Hypoglycemia occurs when blood glucose drops below normal levels. Glucose, also referred to as sugar, comes from food and is an important energy source for the body. If you have diabetes, you are at greater risk for hypoglycemia due to an impairment of the hormone that usually replenishes blood glucose levels when you become deficient. To avoid hypoglycemia, you need to exert caution when it comes to your diet, especially with the amount and type of food you consume.
Mechanism
When the body has an overwhelming amount of glucose in the blood, it gets stored in the liver and muscles in a form called glycogen. When there is an insufficient amount of glucose within the bloodstream, it is termed hypoglycemia. Glucagon, a hormone from the pancreas, breaks down glycogen from the liver and muscles and releases glucose into the bloodstream. This process increases blood glucose levels back to normal. If you have diabetes, you have an impaired response to this mechanism and, therefore, must maintain normal blood glucose levels at all times through proper diet.
Meals
When you have diabetes, you need to devise and implement a diet plan to avoid hypoglycemia. MayoClinic.com states that diabetics need to eat several meals a day, no more than three hours apart; however, portion sizes need to be smaller than usual. Smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day help maintain blood glucose levels. Your meals should mainly consist of high-fiber complex carbohydrates and lean proteins. Complex carbohydrates include rice, potatoes, bread, tortillas and cereal. Poultry, whole grains, tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, nuts, yogurt, and all types of beans are examples of lean proteins.
Quick Fixes
If you go into a state of hypoglycemia, you should check your blood glucose level via a blood sample using a glucometer. If the meter reads below 70 mg/dL, you need to take immediate action to increase their blood glucose levels. The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse recommends one or more of the certain quick fixes to raise blood glucose: take 3 or 4 glucose tablets, 1 serving of glucose gel, 1/2 cup of any fruit juice, 1 cup of milk, 5 to 6 pieces of hard candy, and 1 tbsp. of sugar or honey. You should recheck your blood glucose 15 minutes after consuming a quick fix snack to ensure it's 70 mg/dL or above.
Symptoms and Preparation
When blood glucose levels start to deplete, hypoglycemia can cause hunger, shakiness, nervousness, sweating, dizziness, lightheadedness, sleepiness, confusion, difficulty speaking, anxiety and weakness. If you have diabetes, you should always be prepared to prevent and treat hypoglycemia. The NDIC states people should learn what triggers their low blood glucose levels, have a glucometer readily available to check their glucose levels, and always have several servings of quick fix snacks or drinks handy.
