Could You Be At Risk For Hypoglycemia?

f you have ever experienced hypoglycemia, you know that it feels like fatigue and usually hits mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Hypoglycemia can make you feel sluggish and is the leading cause of depression in the United States. It can be mild or severe and depending on your diet through out the day. Many doctors debate whether diet has anything to do with it. Most Americans do not even know they suffer from the effects.

Symptoms of Hypoglycemia

Anxiety attacks
Confusion
Depression
Disorientation
Dizziness
Fatigue
Forgetfulness
Headaches
Heavy perspiration
Hunger
Mental confusion
Mood fluctuations
Muscle pain, cramps
Nausea
Nervousness
Pale ash color skin
Rapid heartbeat
Trembling
Tingling in hands and feet
Unconsciousness
Weakness

Hypoglycemia is also known as low blood sugar, a term often used when discussing diabetes. Just about anyone can be at risk for low blood sugar, frequent attacks can cause serious health problems. Thankfully with a few changes in diet one can avoid low blood sugar attacks completely.

You might be wondering what hypoglycemia does and how it happens? The body circulates sugar in the blood called glucose. Every cell in your body uses glucose for energy, when your blood glucose falls below its required levels for operation; you start to experience hypoglycemic symptoms. These symptoms come from the body pulling energy from your skeletal muscles and fat, your body has to work harder to convert protein and fat to energy than it does with sugar. Drops in glucose can occur when one does not eat enough food through out the day or when one exercise to much. If insulin in the blood is too high a hypoglycemic attack can occur. Diabetics experience hypoglycemia everyday because they inject insulin to help level out their blood sugar. When a diabetic injects more insulin then needed, their blood sugar will drop to far and they will experience a hypoglycemic attack. Insulin helps circulating glucose enter your body’s cells so that those cells can use the sugar for energy. A normal person after a meal releases just enough insulin to keep glucose at a constant level in the blood, but those suffering from hypoglycemic attacks release more insulin than needed, which drops blood sugar very fast. This causes excess stress on many of the body’s systems including the brain.

At this time there are no solid facts as to why one over produces insulin. Experts disagree about dietary causes of low blood sugar, but many believe that diets filled with simple sugars and simple carbohydrates can be part of the problem. Simple Carbs are converted to sugar quickly and transferred to the bloodstream; this quick rise in blood sugar makes the pancreas release excess amounts of insulin. Some believe that this surge of insulin from the pancreas, if left go, could lead to diabetes.

The simplest way to combat hypoglycemia is to change your diet. Break up your meals into smaller sizes and eat more often five to six times each day instead of three bigger meals per day. Consume less sugary foods, reduce alcohol consumption and caffeine, and limit the amount of fatty and processed foods. Eat more complex carbohydrates and fiber; add whole grains and vegetables with each meal, nuts and seeds are good sources of complex carbohydrates. Small amounts of protein in the form of fish, soybeans, eggs, and white meat can help suppress insulin production. Try eating eggs along with your carbohydrates in the morning for longer lasting energy.

Hypoglycemia can be a frustrating disease; if you experience severe attacks you should seek immediate medical help. For more mild cases drink a small glass of fruit juice, the juice will give you a small boost in blood sugar and help you through those periods of sluggishness through out the day. For those who love to put sugar in their coffee or tea, there are alternatives to sugar. Xylitol and Stevia are good sugar substitutes that do not elevate blood sugar but have a very sweet taste to them. If you suspect you have blood sugar issues, always consult your health care professional before taking matters into your own hands. Great sweeteners like xylitol and Stevia can be found at your local health food store or online.