Am I Hypoglycemic?

Dear reader,



Thank you for taking the time out to read this article from the Overcoming Hypoglycemia Ezine. Ok so lets get started!



Are you actually Hypoglycemic?



The first thing you probably need to know is if you are actually hypoglycemic and how it is possible to find out for sure.
There are 3 main ways people normally find out if they are hypoglycemic these are:



1)A Glucose Tolerance Test.



2)Diagnosis from a doctor/nutritionist



3)Self diagnosis based on questionnaire and observation of symptoms



Now each of these methods have their advantages and disadvantages but due to the fact that less and less qualified doctors seem to be recognising Hypoglycemia as a legitimate condition more and more people are forced to rely on self diagnosis.



In this Ezine edition I wanna focus on method three: self diagnosis.



Self Diagnosis



Self Diagnosis means just that, making an informed decision yourself as to whether or not you actually have hypoglycemia.



The main way of doing this is based on your symptoms. The easiest way to begin to self diagnose is make a list of the symptoms you get which you feel are related to your diet. These symptoms could be many but list them all down. Probable symptoms include headaches tiredness and cravings for sweet foods.



When you have listed these symptoms compare them to the ones found at:



http://www.hypoglycemia-diet-plan.com and



[http://www.hypoglycemia-diet-plan.com/hypoglycemia-diagnosis.html]



If you have at least three of these symptoms then Hypoglycemia seems probable.
It is of course not possible to diagnose solely on a few symptoms, for a more detailed and accurate way of determining whether or not you have Hypoglycemia.



So Until next time ...

Reactive Hypoglycemia Diet - Treatment Based on Avoidance and Cutting Back

Reactive Hypoglycemia Diet, is in essence a diet that consists of eating up to 5-6 small meals throughout the day, and each meal shouldn't be spaced more than 3 hours apart. This makes certain that your sugar levels remain stable and don't drop drastically.



But hold on a minute, what is Hypoglycemia and Reactive Hypoglycemia? Hypoglycemia alias low glucose level, is a condition where an individuals blood glucose drops beneath normal level. Glucose is a significant source of vitality for humans and without it, the body can't operate properly. Therefore, when blood sugar levels fall below normal level, hypoglycemia symptoms will set in.



Symptoms of hypoglycemia include fatigue, hunger, mental confusion, dizziness, sweating, and so on. Exceedingly low blood glucose level could even result in seizure, coma and even death.



Reactive hypoglycemia is a specific case of hypoglycemia that happens to non-diabetic people. Reactive hypoglycemia is also about depleted blood sugar level, but the symptoms are activated 2-3 hours after food. The reason being due to the pancreas discharging insulin well beyond the digestion period of the meal. This surplus insulin is the chief culprit for making low blood glucose in a person with reactive hypoglycemia.



Treatment for reactive hypoglycemia ought be based on two main aims. Avoid "overloading" the pancreas and cutting back insulin output. To accomplish this objective, sufferers are typically advised to abide by a particular diet plan and avoid food consisting mainly of simple carbohydrates.



Carbohydrates are split in to two types, simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are foods that are easy to convert into glucose, in order to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This speedy absorption of glucose will stimulate a sudden spike in blood sugar and this frequently is the prime cause of reactive hypoglycemia.



Therefore, avoid food with simple carbohydrates. Some examples would be: white rice, white bread, sweets, chocolates, ice cream, cakes, and so on. In general, extremely processed foods are also foods that are high in carbohydrates.



Complex carbohydrates, as opposed to simple carbohydrates, are harder to digest and breakdown. So, the transition and absorption of glucose is also slowed up. Because of these reasons, complex carbohydrates are particularly advantageous to reactive hypoglycemia. A a few examples of food high in complex carbohydrates are - brown rice, whole grain bread, oatmeal, vegetables, etc.

Reactive Hypoglycemia: How To Beat It!

If you have Reactive Hypoglycemia, you know the frustrations that can come along with the problem. Especially if you were recently diagnosed.



I remember when I first started having problems, I had no clue what was going on, and neither did the doctors! All I knew was that my life had drastically changed for the worst and I wanted my old life back. I wanted to be working out hard again, doing martial arts, feeling stable and most importantly, knowing what I could eat!



