Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar, is an uncommon side effect of diabetes and might result from insulin treatment. Although insulin helps prevent blood sugar from rising beyond healthy levels, it can also prevent it from returning to its target range. Certain medical conditions such as liver disease or tumors can also cause hypoglycemia. Symptoms include confusion and fainting or, in more serious cases, seizures. Although easily treated, it can lead to a diabetic coma or death when you ignore these symptoms. Following a hypoglycemic diet can help prevent this condition from occurring.
Step 1
Eat complex carbohydrates and protein to keep blood sugar levels stable. The sugar in complex carbohydrates take longer to break down in your intestine, causing glucose -- or blood sugar -- to enter your bloodstream at a slower, consistent rate. Protein sources such as poultry, fish, legumes, nuts and seeds do the same, while providing your body with energy.
Step 2
Choose foods high in soluble fiber, which forms a sticky gel, delaying the absorption of glucose; this helps prevent hypoglycemia from occurring in between meals. Sources include oats, fruit and legumes. Fresh fruit is a healthier alternative to canned, which contains higher amounts of sugar in the juice in which it is canned.
Step 3
Eat five or six small meals and snacks throughout the day instead of just three large meals. Eating frequently allows glucose to be released evenly and slowly during the day. Never skip a meal and include a mid-morning, afternoon and evening snack. Each meal should consist of a complex carb, protein and insoluble fiber.
Step 4
Turn your back on caffeine. Beverages containing caffeine -- coffee, tea and diet soda -- can stimulate the production of adrenaline, the cause of hypoglycemic symptoms. A sudden adrenaline rush might result in hunger, sweating, fainting and/or rapid heartbeat.
Step 5
Write down everything you eat for one week. If still experiencing symptoms, begin a journal, making a column for everything you eat and drink, along with the medications you take and the time you take them. The second column is for your symptoms. Eventually, you should see a connection between the foods you eat and the symptoms that result. Cut these foods from your diet, but do not stop your medications.
Tips and Warnings
- Your diet is designed specifically for you -- talk to your dietitian to determine the amount of carbs, protein and soluble-fiber foods you can eat each day. Show your journal to your doctor; he might decide your medications play a role in your condition and choose to adjust your dose. Keep snacks on hand in your car or at your workplace; hypoglycemia can strike at any time.
- Although fruit is a food form of soluble fiber, it is also high in natural sugar, which is not always good for a diabetic. Talk to your dietitian and ask how much fruit is OK to add to your diet.
