balancing your body

Quoted Text

The Individualized Plan for Preventing and Treating Diabetes (Type I, Type II) and Pre-Diabetes- Including Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

http://www.4yourtype.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ED066S

also find out your secretor and subtype status to target the guidelines even more according to your individuality.

it's not the stevia......but Lola's advice is good.....best luck, and let us know how it goes!

How long have you been on BTD and what reasons did you quit Stevia?  Is it an avoid for A's?  I don't have my book in front of me.  

Leanne!

Quoted from Leanne

Is it an avoid for A's?  

Neutral for everyone, except B secretors(avoid) and O nonsecretors(avoid).

I have not heard of the reactions described above for stevia.

Quoted from jayneeo

it's not the stevia......but Lola's advice is good.....best luck, and let us know how it goes!

Jayneeo, honey, I think it might well be the stevia. First of all I feel kind of "weird" when I use it. It's not been approved by the FDA (I know, I know but sometimes they're right about chemicals)as a sweetner in this country. Last I read..that's why it's not sold next to Splenda. It's an herb. Some people can react to herbs.

She's been using it for a long time. It might have affected her insulin, since she's reacting to sugar.  I would suggest staying off all sugar and sweetners until you find out what's going on or you feel better emster. Now as with any addiction, IF you are addicted to stevia. (People can get addicted to exercise so why not stevia?) Give it a good 2 months..Drink a lot of water to flush out the toxins. Increase your calcium/magnesium if you can (me I can only have so much)and B-complex..for the stress..don't forget B-1.

I wouldn't think it's the stevia either--not in an A.  However, three dropperfulls is a lot of stevia.  Sugar used to make me terribly dizzy.  If the stevia was balancing her blood sugar, discontinuing it may be causing the issues.

I'd continue on the A diet, get secretor status checked, continue thyroid supplement until further notice (as in, the dr. changing it).

Quoted from Mayflowers

....it might well be the stevia. ......She's been using it for a long time. It might have affected her insulin, since she's reacting to sugar.  I would suggest staying off all sugar and sweetners until you find out what's going on or you feel better emster. Now as with any addiction, IF you are addicted to stevia. (People can get addicted to exercise so why not stevia?) Give it a good 2 months..Drink a lot of water to flush out the toxins.

I have to agree, especially given that it's a neutral. When taking into account individuality, anything could happen. I second giving it a couple of mths w/o stevia or sugar, being very compliant on BTD and let your body try and bring itself back into balance.
Have you ever tried agave? It's from cactus, looks and tastes much like honey, but doesn't produce that sugar spike that other sweeteners do. If you need sweet (like me), this might work for you. I use it exclusively, I have hypoglycemia.....it works fine for me, but then again, individuality.
We must live close to one another, as we are both near St. Louis. I'd be happy to meet up w/ you and give you some to try, if you'd like.
I've read that cinnamon is supposed to help stabilize blood sugar, but then I've also read it doesn't. So not sure on that issue.
I do feel for ya tho,.....when I was still drinking coffee, I used to get that reaction. One time it was so bad, I felt like I was walking under water. It was THE weirdest, and scariest thing!!!!!

I found this article at WebMD...I think I'll stop using stevia going by how I feel.


   Still Wondering About Stevia?

I would read all the comments that follow that article.....
now let's see, why would the FDA want to say those things about stevia...?
("we can make carrots illegal if we want to")

Quoted from jayneeo

I would read all the comments that follow that article.....
now let's see, why would the FDA want to say those things about stevia...?
("we can make carrots illegal if we want to")

That's why in my first post, I said: "I know, I know" about the FDA. This is the important reason for the link: I was looking for studies on stevia and this article had sited  studies showing mutagenic and insulin affecting qualities of stevia. I also wanted to show that other countries have banned it..This article was not to show what the FDA had to say.

I don't have much respect for the FDA, but it is telling if other countries are banning it.  Although....we should still be able to grow the plant in our own gardens and use the leaves if we wish.

and again......follow the money!!

Quoted from Mayflowers

...I think I'd(I made this change - IB) stop using stevia going by how I feel.

again, I agree. Regardless of what WebMD says, the FDA says, the money trail.....the only person that knows how a food/herb affects them, is the person consuming it. Again, individuality.  

oh, yes, true.

Quoted from italybound

again, I agree. Regardless of what WebMD says, the FDA says, the money trail.....the only person that knows how a food/herb affects them, is the person consuming it. Again, individuality.  

