| Overview:
Hypoglycemia, or low blood
sugar, is a condition in which there is an abnormally low level of glucose (sugar)
in the blood. Reactive hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar drops to abnormally
low levels two to five hours after eating a meal.
Signs and Symptoms:
Symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia include: - Sweating
- Tremors
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Heart palpitations
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
- Inability
to concentrate
- Headache
- Irritability
- Fainting spells
- Depression
- Craving for sweets
- Confusion
- Weakness in legs
- Swollen feet
- Tightness
in chest
- Pain in various parts of the body (especially eyes)
- Nervous habits
- Insomnia
- Rapid heartbeat
- Anxiety
- Hunger
Diagnosis:
Laboratory tests are essential to diagnosing hypoglycemia. The following tests
may be used:
- Blood and plasma glucose
- Serum insulin, calcium,
phosphate, uric acid, lipids, creatinine
- Liver tests
- Insulin antibodies
- Plasma and urine corticosteroids
- Glucose tolerance test (GTT [fasting])
- Glucose-insulin tolerance test (G-ITT)
- Hypoglycemic index (e.g., calculation
of the fall in blood glucose 90 minutes before
the nadir divided by the value
of the nadir; a hypoglycemic index & gt;O.8 indicates
reactive hypoglycemia)
- Symptom assessment
- C-peptide suppression test
- Glucose infusion test
- Measurement of counter-regulatory hormone concentrations
Treatment
Options:
Treatment centers on controlling blood sugar levels and handling
the symptoms.
Traditional Treatments:
- For an acute episode of low blood sugar, the quick answer is a dose of sugar
stirred into orange juice, which will give the excess insulin coursing through
the body enough glucose to stabilize blood-sugar levels.
- Functional hypoglycemia
is best treated with proper dietary management.
- Some physicians may prescribe
a mild sedative to combat the anxiety and mood swings, but usually this is not
necessary.
Complementary and Alternative Therapies:
Alternative therapies may also be useful in regulating blood sugar in the short
term.
Nutritional Supplementation: - Calcium
and magnesium assist in the utilization of glucose and calm the nervous system.
Take 500 mg of calcium and 250 mg of magnesium twice daily.
- Carnitine assists
in the conversion of fats to energy and helps keep energy levels balanced. Take
500 to 1,000 mg of L-carnitine daily.
- Chromium improves the efficiency of
glucose utilization, which is especially important, if you have hypoglycemia.
Take 100 to 200 mcg once or twice daily.
- Cysteine is an important amino acid
that helps normalize blood-sugar levels. Take 500 mg of N-acetyl-cysteine daily.
- To ensure full digestion, take a full-spectrum digestive-enzyme supplement
providing 5,000 IU of lipase, 2,500 IU of amlase, 300 IU of protease, plus 500
to 1,000 mg of pancreatin, immediately before the two largest meals of the day.
Warning: Long-term supplementation with pancreatin is not
advised, as it can cause your pancreas to reduce its own production of this enzyme.
Overuse also has the potential to cause nausea or diarrhea.
- Trace minerals
assist in the regulation of blood sugar. Take a trace-minerals assist in the regulation
of blood sugar. Take a trace-mineral supplement or a green-foods supplement such
as blue-green algae, chlorella, or spirulina as directed on the product label.
- The B vitamins, especially thiamin, niacin, cobalamin, and pantothenic acid,
are essential for the proper digestion of carbohydrates and help keep energy levels
high. Take a B-complex supplement supplying 25 to 50 mg of the major B vitamins
daily.
- Most people who suffer from hypoglycemia have low levels of vitamin
C and zinc. Take 500 mg of vitamin C, 500 mg of bioflavonoids, and 15 mg of zinc
twice daily, immediately before a meal. Take 1 to 2 mg of copper each day to maintain
a proper mineral balance.
- Garlic is very good for relieving low blood sugar
when an attack occurs.
- Glutathione is a compound consisting of three amino
acids that is associated with the breakdown of glucose into energy.
- Zinc is
needed for proper release of insulin. Take 50 mg daily.
Alternative
Therapies:
- Dandelion root and milk thistle can improve liver
function, which is often impaired in individuals suffering from hypoglycemia.
- Licorice root is very effective in regulating blood-sugar levels. Warning:
Do not take licorice on a daily basis for more than seven days, as an elevation
in blood pressure may occur. Do not take licorice at all if you have high blood
pressure.
- Angostura bitters, artichoke leaf, and gentian root help to normalize
blood sugar.
- Bilberry and wild yam aid in controlling insulin levels.
- Gudmar,
an Ayurvedic herb, suppresses the intestinal absorption of saccharides, which
prevents blood sugar fluctuations.
- Echinacea, parsley, pau d'arco, raspberry
leaves, and uva ursi are beneficial for hypoglycemia.
General
Recommendations:
- Avoid alcohol.
- Avoid sweet fruits and
juices.
- Sweeten food with natural sweeteners such as stevia, a South American
herb available in liquid and powder form that is 200 times sweeter than sugar.
Other acceptable sweeteners include barley malt syrup, molasses, and brown rice
syrup.
- Don't starve yourself, and don't go more than four to six hours without
supplying your body with nutrients.
- Exercise has been shown to be one of the
most important factors in regulating blood sugar. Get regular exercise.
Warnings:
- Do not take licorice on a daily basis for more
than seven days, as an elevation in blood pressure may occur. Do not take licorice
at all if you have high blood pressure.
- Long-term supplementation with pancreatin
is not advised, as it can cause your pancreas to reduce its own production of
this enzyme.
|