By the way, since I just mentioned doctors, let me just go ahead and say that I am not a doctor. So there is your disclaimer. However, I am someone with Reactive Hypoglycemia, or Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome in my case. Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome is basically Reactive Hypoglycemia and all of it's nasty symptoms without "low glucose levels" as defined by the medical community. The good news is, I have gotten my condition under control; and I did not do it with the help of a doctor or any medication! I did it simply with diet...and I learned this diet after lots of research, keeping food journals, talking with nutritionists, personal trainers, bodybuilders (Yep! Bodybuilders too!) and experimentation...on myself! (Yikes!)



You probably already know by now about what causes Reactive Hypoglycemia, but if not, let me go ahead and tell you what's going on. Now, brace yourself, my little definition here might not be spelled out as eloquently as your doctor's! Basically though, when you eat carbohydrates, your body produces way too much insulin at about 1 to say 3 hours after eating (It can vary). So what happens is that your blood sugar (glucose levels) drop and you have the condition known as, "hypoglycemia", or low glucose levels/low blood sugar. This is what causes you to be dizzy, weak, have "the shakes", etc.



Now, the root cause of Reactive Hypoglycemia is that your blood sugar gets spiked by sugar that you eat, and then your body is flooded with insulin...too much. So, the key is to eat foods that are low on the glycemic index, or in other words will not spike your blood sugar.



Eating foods that won't spike your blood sugar, or foods that are low on the glycemic index involves cutting out all simple sugars, simple carbohydrates, some of your fruits, starchy carbohydrates, refined foods and sodas. Also, you may want to limit your alcohol and caffeine as they can lower your blood sugar.



Examples of foods that you need to avoid are candy, white potatoes, pasta, rice, cereal and watermelon. The diet that you need and pretty much must have in order to beat Reactive Hypoglycemia is one high in fat (Yes! Fat!), protein, fiber and low in complex carbohydrates. Also be sure to take yourself a very good multivitamin and omega fish oil complex.



So why fat? Well the order of what your body burns for an energy source goes like this, carbohydrates, fat, then protein. So if you cut out the carbohydrates, you will need to get your energy from the next energy source in line, fat!



As you do eat your small amounts of complex carbohydrates like raw oatmeal and small amounts of sweet potatoes with the skin (fiber), you want to make sure that you eat them with butter and/or coconut oil. This will slow your body's absorption down so that your sugar does not spike.



So what other foods can you eat? Eggs, bacon, peanut butter, almonds, dry roasted peanuts, small amounts of berries, heavy cream, cheeses, sugar free Jello, coconut oil and spinach to name a few.



Adjusting from a high carbohydrate diet to a very low carbohydrate diet can be quite a change. Making the change initially can and will make you tired, but your body will adjust and your body will start burning fat as an energy source. You will notice that you lean up, don't feel bloated and feel better overall.



Again, I am not a doctor, so always consult with your physician before starting a new diet. I do believe however that what I have learned through my experience is good information and can help you if you suffer from Reactive Hypoglycemia or Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome.



You may want to do a little more research on the low carbohydrate diet or visit my website before starting your diet. If you are physically active and/or exercise a lot, these are things to consider before starting a low carbohydrate diet. Stay focused and be patient, you will be feeling better shortly!

Type 2 Diabetes - Exercise Induced Hypoglycemia

Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics are forced to live with the constant barrage of having blood sugar levels drop suddenly and dramatically, sometimes at the most inopportune time. But sometimes this event, called hypoglycemia, occurs when an individual is working out. That's why exercise induced hypoglycemia is something that has to be monitored.



Simply put, hypoglycemia is when there isn't enough sugar in the blood. While this can be a rather annoying occurrence for some, for a diabetic it can be serious. It is important for diabetics who want to work out to know what they should be on the lookout for and how to respond so that it doesn't become an even bigger, and more serious, issue.



There are telltale signs during exercise that signal a change is beginning to take place. The first apparent symptom is usually a feeling of shakiness. This could be mild or the individual may mistake it as overworking their muscles. Since working out tires the muscles and sometimes gives a temporary feeling of being shaky if overexerted, it might not immediately register with a diabetic.



The way to tell if it is your muscles that are responding to the workout or if it is actually hypoglycemia, is that in exercise, only the specific workout muscles will shake: hypoglycemia will normally affect the entire body.



Another symptom is extreme and unusually sudden fatigue. This is your blood sugar crashing and your body responding by going into emergency management of its vital energy. It could be almost instantaneous and typically takes the person by surprise.



