Author:
Louise Ward
Date Of Creation:
12 February 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
Hypoglycemia is a disease defined by a lower than normal blood glucose level and caused by many factors. Reactive hypoglycemia is defined as hypoglycemia that occurs in the absence of an underlying pathology that explains the production and regulation of insulin (the hormone hypoglycemia) abnormality. The body has a tendency to overdo it and lower blood glucose levels too much after eating (after a meal). You can overcome this trend by changing your eating habits so that glucose enters your bloodstream at a slow and steady rate.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Putting safety is a top priority
Seek medical attention to rule out other causes of hypoglycemia. Visceral hypoglycemia is caused by conditions such as liver disease, kidney disease, certain tumors, or hormone deficiencies. Treatment for the underlying medical condition is the way to treat hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can also be caused by medications, especially diabetes medications. Be careful not to change your diet before your doctor has ruled out other causes and diagnoses you with reactive hypoglycemia.
Get advice from a nutritionist. The new diet must meet the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for the calories, protein, minerals and vitamins needed for a healthy adult. A registered dietitian can guide you through adding or removing foods from your diet. Your specialist will also assist you in planning your meals and snacks menu.
Monitor symptoms of hypoglycemia. Let everyone know if you think you have hypoglycemia. You can observe and monitor symptoms of hypoglycemia such as anxiety, irritability, hunger, sweating, tremor, fast heart rate, fatigue, dizziness, tingling around the mouth and hot flashes. Take a break from the diet and eat sweets. The goal is to bring blood glucose levels back to normal as soon as possible.- Get help from friends, relatives and colleagues with medical attention if you experience signs of worsening hypoglycemia such as confusion, unusual behavior, blurred vision, seizures, and loss of consciousness. Let people know that you may experience a language disorder and behave similar to a drunkard.
- Symptoms can appear for two reasons. The body begins the process of lowering blood sugar to abnormally low levels after digesting food. In response to this condition, the body releases adrenaline, causing a "fight or flight" response. The second reason is that the body lacks the main source of energy - glucose, and the brain is very sensitive to this deficiency. This can cause you to lose the ability to perform normal tasks, change your mental state (way of thinking) or change your level of alertness.
Part 2 of 2: Changing your diet
Don't eat sugary foods or meals high in simple carbohydrates. Single carbohydrates are rapidly digested, causing sudden hyperglycemia and a reactive hypoglycemia. Foods that are too sweet are often high in simple carbohydrates, or simple sugars. It's best to eat foods with a low glycemic index.- The glycemic index tells you how foods affect blood glucose and insulin. The low glycemic index shows a smaller effect.
- Read the food label information for information on sugar, honey, molasses, fructose, corn syrup, corn sweetener, and high fructose corn syrup. Foods such as candy, cookies, cakes, juices, soft drinks and ice cream are high in sugar and have a high glycemic index.
- You can use sugar substitutes like sucralose (Splenda), saccharin (Sweet’N Low), and aspartame (Equal) to replace food sugar. Carefully read the label for products that say "sugar free" as they may contain other ingredients that raise blood sugar too quickly. Sugar substitutes can cause other health problems.
Add complex carbohydrates and protein to your diet. Complex carbohydrates and proteins help glucose enter blood sugar more slowly for a longer time. For this reason, incorporate starchy foods like whole-grain breads, whole-wheat pastas, potatoes, corn, and beans into your diet. Protein and healthy fats help regulate blood sugar and prevent fluctuations in blood sugar. Fiber has a similar effect. Protein is found in animal foods as well as legumes and seeds.
- Use complex carbohydrates and proteins as primary energy sources. Complex carbohydrates are made up of simple sugars that join together like a chain of seeds. Complex sugars are harder to digest. It takes some time for the protein to convert to glucose in the body. Slow digestion will help blood sugar levels rise more evenly. In addition, you should also get energy from healthy fats. They help maintain a stable blood sugar level and help to stay full.
Add soluble fiber to your diet. Fiber is an indigestible complex carbohydrate found in plants. Soluble fiber is found in legumes, oats, and fruits in the form of pectin. When the fibers dissolve in water, they form a sticky gel that slows the rate of digestion and absorption of glucose.
- Canned fruit contains added sugar, which can cause reactive hypoglycemia. Therefore, eat fresh or canned fruit that does not contain added sugar.
- Insoluble fibers, such as wheat bran, do not dissolve in water. Insoluble fiber helps firm stools and improves bowel movements. Healthy diets may include insoluble fibers, but they are not helpful for reactive hypoglycemia.
Divide serving sizes and meal frequency according to individual needs. The goal is to help maintain a steady blood sugar level. You should experiment to find out the portion and frequency of the meal is good quality. The meal should be balanced with complex carbohydrates, protein, and fiber rich foods. The snack does not have to contain all three.
- You can eat 3 large meals with 3 small meals or eat 6 small meals a day, evenly spaced meals, and an afternoon snack.
Limit alcohol and caffeine intake. These two food groups make symptoms of hypoglycemia more reactive. Alcohol lowers blood glucose levels. Caffeine stimulates adrenaline production.
- Don't get in the way of your efforts to prevent hypoglycemia from consuming alcoholic beverages. Some studies show that consuming too much alcohol increases insulin secretion, which in turn lowers blood sugar levels.
- Do not worsen a “fight or run” reaction (hunger, anxiety, sweating, rapid heart rate, fainting) due to caffeine consumption.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight has been shown to affect the body's control of blood sugar levels. Therefore, you should lose weight if you are overweight by adopting a healthy diet and exercising.
- You can tell if you have reached your ideal weight based on body mass index (BMI) - a screening tool used to monitor health. If you are over 20 years old, a healthy BMI is 18.5-24.9. BMI formula: weight (kg) divided by square of height (m)]. It's best to consult your doctor if you want to lose weight.
Advice
- Ask your doctor how to increase the effectiveness of your diet with medication. Your doctor may prescribe alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (Acarbose and Miglitol). These drugs help slow the absorption of glucose and reduce the post-meal hyperglycemia. Medications can also prevent reactive hypoglycemia.
