Since your brain does not produce or store its own energy, maintaining a steady supply of glucose, or blood sugar, is important. If your blood sugar drops significantly, a condition known as hypoglycemia, you may feel confused, anxious, hungry or experience a rapid pulse or, in rare cases, seizures or a loss of consciousness. Though hypoglycemia is often associated with diabetes, certain medications, tumors, excessive alcohol intake and other illnesses can cause it. An appropriate diet can play an important role in managing hypoglycemia.
Function
If you're prone to hypoglycemia due to diabetes, dietary changes can support other treatment forms, such as insulin medications, in managing your blood sugar. Regardless of the cause, a healthy, balanced diet may help prevent symptom flareups. If your blood sugar drops below 70 mg/dL, consuming "quick-fix" foods that supply 15 g of carbohydrates may help bring your glucose levels back to healthy levels, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, NDIC. Your diet should also supply appropriate amounts of calories and nutrients and help you reach or maintain a healthy weight and energy levels. Keep in mind that dietary changes should not replace or come before doctor-recommended treatment.
Guidelines
In order to maintain healthy, stable blood sugar levels, eating at regular time intervals is important. If you consume three meals per day, incorporate between-meals snacks if your meals are a fair distance apart. MayoClinic.com recommends emphasizing healthy foods, including complex carbohydrates, heart-healthy fish and healthy fat sources. At each meal, try to incorporate a starch, such as whole grain bread, a lean protein source, such as lean meat, and colorful produce, such as berries or leafy greens. Adding a healthy fat source, such as nuts, can help ensure nutrient absorption, positive brain function and satiation. Limiting foods, particularly large portions, that may spike your blood sugar is also important.
Optimum Foods
Consume a variety of fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables for fiber and antioxidants -- nutrients that help protect your body from diseases and infections -- routinely. Other carbohydrate-containing foods that can help support healthy blood sugar levels, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, include whole grain cereals, legumes, pearled barley and whole wheat pasta. To keep your saturated fat intake low, choose the leanest available protein sources, which may include skinless white-meat poultry, fish, legumes, tofu and low-fat dairy products. Healthy fat sources include fatty fish, such as salmon, albacore tuna, herring, lake trout, halibut and flounder, nuts, seeds, avocados and plant-based oils, such as olive and canola oil. If you experience sudden hypoglycemia, the NDIC recommends consuming 4 oz of fruit juice, 8 oz of milk, 5 to 6 pieces of hard candy or 1 tbsp of honey or sugar.
Problem Foods
While you can consume almost any food in appropriate amounts and proportions, limiting foods with a high glycemic index, or significant impact on your blood sugar, can help ensure your wellness. Avoid foods and beverages high in added sugars, such as candy, milk chocolate, pancake syrup, jelly, regular soft drinks and commercially prepared cookies, pie, cakes and pastries. Foods made from enriched grains, such as enriched white and wheat bread, enriched pasta, instant rice, pretzels and low-fiber cereals, may also disrupt glucose levels. Keep your alcohol and caffeine intake to moderate amounts or avoid them all together. When you do consume a "treat" food, such as a cupcake, pair it with a food high in fiber or protein to help prevent blood sugar problems.
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