How is hypoglycemia treated?

Question

My doctor just did a blood test and called me to say I might be hypoglycemic. How would they treat this? I don't want to take any medications.
I'm in my 20s, have low cholesterol and blood pressure, am not overweight, am not diabetic, and eat a very healthy diet. The only prescription pills I take are oral contraceptives, and I rarely take over the counter meds. I really don't want to have to take something else. How can I control this without meds?

Answer 1

No meds needed don't worry. This is controlled by diet. Lucky you, eating is the cure for this problem. Try to eat small snacks throughout your day like some fruit, yogurt, nuts, crackers or even a granola/candy bar. You will feel better. I know because my huband has it and that is what he has to do. Also, you can grow out of it and it is not a perminant thing, I know many people that have grown out of it and are just fine now. Keep a good mind and youll be fine.

Answer 2

Hypoglycemia, respectfully, is a form of diabetes. Eat several small meals per day (4-6) and have plenty of candy bars, peanutbutter, and orange juice around. The candy, peanutbutter, and orange juice will keep your blood sugar up. When you start getting a rather nervous feeling and / or unexplained headaches, and you know the headache isn't tension or illness related, try the recommendations I mentioned BEFORE taking a pain reliever.

Answer 3

we treat hypoglycemia in the hospital with sugar, assuming the person is awake enough we give juice and then something starchy (crackers). Hypoglycemia is controlled through proper diet (diabetics have to eat something before going to bed so their sugars don't crash in the middle of the night). If there's no diabeties involved you might just need to plan your eating habits out so you have a constant level of glucose in your system. And carry something sweet with you just incase your sugar levels drop suddenly. talk with your doctor about it s/he will be able to lay out your options for you.

Answer 4

Yes you can keep it in control without more pills. what you have is an imbalence of blood sugar- it is the opposite of being diabetic. So- no pills, just a good healthy diet and lots of small meals or healthy snacks.

I live with someone who has it and when they dont eat- it can get ugly! so even if you arnt "hungry" eat a peice of fruit every few hours to keep your blood sugar levels even.

Answer 5

6 small, evenly spaced meals throughout the day. Avoid sugars. Make the meals a good balance of protein and carbs.

Answer 6

Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar.

The main types of Hypoglycemia are:

* Fasting low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This type occurs when you have not eaten for many hours, such as overnight. It is frequently associated with having too much insulin in the blood.
* Non fasting low blood sugar. This type develops within 3 to 4 hours after eating. It can be caused by hereditary enzyme deficiencies such as galactosemia or by surgery to remove all or part of the stomach.

In healthy men, the blood glucose can drop to 55 mg/dl after 24 hours of fasting and to 48 mg/dl after 72 hours of fasting. In healthy women, glucose levels can be as low as 35 mg/dl after only 24 hours of fasting.

SYMPTOMS
Most symptoms of hypoglycemia occur 2-5 hours after eating. Exercise may also trigger symptoms because the body has utilized (burned-up) its fuel. The primary symptoms are:
Irritability
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Cold sweats
Hunger
Vertigo
Behavioural problems
Headaches
Mood swings
Vertigo
Allergic reactions
Mental disturbances

Eat many small meals as opposed to a few large meals to help the blood sugar level.
Choose foods with fiber
Stabilize your blood sugar by eating fiber from whole grains, beans and other legumes, vegetables, and fruit
Eat light, eat often
Spread out your meals during the day to sustain a consistent supply of absorbable sugar
Give chromium a go
Take 200 mcg a day of this essential mineral to help stabilize blood sugar swings
Cut back on refined carbs
Avoid carbohydrates that are quickly absorbed, such as sugar and white flour, which may trigger hypoglycemic reactions
Say no to alcohol and caffeine
To improve blood-sugar control, reduce or eliminate alcoholic and caffeinated drinks

Some people report an improvement in hypoglycemia episodes when eating a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet. That observation appears to conflict with research showing that increasing protein intake can impair the body’s ability to process sugar, possibly because protein increases insulin levels (insulin reduces blood sugar levels). However, some doctors have seen good results with high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets, particularly among people who do not improve with a high-fiber, high-complex-carbohydrate diet.

A holistic approach to reactive hypoglycemia is based on the belief that a number of factors may create the condition. Among them are heredity, the effects of other illnesses, emotional stress, too much or too little exercise, bad lighting, poor diet, and environmental pollution. Therefore, a number of alternative methods have been proposed as useful in treating the condition. Homeopathy, acupuncture, and applied kinesiology, for example, have been used, as have herbal remedies. One of the herbal remedies commonly suggested for hypoglycemia is a decoction (an extract made by boiling) of gentian (Gentiana lutea). It should be drunk warm 15-30 minutes before a meal. Gentian is believed to help stimulate the endocrine (hormone-producing) glands.

In addition to the dietary modifications recommended above, people with hypoglycemia may benefit from supplementing their diet with chromium, which is believed to help improve blood sugar levels. Chromium is found in whole grain breads and cereals, cheese, molasses, lean meats, and brewer's yeast. Hypoglycemics should avoid alcohol, caffeine, and cigarette smoke, since these substances can cause significant swings in blood sugar levels.

Reactive hypoglycemia

The onset of reactive hypoglycemia can be avoided or at least delayed by following the same kind of diet used to control it. While not as restrictive as the diet diabetics must follow to keep tight control over their disease, it is quite similar.

There are a variety of diet recommendations for the reactive hypoglycemic. Patients should:

* avoid overeating
* never skip breakfast
* include protein in all meals and snacks, preferably from sources low in fat, such as the white meat of chicken or turkey, most fish, soy products, or skim milk
* restrict intake of fats (particularly saturated fats, such as animal fats), and avoid refined sugars and processed foods
* be aware of the differences between some vegetables, such as potatoes and carrots. These vegetables have a higher sugar content than others (like squash and broccoli). Patients should be aware of these differences and note any reactions they have to them.
* be aware of differences found in grain products. White flour is a carbohydrate that is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, while oats take much longer to break down in the body.
* keep a "food diary." Until the diet is stabilized, a patient should note what and how much he/she eats and drinks at every meal. If symptoms appear following a meal or snack, patients should note them and look for patterns.
* eat fresh fruits, but restrict the amount they eat at one time. Patients should remember to eat a source of protein whenever they eat high sources of carbohydrate like fruit. Apples make particularly good snacks because, of all fruits, the carbohydrate in apples is digested most slowly.
* follow a diet that is high in fiber. Fruit is a good source of fiber, as is oatmeal and oat bran, which slows the buildup of sugar in the blood during digestion.

A doctor can recommend a proper diet, and there are many cookbooks available for diabetics. Recipes found in such books are equally effective in helping to control hypoglycemia.