Hypoglycemia is a condition where a person's blood sugar, or glucose, has dropped below normal levels. Hypoglycemia symptoms include sweating, shaking and dizziness. Hypoglycemia is rare among children who don't have diabetes, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, a service of the National Institutes of Health. However some children suffer from reactive hypoglycemia, a chronic condition where patients suffer hypoglycemia symptoms several hours after a meal. The preferred treatment for hypoglycemia is proper diet.
Complex Carbohydrates And Proteins
Simple carbohydrates include such ingredients as sugar, honey or corn syrup. They break down into glucose quickly and this sudden release of sugar causes the bodies of those with reactive hypoglycemia to overreact and break down the glucose too quickly, leading to low blood sugar. Complex carbohydrates including grains or potatoes, and proteins such as meat or nuts, also break down into glucose but take longer to digest than simple carbohydrates so glucose is released into the bloodstream at a more manageable rate. The NDIC points out that, although some dieticians recommend high protein, low carbohydrate diets, no evidence exists that reducing carbohydrates helps patients with reactive hypoglycemia.
High Fiber
Foods high in fiber, particularly soluble fiber, slow down the body's absorption of glucose. This allows the body more time to process the flow of glucose, reducing the chance of low blood sugar in reactive hypoglycemia patients. Good sources of fiber include fruit, legumes and oat products. Children should eat fresh fruit rather than canned fruit or fruit juice to get the most fiber they can.
Size and Frequency of Meals
It's not just what you eat but also how much and how often. Frank Jackson, a doctor from the Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology practice, recommends three meals plus three small snacks spaced evenly throughout the day. If this doesn't relieve the symptoms, try eating smaller meals more frequently, as often as six times per day. The key is to keep blood sugar levels steady and not get overly hungry at any time since hungry people tend to grab easy snacks such as candy bars, which will make reactive hypoglycemia worse.
Foods To Avoid
Dr. Jackson and the NDIC both recommend avoiding foods high in sugar such as candy, cake and ice cream, especially on an empty stomach. Dr. Jackson also mentions that low-fat diets have been shown to help hypoglycemia, so he recommends lean meats and skim milk. Finally, caffeine increases the production of adrenaline, which can make the symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia worse.
Warning
Some of the advice you can find on how to eat for hypoglycemia is directed at patients with diabetes who are suffering a temporary blood sugar drop from missing a meal or vigorous exercise. In these cases, it is appropriate to eat a piece of candy or drink some fruit juice to restore blood sugar. However, this approach is not appropriate for children with reactive hypoglycemia, who should avoid simple sugars.
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