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Hypoglycemia
(Low Blood Sugar)

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Viewer Discussions: Diets and Treatments

Patients discussions on diet and treatment experience for hypoglycemia

"I am a 56 year old woman, 5' 7" tall. In June I weighed 214 lbs and began a low carbohydrate diet. In the fall I started having severe headaches. I went to the doctor and she said I had a sinus infection, and prescribed antibiotics. After taking them, I still had the headaches. In the meantime, my husband was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I was messing with his blood sugar monitor, and came up 26 once and 'lo' once. When I went back to the doctor about my headaches, I mentioned this to her, and she said I was probably going too low on carbohydrates. I also discovered that I wasn't eating enough calories, (shows the importance of tracking what you eat). After increasing both the calories and carbohydrates, my blood sugar tested this morning at 97. However, I am still having the headaches, but not a severe. Low blood sugar may not be the cause of my headaches, but I am so glad I talked to my doctor about it. I could have been much worse off than just a headache if I had continued with my eating habits. " - Lucky Lady

"Eating small meals between breakfast lunch and dinner is essential, i.e.: banana, cheese and whole grain crackers, peanut butter on apple slices. Never slip breakfast, your body needs a constant source of energy or blood sugar will start off low, first thing in the morning. I keep a brown paper bag in my nightstand to breathe into if hyperventilation-type symptoms set in (usually in the evening after I am emotionally and or physically drained). Visualize yourself calming down and control your breathing, drink sips of water, then orange juice or a small amount of a soda to replace the necessary sugar into your system. Follow up with cheese and crackers. The hypoglycemic reaction dissipates if you feel that you can eat something. I am exhausted after these episodes and need to rest. Stay positive and learn to see what triggers the symptoms. Exercise to help manage stress, that can trigger symptoms. Learn to prioritize, type-A people need to know their limits. These symptoms are scary but they do pass. They can be managed and they sometimes come out of nowhere it seems. Educate those around you and let them know that they can offer reassurance that you will be fine." - Female

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Hypoglycemia Overview

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is a commonly perceived problem. In actuality, while some or many of the symptoms may be present, it is rarely confirmed or documented. The presence of true, documented hypoglycemia in the absence of diabetes treatment must be evaluated comprehensively by an endocrinologist. Hypoglycemia most often affects those at the extremes of age, such as infants and the elderly, but may happen at any age. Generally, hypoglycemia is defined as a serum glucose level (the amount of sugar or glucose in your blood) below 70 mg/dL.

As a medical problem, hypoglycemia is diagnosed by the presence of three key features (known as Whipple's triad). Whipple's triad is:

symptoms consistent with hypoglycemia,
a low plasma glucose concentration, and
relief of symptoms after the plasma glucose level is raised.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia typically appear at levels below 60 mg/dL. Some people may feel symptoms above this level. Levels below 50 mg/dL affect brain function.

The body regulates its glucose level—the primary source of energy for the brain, muscles, and other essential cells - by the actions of different hormones. These hormones include insulin (which lowers the blood sugar level) and other chemicals which raise blood sugar (such as glucagon, growth hormone, and epinephrine).

Both insulin and glucagon are manufactured in the pancreas, an organ near the stomach which assists the digestive tract. Special cells in the pancreas, called beta cells, make insulin. Alpha cells in the pancreas make glucagon.
The role of insulin is to help in the absorption of glucose from the blood by causing it to be stored in the liver or be transported into other tissues of the body (for metabolism or storage).
Glucagon increases the amount of glucose in the blood by breaking down stored glucose (starch, called glycogen) and releasing it from the liver into the bloodstream.
Insulin and glucagon are usually correctly balanced if the liver and pancreas are functioning normally.

Traditionally considered a stress hormone, epinephrine (or adrenalin) is made in the adrenal gland and in certain cells in the central nervous system. Epinephrine also elevates blood glucose levels by making glucose available for the body during a time of stress. When this mechanism is not working properly, hypoglycemia can result. Other hormones also help in raising the level of blood glucose, like cortisol made by the adrenal gland and growth hormone made by the pituitary gland.