Most of the food you eat turns into sugar as a source of fuel for your cells. While we often believe that certain dietary choices lead to high blood sugar, your diet can also cause low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugars drop below 70.
Significance
Carbohydrate-containing foods are the primary source of sugar in the diet. Carbohydrate foods include starches, fruit and some dairy foods. When you digest these foods, they turn into sugar, and your body's insulin works by transporting the sugar into the cells for energy. In some people, the body overreacts and releases too much insulin, causing a severe drop in blood sugar. People with diabetes also suffer from episodes of hypoglycemia from poor dietary intake or improper medication administration.
Function
The purpose of the diet for hypoglycemia is to prevent low blood sugars. Low blood sugars can have immediate and devastating effects. Initial symptoms of low blood sugar include hunger, shakiness, confusion and dizziness. When left untreated, hypoglycemia can lead to loss of consciousness and coma.
Food Choices
The diet for hypoglycemia includes a variety of healthy foods from each of the food groups. It encourages you to eat more whole grains, whole fruits, plenty of vegetables, lean sources of protein and lowfat dairy foods. The fiber in whole grains, fruits and vegetables helps to slow down digestion, allowing for a slower release of sugar into the bloodstream. People with hypoglycemia also seem to have better control over their blood sugar when they include lean sources of protein and lowfat dairy foods, according to the Jackson-Siegelbaum Gastroenterology Group. Simple carbohydrates are discouraged on the diet for hypoglycemia. These foods, including sweets and refined-flour products, digest very quickly and lead to dramatic increases and drops in blood sugar.
Meal Planning
To manage low blood sugar, eat three meals and two snacks a day. Eating on a schedule provides your body with a steady and consistent dose of carbohydrates to aid in blood sugar management. It also helps if you include a protein and complex carbohydrate with each meal or snack. Protein delays stomach emptying, and can also allow for a slower release of sugar into the bloodstream. Food sources of protein include meats, cheese, nuts, nut butters, yogurt and milk. Complex carbohydrates include whole grains, vegetables and fruits.
Theories/Speculation
Some doctors may suggest a high protein diet for the management of hypoglycemia. But study results have been mixed, and more research is necessary, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
