HYPOGLYCAEMIA

About Hypoglycaemia

Hypoglycaemia is a condition in which there is too little glucose in the blood stream.  It’s often caused by the pancreas secreting too much insulin in response to eating sugar, refined carbohydrates, alcohol, soft drinks or caffeine.  Symptoms include:

  • fatigue

  • irritability

  • cravings for sweets and constant hunger

  • weakness in the legs

  • dizziness and shakiness

  • fainting or feeling faint

  • headache

  • anxiety and/or depression

  • inability to think clearly

  • aggression and loss of temper.  

The time of onset of symptoms and their severity are related to the quality of the last meal and when it was eaten.

Also investigate adrenal insufficiency, thyroid or pituitary disorders and pancreatitis.  Candidiasis and allergies may well be present also.

   

 

Click the appropriate box below, in respect of each symptom,

which describes the severity of the symptom:

 

When you haven’t eaten for a 

few hours, you get dizzy or shaky     

(Tick one only)

rarely or never have the symptom---------------------

the symptom is mild and only occasional--------------

the symptom is frequent------------------------------

 

When you haven’t eaten for a few 

hours, you get irritable               

Tick one only)

rarely or never have the symptom---------------------

the symptom is mild and only occasional--------------

the symptom is frequent------------------------------

 

     

When you haven’t eaten for a few 

hours, you get fatigued and can’t 

think clearly, or feel ‘spaced out’   

(Tick one only)

rarely or never have the symptom---------------------

the symptom is mild and only occasional--------------

the symptom is frequent------------------------------

 

When you’re hungry, you usually 

crave sweet things                    

(Tick one only)

rarely or never have the symptom---------------------

the symptom is mild and only occasional--------------

the symptom is frequent------------------------------

 

You crave coffee, tea or sweet 

snacks in the afternoon               

(Tick one only)

rarely or never have the symptom---------------------

the symptom is mild and only occasional--------------

the symptom is frequent------------------------------

 

You are prone to headaches            

(Tick one only)

rarely or never have the symptom---------------------

the symptom is mild and only occasional--------------

the symptom is frequent------------------------------

 

You wake up during the night 

feeling anxious, or needing a snack   

(Tick one only)

rarely or never have the symptom---------------------

the symptom is mild and only occasional--------------

the symptom is frequent------------------------------

 

Your hands and feet often feel cold 

(Tick one only)

rarely or never have the symptom---------------------

the symptom is mild and only occasional--------------

the symptom is frequent------------------------------

 

You get attacks of sweating 

for no reason                         

(Tick one only)

rarely or never have the symptom---------------------

the symptom is mild and only occasional--------------

the symptom is frequent------------------------------

     

You eat sugar, cakes or biscuits 

most days, and/or like to drink 

alcohol or several coffees or 

teas per day                         

(Tick one only)

rarely or never have the symptom---------------------

the symptom is mild and only occasional--------------

the symptom is frequent------------------------------

     

Physical fatigue or lethargy          

(Tick one only)

rarely or never have the symptom---------------------

the symptom is mild and only occasional--------------

the symptom is frequent------------------------------

                                                  Your total is:

Interpreting your score:

 

 0 -  3 

You are unlikely to be suffering from blood sugar imbalance 

 4 -  8

If you gave points to questions 1,2,3, or 7, blood sugar imbalance  is a  possibility,  but also consider food intolerance

 9 or more

  If you gave 4 points to questions 1,2,3, or 7, and can relate to one or

more of the other questions too, hypoglycaemia is likely.  Also consider food intolerance.  Try the diet and supplement programme shown below.

 

 

Nutrition Facts & Diet Advice for hypoglycaemia

Consider the following nutrition guidelines:

  • The most important thing is to remove all refined foods, sugar, alcohol, soft drinks, caffeine and fruit juices.   

  • Eat a diet high in fibre – lots of vegetables, beans, brown rice, lentils, soy products. 

  • Don’t attempt ‘Food Combining’ (The Hay Diet) but instead always eat a little protein with each meal. 

  • Good proteins include fish, nuts, seeds, skinless turkey or chicken, low-fat yoghurt (preferably sheep or goats). 

  • Reduce saturated fats, but eat enough good quality oils, such as olive oil, unrefined flaxseed or fish oil, unrefined walnut or sunflower oil.  Apart from olive oil, do not use these for cooking. 

  • Eat little and often – about six small meals a day – do not allow yourself to go hungry.  Some people with hypoglycaemia find it helpful to eat a small snack at bedtime.

  • During a hypoglycaemic reaction, a good snack would be a couple of oat cakes with nut butter (almond, hazelnut, cashew or peanut), or oat or rice cakes with goats cheese or avocado.

  • Eat foods which are low on the glycaemic index (see below).  The lower the number the better, although you can take a small portion of food which is high on the glycaemic index if you mix it with a protein food.

 

 GLYCAEMIC INDEX TABLE

CARBOHYDRATES with High glycaemic index(‘bad’ carbohydrates)

CARBOHYDRATES  with  Low glycaemic index (‘good’ carbohydrates)

Maltose

110

Wholemeal bread or bread with bran                

50

Glucose                      

100

Wholegrain rice                          

50

baked potatoes                     

95

Peas    

50

Very white bread

95

Wholegrain cereals without sugar  

50

Mashed potatoes 

90

Oat flakes   

40

Honey 

90

Fresh fruit juice (without sugar)  

40

Carrots  

85

Wholemeal rye bread 

40

Cornflakes, popcorn   

85

Wholewheat pasta     

40

Sugar (sucrose)

75

Red kidney beans     

40

White bread 

70

Dried peas  

35

Refined cereals with sugar

70

100% stoneground wholemeal bread   

35

Chocolate bars 

70

Milk products 

35

Boiled potatoes 

70

Dried beans   

30

Biscuits  

70

Lentils 

30

Corn (maize)   

70

Chickpeas 

30

White rice

70

100% stoneground wholewheat pasta  

30

Brown bread 

65

Fresh fruit  

30

Beetroot  

65

Fruit preserve (without sugar) 

25

Bananas 

60

Dark chocolate (over 60% cocoa)

22

Jam   

55

Fructose 

20

Non-wholewheat pasta 

55

Soya 

15

 

 

Green vegetables, tomatoes, Lemon, mushrooms 

less than 15

              

Health Supplements for Hypoglycaemia   

T

Often, a combination of supplements may help in alleviating this condition. You may wish to consult a nutritional therapist for personal advice. Supplements that may be helpful in alleviating symptoms are shown below:

 

(please also read this important notice concerning supplement medical claims)

 

 

Recommended Books  

health book - Dr Atkins' New Diet Revolution
health book - Low Sugar Cookbook, The
health book - Low Sugar Handbook, The
health book - The X factor Diet

 

see also: candidiasis   allergies and food intolerance   cookbooks

 

 

 
 

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We try to place the proper warnings and product contra-indications about all nutritional facts and health supplements throughout this web site, but cannot cover every eventuality, nor are we responsible for errors arising from the translation of the site contents, which are authored by us only in English, to other languages by third parties. We recommend that you speak with your health care practitioner if you are in any doubt about nutrition facts and health supplements and information given on this site or about using nutritional supplements sold by health4youonline. Each person is different, and the way one person reacts to a particular health supplement may be significantly different to another person. You should always consult your healthcare practitioner if in any doubt about nutrition and health problems.

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