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HYPOGLYCEMIA - low Blood Sugar: Nutritional Causes, Prevention and Therapies
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While many practitioners recommend nearly identical dietary lifestyles for people suffering from low
blood sugar (hypoglycemia) or diabetes (hyperglycemia), Sodium management, and the presence of
adequate amounts of Fiber, are an important consideration to help improve sugar metabolism in both
situations.
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Sodium effectively slows insulin response, which in diabetics contributes to poor blood sugar control,
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however for individuals suffering from low blood sugar (or even hyperinsulinism), higher sodium levels
can be an advantage because they prevent a quick rise and fall in insulin levels and subsequently
reduce those dreaded blood sugar highs and lows commonly experienced with hypoglycemia.
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Some practitioners also place great importance on the Glycemic Index (GI) of any particular food
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or beverage consumed, however from personal clinical experience, only the reduction or elimination
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of simple sugar / carbs is necessary, while complex carbs, or even most refined carbs don't have to
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be avoided at all - regardless of their glycemic index. (see also Acu-Cell "Sugar & Glycemic Index").
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Symptoms experienced as a result of low blood sugar include weakness, mood swings, headaches,
nervousness, irritability, or nausea with milder cases, and there is the potential of visual disturbances,
shaking, sweating, confusion, palpitations, anxiety, dizziness, aggression or severe fatigue with more
severe cases of hypoglycemia.
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Regardless of lifestyle changes or treatments recommended by their practitioners, there are general
rules which patients themselves can follow trying to control the symptoms of both, blood test-verified
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hypoglycemia, or reactive hypogycemia (symptoms only):
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• Meals have to be kept smaller and spread throughout the day. If possible, individuals prone for
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hypoglycemic episodes should not go for more than three hours without a meal or snack.
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• When consuming complex or refined carbs, they should be consumed with some fat or protein.
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• Emphasis should be placed on increasing protein intake -- eggs, nuts, seeds, chicken, turkey, lamb,
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 beef, salmon, tuna..., or one may consider a protein supplement (if protein tests consistently low).
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• Evaluating frequently-consumed foods by their potential to aggravate low blood sugar symptoms will
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not only help with meal planning at home, but also with dinner invitations, or when travelling.
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• Because of its blood sugar-lowering and blood pressure-lowering potential, the sweetener Stevia
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should be evaluated first on an individual basis, before being regularly used by anyone suffering from
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hypoglycemia, or general glucose tolerance problems. Feedback has been mixed, with stevia being
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well tolerated by some, but less so (i.e. aggravated low blood sugar symptoms) by others.
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Allowed are all foods containing complex and most refined carbohydrates, while simple sugars / carbs
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should be eliminated. Following is a list of simple, refined and complex carbs:
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Simple Carbs (to be eliminated):
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White / brown sugar, honey, agave nectar, corn syrup, maple syrup, sorghum syrup, molasses.
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Dried fruit, sweet / ripe fruit (bananas, pears, figs, dates, raisins, sweet melons...), licorice.
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Fruit juices (apple juice), canned fruit (peaches, mixed fruit).
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Manitol, sorbitol, xylitol, and other "...tol" variations, maltodextrin, stevia.
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Sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, dextrose, galactose, trehalose, and other "...ose" variations.
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Candy, chocolate, pop, donuts, cakes, cookies, sweetened cereal & granola, jam, marmalade.
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Refined Carbs:
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Most refined and processed, but unsweetened grain products, cereal, bread, buns, pasta,
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general baked goods, bagels and granola without added sugars.
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Complex Carbs:
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Legumes, such as lentils, peas and beans.
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Vegetables, such as beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, lettuce, peppers, potatoes.
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Whole grains, white / brown rice, nuts and seeds, including whole-grain flour, bread, pasta, and cereal.
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Additional considerations to reduce symptoms of hypoglycemia include the avoidance of Alcohol
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and Caffeine, as well as foods or beverages that contain high amounts of Potassium (which lowers
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chromium and manganese). The same applies to supplementing larger amounts of Vitamin C (which
stimulates insulin and lowers manganese), and Vitamin B6 (which supports potassium, magnesium,
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and also lowers manganese).
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Adding Supplemental Fiber to one's meals - particularly when carbohydrates are consumed - equally
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benefits individuals suffering from hypoglycemia, and those with hyperglycemia. This may include the
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most common type of soluble fibers such as Psyllium seed, available in powder, husks or tablet forms,
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or may consist of a special fiber blend containing konjac root extract (glucomannan), sodium alginate,
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xanthan gum, and others.
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For Vegetarians, the lower protein content of many vegetarian foods can be a problem, as can be the
higher potassium and lower sodium levels - particularly with beans and potatoes - when compared to
animal products. One option is to place more emphasis on consuming celery, spinach or beets, which
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have a lower potassium / higher sodium ratio. But regardless, vegetables - unless thoroughly cooked -
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and fruit provide the least satiety, although baked potatoes (consumed without any fat) ranked highest
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on the Satiety Index. Unfortunately, the ratings were only valid for the first two hours after consumption.
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For ovo vegetarians, having eggs for breakfast provides one of the best protein bases to help maintain
adequate blood sugar control into the day, while oatmeal may be a reasonable compromise for vegans.
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Most Nuts - if otherwise tolerated - can, or should be part of a hypoglycemic diet, being a convenient
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source of protein for those trying to manage low blood sugar symptoms. Cashews, chestnuts, and
coconuts in particular have a lower potassium / higher sodium ratio, which helps sustain higher blood
sugar levels. Coconuts (i.e. coconut oil) also contain larger amounts of medium chain triglycerides
(MCT), which may offer nutritional support in a number of medical conditions, including seizures, poor
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immunity or immunosuppression, and various malabsorption syndromes. Nuts, particularly almonds,
and (sunflower) seeds are also convenient, non-perishable foods when travelling.
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Supplements to consider for Hypoglycemia:
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(which should be assessed for compatibility and requirements)
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• Chelated chromium 500-2000mcg+/day,
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• Chelated manganese 25-50mg+/day,
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• Niacinamide 100-500mg+/day,
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• Biotin 250-2000mcg+/day,
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• Choline bitartrate 250-1000mg+/day,
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• PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) 300mg+/day,
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• Vitamin E 400-800 I/day.
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Choline bitartrate should be used with caution if there is a disposition for water retention (swollen hands
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or feet), since it boosts aldosterone activity, which in turn results in sodium retention. However very low
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sodium levels can also result in edema, in which case higher sodium retention as a result of boosting
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someone's aldosterone levels is advantageous and can at times lead to tremendous water weight loss.
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In very low aldosterone types, licorice may be considered for its sodium-raising and potassium-lowering
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effect. ¤
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Copyright © 2000-2009 Ronald Roth Acu-Cell Disorders: Hypoglycemia / low Blood Sugar
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