Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, occurs when your body has more insulin than glucose in your bloodstream. Symptoms include hunger, headache, irritability, anxiety, weakness or sweating. Usually, hypoglycemia only affects people with diabetes, because added insulin or other diabetes medication can interfere with the body's ability to regulate glucose levels. You can avoid low blood sugar by following a carb-restricted diet, such as the Atkins.
Hypoglycemia and Carbohydrates
When you eat simple carbohydrates such as sugar and starch, your body can quickly convert them into glucose. The faster your body can turn food into glucose, the faster glucose levels rise and the more insulin your pancreas is forced to produce, or the more added insulin you're forced to inject. Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose from your bloodstream into cells for use as energy. If there is too much insulin, your body is tricked into thinking you need more glucose, triggering a hypoglycemic episode and often, a craving for sugar. If you give in to this craving and eat more simple carbohydrates, the cycle begins all over again. Limiting sugar and starch can break this cycle.
Atkins Diet Basics
The Atkins diet was developed by Dr. Robert Atkins as a weight-loss program. It's a high-protein, high-fat, low-carb diet that promises to turn your body into "a fat-burning machine." According to the Atkins website, limiting carbohydrates removes your body's easiest energy source. Without a ready supply of glucose, your body is forced to break down stored fat for use as energy. When your body uses its own fat stores for fuel, you lose weight. Limiting carbohydrates also helps stabilize glucose and insulin levels, reducing bouts of both high and low blood sugar.
Atkins and Hypoglycemia
Following a low-carb/high-protein diet will help prevent hypoglycemia, provided you consume enough of the "right" carbohydrates. The Atkins diet is divided into four phases. The strictest phase, induction -- which is the first two weeks of the diet and designed to jump-start weight loss -- may not have enough carbohydrates to prevent hypoglycemia. Later phases of the diet include more carbohydrates, such as vegetables, certain fruits and high-fiber plant proteins. According to "Diabetes Health," diabetics should discuss the Atkins plan with their doctor before beginning, as it may be necessary to adjust medication; reducing the amount of insulin taken can help prevent hypoglycemia.
The Atkins Diet, Protein and Diabetes
Although the Atkins diet can improve glucose and insulin levels, high-protein diets are not safe for everyone. Protein metabolism places an extra burden on the kidneys and, unfortunately, diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. If you have impaired kidney function, you may need to limit protein consumption to slow the progression of kidney disease.
References
- Atkins.com: How and Why Atkins Works
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Hypoglycemia
- "Diabetes Health"; Blood Glucose Imbalances and Atkins Induction; Jacqueline A. Eberstein, RN; Apr 1, 2006
- American Diabetes Association; Effect of a High-Protein, Low-Carbohydrate Diet on Blood Glucose Control in People With Type 2 Diabetes; Mary C. Gannon, Frank Q. Nuttall; Sept. 2004
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Kidney Disease of Diabetes
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