Right on sista! Sista you say? Yes! We're both secretors! lol    

I am myself going to stop the stevia..unfortunately it's in my greens. It's not high on the list of ingredients.. Anyone use Dr. D's greens? How long does the 7 oz last?

http://www.stevia.net/safety.htm


It is entirely possible that Emster withdrew from stevia and her symptoms are completely
unrelated to the withdrawal.  Symptoms began two weeks later.  A connection to stevia
might or might not be there.

Sometimes we connect things we think are connected because we're trying so hard to find causes
for odd symptoms.

I wound up in the ER a few years ago with bizarre and similar symptoms.  I was so dizzy I couldn't stand up. I was so weak I couldn't drag myself to the bathroom. I got totally dehydrated even
though I was drinking a lot of water, and had to be on an IV for many hours to restore my electrolytes. I kept lying there in the ER insisting I had soaked my feet in a bath of magnesium oil and gave myself these symptoms.  The ER doctor told me I had a virus and looked at me through squinty eyes as if I might have been a bit loopy for suggesting such a strange cause for dizziness. I seemed fine before I began using all that magnesium oil.  Yet many viruses
have extreme vertigo as a symptom.


http://www.essortment.com/all/symptomsofve_rcix.htm

The thing is that viruses can cause some really weird symptoms.  And withdrawing from stevia
if a person is sensitive to it and then having dizzy spells two weeks later and a desire for salty foods doesn't quite seem logical.   An intolerance to an herb or food is usually more apparent while using it than withdrawing from it.

I was almost wanting to suggest that Emster go back on some small amount of stevia to see
if her symptoms go away.  Try to withdraw from it more slowly...but these symptoms just sounds viral to me.

I didn't have gluten/soy withdrawal symptoms until 2 weeks later, either.  So a food sensitivity could show up later, especially if it affects the thyroid.  It might very well be you won't need the thyroid medication anymore - and also check adrenals while you're at the endocrinologists. (I can't believe Italybound didn't say that first! )

Quoted from 552

(I can't believe Italybound didn't say that first! )

   I must be slackin'.

Quoted from Chloe

And withdrawing from stevia if a person is sensitive to it and then having dizzy spells two weeks later and a desire for salty foods doesn't quite seem logical.   An intolerance to an herb or food is usually more apparent while using it than withdrawing from it.

Also, could it be that withdrawing from something can lower the person's resistance and thereby be more susceptible to catching a virus..??

Quoted from 552

I didn't have gluten/soy withdrawal symptoms until 2 weeks later, either.  So a food sensitivity could show up later, especially if it affects the thyroid.  It might very well be you won't need the thyroid medication anymore - and also check adrenals while you're at the endocrinologists. (I can't believe Italybound didn't say that first! )

It seems possible as there ARE delayed allergy responses.

http://www.nutramed.com/foodallergy/delayed_food%20allergy/delayedintro.htm

BUT I know if I eat a known allergen, I can react negatively within the same day if it's an immediate allergy and it can take up to 48 hours for a delayed reaction.  I had allergy testing that measured both immediate and delayed responses to many foods and molds.

http://www.puresweet.com.au/Text/1122341279234-2458/pC/1122340120750-4322/HISTORY

I copied this one sentence from the above article...

"Diabetics living in Asian countries have used Stevia leaves with no side effects for many years. Some studies have shown that Stevia extract may help to reduce excessive blood sugar levels".

If stevia had been controlling blood sugar by lowering it, could withdrawal from stevia make blood sugar
unstable?

This is all quite interesting.  I am anxious to hear what Emster learns after some testing.  I am suspicious about the armour thyroid being connected to her problems with dizziness.  Someone else mentioned adrenals.  The thyroid and the adrenals definitely affect one another.  I know for sure that if I miss my thyroid supp, I will feel very sleepy or dizzy.  The other thing for me is if I become  a little anemic.  That can cause chest discomfort, heartbeat problems, light headedness....
I think stevia is pretty bitter, and not good for  baking, so I don't use it.  I do like agave for sweetening purposes though.  Keep us posted Emster!

vegetable glycerine also lowers blood sugar levels and helps regulate fat sugar conversion......

Quoted Text

Dr D:
VG tends to optimize fat<->carb<->fat
conversion which is genetically a problem with non-secretors.

C-sharp...sooooo sorry but stevia is just an avoid for A2B nonnies have an eye in lr4yt...it's written in minuscules letters there...I was always wondering when I tried it that I felt   after using it .....

btw.... heureusamente no FDA in Switzerland but nearly the same
normal laypersons here.... but Swiss Medic is even worse than the FDA.... mmuuuuh.....