Hypoglycemia is a medical condition characterized by low levels of glucose, or sugar, in the blood. This term describes a symptom rather than a disease, since it involves an intolerance or resistance to carbohydrates in the same way that insulin is poorly utilized in diabetes. Low blood sugar can lead to increased hunger and cravings for starchy foods, which equates to weight gain. Fortunately, a sensible diet plan can help you to manage symptoms and your waistline.
Effects on Metabolism
Normally, the absorption of carbohydrates triggers your pancreas to release insulin, the hormone responsible for converting carbohydrates into glucose for energy. With hypoglycemia, the amount of insulin released is often greater than the amount of carbohydrates taken in. This means that too much glucose is burned at once, causing blood sugar levels to drop. Since fatigue and depressed mood often accompany low blood sugar, hunger pangs are more likely to strike. In addition, your body will seek another resource with which to produce energy, namely muscle proteins.
Food Combinations
According to Christopher Fuzy M.S, R.D, L.D/N, counting calories is not the answer to control your weight if you have hypoglycemia. Instead, you should focus on increasing and preserving lean muscle mass. In fact, up to 80 percent of the calories you consume each day are burned while you're at rest. Unfortunately, if your blood sugar is not balanced, your body will use protein reserves from muscle to produce energy instead of carbohydrates. To help balance sugar levels and carbohydrate utilization, try to combine a lean protein with a high-fiber carbohydrate in the form of vegetables, grains or fruit with every meal, including snacks.
Meal Times Matter
When you eat may be more important than what you eat. In fact, Maria Collazo-Clavell, M.D., recommends that you eat a small meal every three hours. This micro-meal regimen will promote the slow release of energy and sustain alertness and stamina for up to four hours between meals. According to Fuzy, unregulated blood sugar and irregular eating patterns are major contributors to muscle loss and stubborn weight gain when you have hypoglycemia, even if you never overeat. If you habitually skip meals or eat too much at one sitting, though, your body will burn protein for fuel to compensate for the lack of available carbohydrates.
Foods to Avoid
Collazo-Clavell advises that you limit or eliminate foods and beverages that are high in sugar. It is particularly important to avoid sugary snacks and drinks when your stomach is empty, since this will activate the cycle of increased insulin production and glucose depletion. Similarly, be sure to eat some food whenever you consume alcoholic beverages.
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