Although hypoglycemia is most often associated with diabetics, it can affect non-diabetics as well. Hypoglycemia occurs when your blood glucose levels dip too low, causing you to feel faint, sweaty, anxious and confused. During digestion your body converts carbohydrates into a sugar called glucose for energy. When glucose levels get abnormally low, your body doesn't have the energy it needs to function efficiently. The quick fix for hypoglycemia is to have a sugary snack in order to raise your glucose levels quickly. However, eating a diet geared toward preventing hypoglycemia is a better long-range plan.
Diabetic, Organic and Reactive Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is diagnosed using a fasting blood glucose test. Hypoglycemia associated with diabetes typically occurs as a result of taking too much insulin, taking your insulin and then not eating, or engaging in strenuous physical activity that causes your body to utilize more glucose than usual. Organic hypoglycemia results from an illness, such as liver disease or cancer, and requires additional medical treatment of the underlying cause. Reactive hypoglycemia occurs following digestion of foods. In some people, the body overreacts to the sudden rise in glucose levels after eating by releasing a large amount of insulin, which causes blood sugar levels to drop too quickly.
Reactive Hypoglycemia and Diet
You should never self-treat diabetic or organic hypoglycemia; consult your physician for the best treatment approach for you. However, if you have reactive hypoglycemia, following a specific diet plan can be beneficial. Reactive hypoglycemia generally occurs 1 to 3 hours after eating. Frank Jackson, M.D., a gastroenterologist from Pennsylvania, states the best way to handle reactive hypoglycemia is with a diet that allows glucose to enter your bloodstream at a steady pace, bypassing the body's overreaction to sudden elevation of glucose levels.
Hypoglycemia Diet Basics
In order to keep your blood glucose levels steady, MayoClinic.com recommends eating five to six smaller meals each day, spaced about 3 hours apart. Skipping meals can aggravate the condition. You can fill in with some snacks as well. Make sure the foods you eat are balanced nutritionally. Avoid consuming too many foods that are high in simple carbohydrates containing sugar; focus on complex carbohydrates such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Complex carbohydrates take longer to break down during digestion, thus having less impact on blood sugar. Get your protein from meat and plant-based sources, and limit the amount of fats and alcoholic beverages in your diet.
Sample Diet Plan
For breakfast, Jackson suggests foods including orange juice, whole wheat toast, sugar-free jelly, margarine with no trans fat, cereal and skim milk. The lunch menu may include lean meat or a cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread, low-fat yogurt, fruit, low-fat cottage cheese on whole grain crackers, tossed salad with Italian dressing or bean soup. Dinner items can include baked chicken breast, baked potato, fresh or frozen green beans, whole grain dinner roll with a cup of strawberries for dessert. Acceptable snacks include oranges, peanut butter on whole grain or graham crackers and cranberry juice.
