Low blood sugar is otherwise known as hypoglycemia or low blood glucose. Low blood sugar can be caused by eating too little, over-exercising or taking too much diabetes medicine. If your blood sugar level drops too low, you can experience trembling, elevated heart rate, perspiring, dizziness, headache and irritability. You can take a tablespoon of sugar or honey for the immediate treatment of a hypoglycemic episode to raise your blood sugar quickly. However, an overall program of diet and exercise to maintain your health is best to help avoid the episodes.
Step 1
Eat six small meals during the day instead of three larger ones. This helps even out blood sugar fluctuations due to eating.
Step 2
Eat a balanced diet with fresh vegetables and fruits, and lower your overall sugar intake. Avoid processed food containing refined sugar and carbohydrates.
Step 3
Eat fewer calories if you are overweight to help you lose excess fat. Obesity can contribute to health problems such as hypoglycemia and diabetes. Maintaining a healthier weight is one of the most helpful things you can do to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Step 4
Change your diet to include a lot of complex carbohydrates. Foods like brown rice, potatoes and whole grain pasta contain high amounts of complex carbohydrates.
Step 5
Start and maintain a regular exercise routine. The routine should include a well-rounded program of aerobics alternating with days of resistance training. Exercise can cause blood sugar to drop, but consuming pasta or starchy foods with complex carbohydrates just before exercising can offset this effect. Drinking a sports drink with simple carbohydrates during exercise can help as well.
Tips and Warnings
- According to MayoClinic.com, low blood sugar is often a symptom of a larger health problem. It is best to find and treat the larger problem than to treat only the hypoglycemic episodes. You can buy blood sugar level testing kits for home use at most drug stores. A blood sugar level of 70 or below indicates low blood sugar. If you are diabetic and your medication can bring on a hypoglycemic episode, you should wear a medical identification bracelet and keep a supply of high-sugar candies with you at all times. Check your blood sugar levels regularly if you are prone to hypoglycemic episodes. Tracking blood sugar helps you know when your glucose level is falling and you can take steps to balance it -- such as drinking fruit juice -- before an episode occurs.
- Low blood sugar is often associated with diabetes, which can be life-threatening. Consult your doctor if you suspect any blood sugar problems.
