Low blood glucose, or hypoglycemia, is a serious yet manageable medical condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, hypoglycemia can occur in diabetics, as a result of another medical cause, or as its own condition. Because hypoglycemia is directly affected by what you eat, you can control your hypoglycemia with a proper diet.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia occurs when your blood glucose levels fall too low. This can be caused by a high-glycemic diet. When you eat foods high in carbohydrates, such as bread or candy, the carbohydrates are absorbed as glucose as they are absorbed into your body. This rise in glucose causes your body to release a burst of insulin which converts the glucose into expendable energy. The faster this happens the faster your blood is drained of its glucose levels.
Glycemic Index
Following a low-glycemic diet can help reduce occurrences of hypoglycemia. The more low-glycemic foods you eat, the more stable your blood glucose levels will remain. You can use the glycemic index to help understand which foods are high-glycemic and which foods are low-glycemic. The glycemic index categorizes foods based on their glucose content. Pure glucose is assigned the number 100, and all other foods are given a number based on how they compare. Dates, white sugar and white rice are high-glycemic foods, while lean meat and vegetables are low on the glycemic index.
Diet
According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, a proper hypoglycemic diet should include regular meals and snacks. Consume healthy carbohydrates and protein at each meal. The carbohydrates will help restock your blood glucose levels, while the protein will help slow the absorption of those carbohydrates. Eating snacks between meals will help balance your blood sugar levels and prevent hypoglycemia, as hypoglycemia usually occurs a few hours after a meal.
Examples
Eating a nutritious breakfast is important for maintaining proper blood glucose levels throughout the day. Eat a high-protein breakfast with low-glycemic carbohydrates, such as eggs with toast or bran cereal with milk. Lunch and dinner should also contain healthy fats, protein and carbohydrates. Sandwiches, wraps and salads with protein sources are good options. Try to eat vegetables with lunch and dinner. Snacks should consist of small amounts of protein and carbohydrates. An apple with peanut butter or cheese and crackers are a few examples of healthy snacks.
