Learn to deal with hypoglycemia without missing the sugary foods
- by Heather Craven on Nov 7th 2007 2:00PM
- Filed under food, in the kitchen
Recently I got fed up with feeling shaky and anxious most of the time and consulted a physician in hopes of finding a solution to my owes. For years I had chalked up my shakiness to a stressful existence of three kids, not enough sleep, not enough time to eat in a relaxing fashion, more stress, etc. After a number of tests my doctor diagnosed me with a hefty case of hypoglycemia. This is not the worst diagnosis in the world, after all I have been living with it for quite some time and managing to exist, but it is one to be heeded and make changes for in the diet. Following are some of the tips I have received to handle this situation and help make my life a more stable one through diet:
- Arrange your day around five to eight small meals rather than three large ones. A hypoglycemic person needs a constant level of sugar in their bloodstream and more small meals helps keep that level constant.
- Avoid the sugary foods you have likely been relying on to help get you through the day. These are actually a hypoglycemics worst enemy.
- Base your meals on proteins and complex carbohydrates.
- Start your day out right with proteins like eggs rather than a sugary cereal.
- Avoid caffeine.
- Read labels when shopping. So many of the boxed foods at the supermarket contain simple sugars. Take time to shop and buy the foods that will sustain you rather than spike your sugar levels. When reading food labels be aware of words ending in -ose, these are sugars.
- Avoid sugary drinks or fruit juices. Use water to stay hydrated.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-11-2007 @ 10:10PM
Patti Vogel said...
I have lived with hypoglycemia for as long as I can remember. I wasn't diagnosed until I've been living with it for years. My difficult symptoms were cyclical, so it was more difficult to figure out what was going on with me. Maintaining blood sugar levels can be very difficult for people with any blood sugar problems. How much I eat, how often I eat, what I eat, when I eat, how much physical activity I get, how much stress, how much sleep, how much brain work, and how much water I drink affects my blood sugar levels. There are many things that vary day to day, and throughout the day. It can be challenging to keep my blood sugar from rising quickly, and then dropping quickly. Because the brain and eyes only can receive glucose from the blood, those are the organs that show symptoms first. These organs do not store glucose. There are times when it is very difficult to be on such a strict regimine, but I feel much better when I am on a strict regimine. I have to bring food everywhere I go. Neighborhood barbeques, to family and friends' houses, on vacation, parties, and many other places I have to pack a bag with foods I can eat. It can take a lot of time and preparation, especially making sure I have a high protein food with me. Many people I know are allergic to soy, nuts, seeds, and eggs, and some have severe allergies to just breathing near them. That doesn't give me a big selection of portable food I can take with me when I'm out and about, which is often. It has been difficult to maintain my blood sugar levels. I'm happy that my diagnosis means I don't have to go through something worse to make me better, like chemotherapy or surgery.
Patti
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1-21-2008 @ 3:38PM
Eric said...
Hey I have been hypoglycemic for about 10 years..now am almost 29..I exercise alot/when I can/feel up to it...but my diet is good..except caffeine which was problem from the beginning..cup of strong coffee, eat sweets, from thereon going downhill..though I am trying to quit ASAP. You made a comment about going to a family BBQ--my Dr...Dr. R. Paul St. Amand-maybe you have heard of him..google him and lemme know...said I can eat as much meat as I want..keeping bbq sauce to a minimum/request without sauce if possible.
Eric
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