Hypoglycemia and Dysglycemia
Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar, whereas “Dysglycemia” refers to abnormal blood sugar levels from any cause which results from a disorder of blood sugar metabolism. Usually the more specific terms hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), or others are used instead, and dysglycemia is used only when a firm diagnosis has not yet been made.
Hypoglycemia is becoming major epidemic in developed countries due to the fact that people are using ever increasing amount of refined, processed and sugar laden foods. It is estimated that the average North American ingests approximately 150 pounds of refined sugar in its various forms each and every year.
Hypoglycemia and its symptoms are usually evident many years before adult onset diabetes. In fact, adult onset diabetes is a direct result of many years of symptomatic reactive hypoglycemia and by treating hypoglycemia before it leads to type II diabetes is the optimal treatment goal by restoring blood sugar mechanisms to normal by reestablishing healthy mineral, vitamin, dietary parameters and cell membrane glucose receptor kinetics.
What is Hpoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia literally means “low blood sugar” and is often mistaken for a disease when it is actually a symptom. Ingested sugars and carbohydrates trigger a release of the hormone insulin from the pancreas. Insulin helps the body turn sugars into energy and stored fats.
In some people, the amount of insulin released is too high for the amount of carbohydrates ingested, resulting in too much sugar being burned up too quickly; the loss of blood sugar results. In hypoglycemia attacks, there is too much insulin produced as a result of my glycemic index foods and not enough blood sugar, causing fatigue, weakness, loss of consciousness, and even death.
Hypoglycemia may be better described as carbohydrate intolerance: the body is unable to absorb certain carbohydrate loads effectively without adverse consequences. Different people react differently to ingested sugars and carbohydrates, with some having a higher tolerance level than others.
Although a small percentage of sufferers may have a predisposition to hypoglycemia that is a result of an inherited condition, it is most often caused by poor dietary habits that results in deficiencies of vitamin and mineral cofactors necessary for healthy blood sugar metabolism.
It can also be found in people with such disorders as schizophrenia, alcoholism, drug addiction, juvenile delinquency, hyperactivity, diabetes, and obesity. In some people, severe hypoglycemia can contribute to other illnesses such as epilepsy, allergies, asthma, ulcers, arthritis, impotence, and mental disorders.
If you suspect that you are suffering from symptoms of hypoglycemia, there is an easy way to identify if you’re at risk of developing type II diabetes factors by answering a few simple items in the following questionnaire:
Hypoglycemia Symptoms Questionnaire
Score: No = 0 Mild = 1 Moderate = 2 Severe = 3
1. Crave sweets
2. Irritable if a meal is missed
3. Feel tired or weak if a meal is missed
4. Dizziness when standing suddenly
5. Frequent headaches
6. Poor memory (forgetful) or concentration
7. Feel tired an hour or so after eating
8. Heart palpitations
9. Feel shaky at times
10. Afternoon fatigue
11. Vision blurs on occasion
12. Depression or mood swings
13. Overweight
14. Frequently anxious or nervous
Total Scoring: Less than 5 = hypoglycemia is not likely a factor
6-15 = hypoglycemia is a likely factor
Greater than 15 = hypoglycemia is extremely likely
Causes of Hypoglycemia
When you prepare healthy meals with low glycemic values it helps to keep your blood sugar levels under control, which is especially important for people with diabetes and hypoglycemia.
The rise in the blood sugar depends upon the rate of absorption and the speed with which the sugar enters the cells and is removed from the blood i.e. glycemic value. The important thing to remember is to maintain proper blood sugar levels at all times.
In most cases, people experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia do not suffer from serious illness. Rather, these symptoms are signals of food sensitivities and/or poor eating habits, especially overindulging in sweets and having a lack of fiber. Simple sugars can be found in the refined white flour of bread and pastries, in pasta and refined white rice, and in foods stripped of their natural fiber.
These sugars are absorbed by the body (GIT) too quickly, causing blood-sugar levels to rise sharply, putting the pancreas and adrenals under great stress. To compensate for the sudden rise in blood-sugar levels, large amounts of insulin are released causing a sharp fall in blood-sugar levels and if the adrenal glands fail to raise blood sugar adequately, hypoglycemia occurs and cravings for sweets and refined carbohydrates begin.
A Vicious Cycle: through repeated rapid fluctuations in blood sugar levels and repeated stress on the adrenal glands, eventually they fail leading to adrenal burnout which results in hypoglycemia and adult onset diabetes.
Conversely, if carbohydrates from a healthy meal containing vitamins, minerals and natural fiber are eaten, blood-sugar levels rise and fall more slowly, and with better control.
Note: Although reactive hypoglycemia is not measurable by blood-sugar tests, it is believed that the smallest changes are registered by the brain and manifest themselves as symptoms long before the disease itself is diagnosed.
Nutritional and Herbal Supplementation for Hypoglycemia
There are a great many vitamins, minerals, herbal supplements and other natural remedies that have been shown to effectively reduce and eliminate many symptoms of hypoglycemia by reestablishing healthy blood sugar regulating mechanisms and its underlying biochemistry.
Which therapies are chosen will be based on the root cause of the blood sugar disorder and not just the symptom. Your practitioner will carefully evaluate your situation and put together an effective protocol at treating your condition with natural remedies rather than dangerous medications that merely treat the symptom and come with extremely dangerous side effects.
Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations for Hypoglycemia
Some of the other things you can do to help with hypoglycemia include:
- All sources of caffeine should be avoided, including coffee, tea, chocolate, caffeinated sodas, or alcoholic beverages which can trigger a hypoglycemic reaction.
- A good breakfast is important to prevent the morning slump typically experienced by people suffering from hypoglycemia.
- Eat several small meals in the course of the day, including a snack before bedtime, to maintain consistent blood-sugar levels.
- Nuts and seeds are particularly valuable because they provide the essential fatty acids omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid and omega-6 linoleic acid.
- Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates.
- Exercise – is an important part of a hypoglycemia treatment and prevention plan. Regular exercise has been well-documented to prevent type II diabetes, and improves many aspects of glucose metabolism including enhancing insulin sensitivity and improving glucose tolerance in existing diabetics.
Conclusion
Overall, as in all health conditions, it’s more important to focus on the root cause and what the underlying mechanisms that are causing the condition are identified and addressed rather than just treating it symptomatically with prescription drugs and all the dangerous side effects associated with them while ignoring the cause.
Each person is encouraged to seek out a qualified healthcare practitioner in order to assess exactly which nutrients, herbs, homeopathics and natural remedies; in which combination; in what proportion are right for the particular individual and are intended at treating the root cause rather than just a symptom.
For more information on this condition and what your treatment options are, please contact us at the clinic, we would be happy to help you with any questions or concerns you may have and provide you with natural solutions to restoring optimal health, wellness and vitality.
