Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, occurs when you're in need of glucose. Glucose is your body's preferred energy source; it broken down from carbohydrates in your diet. Simple carbohydrates, such as sugar and starch, are quickly converted into glucose. One of the first symptoms of hypoglycemia is hunger -- your body's way of signaling for more glucose. Often, if you have low glucose levels, you' crave sugar.
The Glucose Rollercoaster
Hypoglycemia can occur because you skipped a meal, exercised more vigorously than usual, or took too much diabetes medication. Diabetics are more prone to low and high blood sugar episodes than those without diabetes. If you have insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, you may experience hypoglycemia a few hours after eating a starchy or high-sugar meal. When you eat food that your body can quickly convert to glucose, your blood sugar rises rapidly. This spike in glucose signals your pancreas to release insulin, the hormone that moves glucose from your bloodstream into your cells. The faster your blood sugar rises, the more insulin your pancreas produces. If there is extra insulin in your body after the glucose has been moved in to your cells, you'll experience hypoglycemia. Your body mistakenly believes that you need more glucose, so it triggers hunger. This is why you often want to eat again just a couple of hours after a very sweet treat.
Symptoms and Treatment of Hypoglycemia
Hunger is often the first and most obvious sign of low blood sugar. Other symptoms include anxiety, irritability, sweating, dizziness, shakiness and confusion. In severe cases, hypoglycemia can cause blurred or double vision, fainting and seizures. If you have diabetes, test your glucose levels. A glucose reading below 70 mg/dL indicates hypoglycemic. The best way to treat hypoglycemia is to eat 15 g of simple carbohydrates. That would be 8-oz. of milk, 4-oz. of juice or regular soda, a piece of white bread, or 1 tbsp. of sugar or honey. Wait 15 minutes before testing your glucose level again. It it's still low, consume another 15 g of carbs.
Preventing Hypoglycemia
Regulating your glucose levels will prevent both low and high glucose problems. Eat at regular intervals -- every four hours -- and don't skip meals. Avoid foods that cause a sudden rise in blood sugar; however, you shouldn't eliminate carbohydrates, but instead, choose high-fiber carbs that slow digestion. Protein, fat and fiber slow digestion and the conversion of food into glucose. Don't consume carbs by themselves, always consume a combination of carbs, fat and protein at both snack and meal times. Pay attention to your body and look for the signs of hypoglycemia, as the sooner you eat something, the less severe the symptoms.
If You Don't Have Diabetes
Diabetes is the most common cause of hypoglycemia, but excessive alcohol usage, tumors in your pancreas, hormone imbalances and problems with your endocrine system or kidney disease can also cause it. If you experience recurrent episodes of low blood sugar, work with your doctor to determine the underlying cause. Without addressing other health issues, it's probable that hypoglycemia will continue.