The exerciser will also normally experience a sudden and profound headache. This is your brain telling you the same thing that your muscles are saying: "I need sugar". Depending on how depleted your blood sugar is will determine the severity of your headache, as it could be dull to almost migraine intensity.



Anytime hypoglycemia occurs, it needs to be addressed quickly. The best way to handle this is to administer something sweet such as a fruit juice or normal soda. In a pinch, candy will work, too. Whatever you have on hand to immediately bring the blood sugar levels back up as fast as possible to stave off a worsening of the symptoms, will do.



In severe cases, exercise induced hypoglycemia can cause a diabetic to lapse into a seizure. In this instance, blood sugar has crashed dramatically to the point that the brain temporarily shuts down consciousness. At this stage it would be necessary for someone to contact emergency personnel so that the diabetic can be monitored by healthcare professionals. This is the time to mention the benefit of wearing a medical identification bracelet, sportsband or necklace identifying you as being a Type 2 diabetic - they can be a godsend in an emergency such as a severe hypoglycemic episode.

Reactive Hypoglycemia and Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome: Diagnosis and Getting Back to Normal

If you have recently been diagnosed with Reactive Hypoglycemia, or Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome, you are probably like me when I was first diagnosed. I was confused, exhausted, and didn't have a clue as to what to do because the doctors virtually did nothing for me or to help me! However, don't worry, there is hope and you can get back to a good life!



When I was first diagnosed with Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome, only after hours of researching my symptoms and suggesting Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome to the doctors, I had been struggling with all kinds of symptoms for weeks! It was scary and miserable to say the least! I knew there was a connection with what I was eating and my symptoms!



I was making frequent trips to the emergency room only to be told, "You are fine." My symptoms included tachycardia (rapid resting heart rates), panic attacks, tremors, light-headedness, freezing cold hands and feet and total confusion! However, because I didn't have "low glucose" levels as defined by the medical community, I was not diagnosed with Reactive Hypoglycemia.



Doctors checked everything on me! My heart, my brain, my pituitary, my thyroid... you name it, it was checked. I would literally go in to the ER one day, they would release me the next, and then admit me later the same day. Then, after being in and out of their hospital for six long days, they simply told me, "You are free to go." Huh?



Yea! I was free to go! Free to go back home, and to go through all of the hell I went through before? Don't think so! This time I was going to do things differently. I was going to dive in and find out just what foods I could and could not eat, when to eat and how to beat this thing! I already had a suspicion that my problem was Reactive Hypoglycemia or Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome based on research I had done online (The diagnosis finally given... well somewhat anyway.)



Since I didn't have the demonstrably low glucose levels, a few folks at the doc's office gave me the soft diagnosis of Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome. (I think they were embarrassed!) Basically, I have all the same symptoms of Reactive Hypoglycemia without actually having low glucose levels. So, knowing this, I would have thought that my endocrinologist would give me some help with my diet. Ha! Not hardly!



So, there I was, back on the net, reading studies and diets and trying to put it all together myself. Little did I know the journey was not nearly over! I had to completely redo my diet and practically run clinical trials on myself! Constantly trying to find the right amounts of foods to eat, what kinds of foods to eat and when to eat them. Personally I found that a diet high in fiber, protein, some fat and very little carbohydrates worked for me, but it was very precise. Since I worked out, I had to account for that in my diet and provide the proper nutrition needed to support my workout.



The diet consisted of eating every 2 to 2.5 hours. My daily diet would be something like this: Breakfast, a tiny quarter cup of oatmeal in the morning with butter and a tablespoon of coconut oil, 3 egg whites and a serving of cottage cheese. 2 hours later a whey protein shake with a scoop of peanut butter. 2 hours later for lunch, 6 ounces of steak, a quarter of a sweet potato with butter and a cheese stick. 2 hours from that for an afternoon snack, an Atkins bar. Then, if I was working out (1 hour weight lifting workout), I would take 2 glucose tablets right before my workout and 2 during my workout. After my workout I would immediately have a sugar free, whey protein shake, and 1 to 1.5 hours from my shake I would have a steak and spinach salad with a few blueberries and feta cheese. To top it all off for the day, I would usually have yet another whey protein shake.



Today I am pretty much back to normal, although I do have small episodes here and there and am constantly learning new things about my condition and how to treat it with diet. If you are looking to get better and get a handle on Reactive Hypoglycemia or Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome, it starts with diet! Make the choice to eat better! Be determined and have hope that you will be back to feeling better soon!

