Reactive Hypoglycemia Nutrition
Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar. This is a medical condition often felt by diabetic patients but can also happen to people who do not have diabetes. There is too much insulin in the blood stream, reducing the glucose to a dangerously low level. If not treated early, it can result in severe attacks that can lead to coma and other complications.
In Reactive Hypoglycemia the blood sugar level goes down after a few hours of eating your meal, usually around 2 to 5 hours. Patients may feel sweating, nervousness, tremors, rapid heartbeat, confusion and sudden mood swings. Most people also reports tiredness, depressions, and lethargic feeling.
Controlling this condition can be done through right diet, which is the only treatment available for now. Following a healthy eating lifestyle can help blood sugar levels steady, as well as provide you with the necessary nutrients you need for good health. If you believe you are suffering from Reactive Hypoglycemia, it is best to consult a physician and a dietician to help plan your treatment.
A simple healthy diet will greatly help in improving your condition, like eating more often, up to 6 times a day. You don’t need to eat a lot every time, just small meals every three hours. Skipping meals will cause your blood sugar to fall down, as well as not eating for longer periods of time can have the same effect.
Choose high fiber carbohydrates foods every time you eat. It helps in keeping your blood sugar levels steady. Some good examples of high fiber foods are whole grain breads, cereals, brown rice, whole fruits, and vegetables. You just have to remember that you need to eat everything in moderation and to increase your fluid intake as well.
Add protein to your diet. Some good sources of protein are lean meat, skinless chicken, fish, eggs, beans, lentils, tofu, soymilk, peanut butter, low fat milk and other dairy products. Then limit your intake of simple sugars such as chocolate, candy, jellies, cakes, sweetened drinks, honey, and jam. Your body is no longer capable of handling large amount of sugar, so it’s best to avoid them, especially on an empty stomach. If you have a craving for sweets, make sure to include them with other foods.
Also, try to avoid caffeine and alcohol. These beverages can make the symptoms of Reactive Hypoglycemia worst. If you need to have coffee, limit your intake to no more than 2 cups of servings a day and if you can, skip alcohol altogether.
Although excessive physical activity can bring your blood sugar level low, a simple exercise is still beneficial. All you need to do is to time your activity after a meal to make sure that your insulin hormone will have the needed sugar to break down in your system. Make sure not to overdo your physical activities as this can lead to sudden drop in your blood sugar level. Don’t forget to consult your physician before engaging in extra physical activities, they can best advice on how much exercise you can handle.
Quick Tip #1
Treatment of hypoglycemia is an ongoing process, remember to have a good diet with evenly spaced out meals every 2-3 hours apart. Also exercising can really help in keeping this condition under check.
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Quick Tip #2
A lot of symptoms of low blood sugar have common signs as other diseases. If you exeperience any of the hypoglycemia symptoms, do consult your doctor for treatment.
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