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Hypoglycemia
When blood-sugar levels fall fast, symptoms such as fatigue and anxiety may arise. Simple changes can control many cases of hypoglycemia. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.
- Choose foods with fiber
Stabilize your blood sugar by eating fiber from whole grains, beans and other legumes, vegetables, and fruit
- Eat light, eat often
Spread out your meals during the day to sustain a consistent supply of absorbable sugar
- Give chromium a go
Take 200 mcg a day of this essential mineral to help stabilize blood sugar swings
- Cut back on refined carbs
Avoid carbohydrates that are quickly absorbed, such as sugar and white flour, which may trigger hypoglycemic reactions
- Say no to alcohol and caffeine
To improve blood-sugar control, reduce or eliminate alcoholic and caffeinated drinks
Also indexed as:
- familial hypoglycemia,
- food-stimulated hypoglycemia,
- hypoglycemia,
- iatrogenic hypoglycemia,
- low blood sugar,
- nondiabetic hypoglycemia,
- non-diabetic hypoglycemia,
- postprandial hypoglycemia,
- reactive hypoglycemia
About this treatment
About This Condition
“Hypoglycemia” is the medical term for low blood sugar (glucose).
Occasionally, hypoglycemia can be dangerous (for example, from injecting too much insulin). It may also indicate a serious underlying medical condition, such as a tumor of the pancreas or liver disease. More often, however, when people say they have hypoglycemia, they are describing a group of symptoms that occur when the body overreacts to the rise in blood sugar that occurs after eating, resulting in a rapid or excessive fall in the blood sugar level. This is sometimes called “reactive hypoglycemia.”
Many people who believe they have reactive hypoglycemia do not, in fact, have low blood sugar levels, and many people who do have low blood sugar levels do not have any symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia. Some evidence suggests that reactive hypoglycemia may be partly a psychological condition. Consequently, some doctors believe that reactive hypoglycemia does not exist. Most doctors, on the other hand, have found reactive hypoglycemia to be a common cause of the symptoms listed below.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of hypoglycemia are fatigue, anxiety, headaches, difficulty concentrating, sweaty palms, shakiness, excessive hunger, drowsiness, abdominal pain, and depression.
Last Review: 05-11-2011
Copyright © 2011 Aisle7. All rights reserved. www.Aisle7.net
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The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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