Reactive Hypoglycemia Symptoms and Treatment

Hypoglycemia, also known as low glucose level, is a condition where a person's blood glucose drops below normal level. Glucose is an important source of energy for humans and without it, the body cannot function properly. Hence, when blood glucose level falls below normal level, hypoglycemia symptoms will kick in.



A few known symptoms of hypoglycemia include fatigue, hunger, mental confusion, dizziness, sweating, etc. Extremely low blood glucose level can even lead to seizure, coma and even death.



Reactive hypoglycemia is a special type of hypoglycemia that occurs in non-diabetic people. Reactive hypoglycemia is also about low blood sugar level, but the symptoms are triggered 2-3 hours after food. The reason is due to the pancreas releasing insulin well past the digestion period of the meal. This excess insulin is the main culprit for causing low blood glucose in people with reactive hypoglycemia.



Hence, treatment for reactive hypoglycemia should be based on two core objectives: Avoid "overloading" the pancreas and reducing insulin production. To achieve the above objective, sufferers are usually advised to follow a special diet plan and avoid food comprising mainly of simple carbohydrates.



There are two types of carbohydrates, simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are foods that are easily converted into glucose, ready to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This rapid absorption of glucose will cause a sharp spike in blood glucose and this often the main cause of reactive hypoglycemia. Thus, avoid intake of food with simple carbohydrates. A few examples would be: white rice, white bread, candy, chocolates, ice cream, cakes, etc. Generally, highly processed foods are also foods that are high in simple carbohydrates.



Complex carbohydrates, unlike simple carbohydrates, are more difficult to digest and breakdown. Thus, the conversion and absorption of glucose is also slowed down. For these reasons, complex carbohydrates are especially beneficial to reactive hypoglycemia. A few examples of food high in complex carbohydrates would be: brown rice, whole grain bread, oatmeal, vegetables, etc.

Hypoglycemia - Your Body, Sugary Foods and the Liver - Part 1

Hypoglycemia is the medical term for lower than normal blood glucose. Here's the vicious cycle: A sugary food is eaten. Blood sugar rises rapidly. The pancreas produces a large amount of insulin to dispense the sugar. If the adrenal glands do not produce the counter-balancing hormone to signal the end of insulin production, it is possible for blood sugar levels to fall below acceptable levels.



When this happens, the signs of hypoglycemia appear; fatigue, headaches, irritability, etc. The typical response is the consumption of either a sugary food or an adrenal stimulant like coffee, cola or nicotine. The cycle is repeated again and again, resulting in weakened organs and glands, and an accumulation of toxins.



Refined and processed foods, like acid-forming foods, are devoid of most minerals and upset the acid-alkaline ratio of the body. Vitamins and minerals are needed for the efficient use of foods. When refined carbohydrates are eaten, the nutrients needed are not available as nature intended. Therefore, the body must draw upon its reserves and then on the minerals in bones and teeth. This can lead to a myriad of health problems, from hypoglycemia and diabetes, to dental caries, osteoporosis, nervousness and depression.



Stress is another problem. One of our body's reactions to stress is to produce epinephrine (adrenaline), intended to give us short bursts of strength, by releasing a flood of glucose molecules from the liver into the bloodstream. One epinephrine molecule is thought to cause the release of about 30,000 molecules of glucose. Unfortunately, our days are filled with stressful situations that our bodies react to.



Stress can also cause us to retain belly fat. Cortisol (hydrocortisone), the stress hormone, and cortisone basically works against insulin. What people may not realize is that the fat itself causes hormonal imbalances, which only add to the problem.



Hypoglycemia can also be a symptom of liver dysfunction. A poorly functioning liver can cause digestive problems, cravings for sugar, unstable blood sugar levels, the onset of type 2 diabetes, immune disorders, abnormal absorption of fats, and other metabolic problems.



The liver can be damaged by many things, including alcohol, tobacco and smog but most often the cause is drugs (prescription and over the counter, including Tylenol). These same factors can also impair the function of other vital organs. Fortunately, the liver can regenerate itself and, once the culprits are eliminated, the liver will return to normal functionality.



So, hypoglycemia may not only be due to an inappropriate insulin response but possibly to a weak or sluggish liver. In addition to the toxins mentioned, the consumption of large amounts of protein can also burden the liver.