The right diet and plenty of exercise can dramatically improve your overall health as well as help in treating specific medical conditions. According to Help Guide, making changes to improve your diet can reduce your risk of developing illness and disease as well as improve your overall mindset. Exercise builds strength and endurance and, according to the American Heart Association, plays a role in preventing heart disease. The right diet and exercise can also help you correct a low blood sugar problem that develops due to poor eating habits or because of diabetes.
Warning
Left untreated, low blood sugar can become life-threatening. Check your blood sugar levels regularly and if you feel faint or feel as if you're going to pass out, get medical attention immediately. The American Diabetes Association provides a list of symptoms that depending on the severity of your condition include shakiness, dizziness, sweating, hunger, headache, paleness, mood changes, clumsiness, seizure, confusion and tingling in the mouth area.
Identification
Carbohydrate digestion provides glucose, an energy source that travels through your bloodstream to cells. The cells then absorb the glucose and use it for energy. Insulin secreted by your pancreas helps cells absorb glucose and regulates blood glucose levels. According to the Mayo Clinic, low blood sugar is not an illness or disease, but rather an indication of trouble within. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can develop in either of two cases: when you do not eat enough and therefore do not supply the raw materials for metabolism, or when you consume excessive amounts of alcohol, which then affects your liver. Low blood sugar can also develop when your body produces too much insulin or when you inject insulin in the wrong dosage, which upsets the balance of glucose in your bloodstream.
Using Diet
You can use diet in two ways to help correct a low blood sugar problem. According to Acu-Cell, a cell disorder and nutrition informational site, one way is by increasing your intake of protein and fiber and decreasing sodium intake. You may also follow the glycemic index when choosing foods. Timing of meals and snacks is also important. To keep blood sugar levels constant, Acu-Cell recommends eating smaller meals more frequently, and limiting the time between meals or snacks to no more than three hours.
Using Exercise
Diabetes Mellitus Information states that exercise stimulates the liver to release stored glucose in the form of glycogen and, thus, can help make insulin work more effectively. However, using exercise to combat a low blood sugar problem takes a bit more forethought to prevent making a low blood sugar problem worse. Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program. Keep in mind that anaerobic exercise such as weight training will not cause fluctuations in blood sugar, but aerobic exercise, such as walking and swimming, can cause a reduction in blood sugar if it is too strenuous or lengthy.
Considerations
As an immediate treatment for low blood sugar, the American Diabetes Association recommends either glucose tablets or 15 to 20 grams of a low-fat sugar or carbohydrate snack. According to the ADA, examples of appropriate snack items include ½ cup of juice or sweetened soda, 2 tbsp. raisins, 4-5 saltine crackers, 4 tsp. sugar or 1 tbsp. honey or corn syrup.
References
- Help Guide: Healthy Eating -- Easy Tips for Planning a Healthy Diet and Sticking To It
- American Heart Association: Physical Activity
- MayoClinic: Hypoglycemia
- Acu-Cell: Hypoglycemia: Nutritional Causes, Prevention and Therapies
- Diabetes Mellitus-Information: Importance of Exercise in Controlling Diabetes
- American Diabetes Association: Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Glucose)
