Diet Plans For Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia means that you have low blood sugar. People with diabetes often experience low blood sugar levels. Certain medications, excessive alcohol consumption, some critical illnesses and hormone deficiencies can also cause hypoglycemia without diabetes. Reactive hypoglycemia is a condition that causes low blood sugar within a four-hour window after meals. Eating food raises your blood sugar levels, but people who have hypoglycemia make more insulin than is needed when they eat. This excess insulin leads to the drop in their blood sugar level. Hypoglycemia is a lifelong condition, but you can help manage its symptoms through your diet. Follow these rules of thumb: Eat small meals every 3 to 4 hours throughout the day, rather than 3 large meals per day. Avoid foods high in saturated fats or trans fats. Choose foods with a low glycemic index score. Reduce or eliminate processed and refined sugars from your diet. Choose complex carbohydrates over simple carbohydrates. Reduce or eliminate alcoholic drinks, and never mix alcohol with sugar-filled mixers, such as fruit juice. Eat lean protein. Eat foods high in soluble fiber. Here are some ideas for a diet plan for people with hypoglycemia. You should eat a small meal as soon as possible after waking. A good breakfast should consist of protein, such as scrambled eggs, plus a complex carbohydrate. Try these: hard boiled eggs and a slice of whole-grain bread with cinnamon (several small studies indicate that cinnamon may help reduce blood sugar) a small serving of steel-cut oatmeal, like this protein-packed oatmeal with blueberries, sunflower seeds, and agave plain Greek yogurt with berries, honey, and oatmeal In addition, be mindful of your consumption of juices. Stick to 100% juice varieties that do not have added sweeten Continue reading >>
> When Blood Sugar Is Too Low
No matter what we're doing — even when we're sleeping — our brains depend on glucose to function. Glucose is a sugar that comes from the foods we eat, and it's also formed and stored inside the body. It's the main source of energy for the cells of our body, and it's carried to each cell through the bloodstream. The blood glucose level is the amount of glucose in the blood. When blood glucose levels (also called blood sugar levels) drop too low, it's called hypoglycemia (pronounced: hi-po-gly-SEE-me-uh). Very low blood sugar levels can cause severe symptoms that need to be treated right away. People with diabetes can have low blood sugar levels because of the medicines they have to take to manage their diabetes. They may need a hormone called insulin or diabetes pills (or both) to help their bodies use the sugar in their blood. These medicines help take the sugar out of the blood and get it into the body's cells, which makes the level of sugar in the blood go down. But sometimes it's a tricky balancing act and blood sugar levels can get too low. People with diabetes need to keep their blood sugars from getting too high or too low. Part of keeping blood sugar levels in a healthy range is having good timing, and balancing when and what they eat and when they exercise with when they take medicines. Some things that can make low blood sugar levels more likely to happen are: skipping meals and snacks not eating enough food at a meal or snack exercising longer or harder than usual without eating some extra food getting too much insulin not timing the insulin doses properly with meals, snacks, and exercise Also, certain things may increase how quickly insulin gets absorbed into the bloodstream and can make hypoglycemia more likely to occur. For example, taking a hot shower Continue reading >>
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The Bedtime Snack Unraveled
Despite what you may have heard, it is not only “okay,” but actually VERY IMPORTANT to eat a bedtime snack! The common response to this is, “But I thought we weren’t supposed to eat after (insert time here)?” Let’s unravel this myth, by looking at the following three arguments: 1) Bedtime snacks provide unnecessary calories. If it were all about calories, then this argument may be legit, but…it’s not. So much more goes into metabolism than just calories; food quality and the type of macronutrients (P, F and C) consumed, timing of when you’re eating, hormone regulation, sleep, and the list goes on! The reason it’s important to eat a bedtime snack is because, in order to support your metabolism and therefore maintain your weight/promote weight loss, you need stable blood sugar levels. The reasoning for the combination of carbohydrate and fat before bed is because the carbs bring your blood sugar levels back up slightly (they’ve been falling since dinner or the time you last ate) and the fat slows the assimilation of the carbs into your blood stream, promoting nice stable blood sugar levels all night long. When blood sugar levels are stable, your fat BURNING hormone, glucagon, can do it’s awesome job (not to mention, the other sweet benefits of balanced blood sugar levels, including consistent energy levels, focus, stable moods, and no cravings just to name a few). If you take your blood sugar levels for a daily—maybe hourly—rollercoaster ride, you are creating an enviroment that your fat STORING hormone, insulin, THRIVES in! By following the Three-Three Rule that I outline in my article, Back to the Basics, you’re setting yourself up for success by promoting stable blood sugar levels all day long. Who wouldn’t want to create this same type Continue reading >>
I Have Low Blood Sugar - What Should I Eat?
The question: I have been diagnosed with low blood sugar. Is there a special diet I should follow? The answer: There isn't a specific diet for low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, but there are dietary modifications that can help prevent reactions altogether. I have developed meal plans for many clients with hypoglycemia who now experience no symptoms at all. Hypoglycemia can be a concern for people with diabetes taking certain blood sugar-lowering medications, but it can also affect people who don't have diabetes. Symptoms can include headache, shakiness, weakness, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, confusion and blurred vision. Diet isn't the underlying cause of hypoglycemia, but altering what you eat – and when you eat – can prevent your blood sugar from dropping too low if you're susceptible to the condition. My goal with clients is to prevent hypoglycemia from happening in the first place. And to do that, it's important to ensure glucose enters your bloodstream at a steady, even pace throughout the day. It's critical to eat every two to three hours to prevent your blood glucose from falling too low. Don't skip meals and include a snack midmorning and midafternoon. Be sure to carry snacks with you to prevent a hypoglycemic episode when you are away from home. Meals and snacks should also include carbohydrate-rich foods with a low glycemic index (GI), which means they're digested slowly and, as a result, converted to blood glucose gradually. Low GI foods include bran cereals, large flake and steel cut oatmeal, stone ground whole wheat, pasta, milk, yogurt, soy beverages, apples, pears, oranges, dried apricots, nuts and seeds, and legumes. Your meals and snacks should also include a source of protein to moderate swings in blood glucose. Lean meat, poultry, fish, low fat chees Continue reading >>
7 Healthy Snacks To Manage Blood Sugar
High blood sugar levels are bad news for your body. So you have to choose carefully when it comes to choosing snacks. You want to keep hunger and hypoglycemia at bay without increasing your blood sugar. High-fiber, slowly digested, healthy snacks will curb your hunger while producing a steady release of blood sugar to help control diabetes. Just remember to balance those… more from this guide Continue reading >>
100 Pwd’s Answer What Is Their Go To Solution For A Low Blood Sugar
If you are a PWD (Person with Diabetes), or know someone who is, you know the frustration and fear that comes along with a low blood sugar. Treating a low blood sugar can be challenging, especially with the brain fog and confusion that many PWDs experience during the moment. Everyone is given a ‘recommended’ treatment by their doctors and endocrinology team, but throughout the process of living with diabetes, you probably have developed your own little tips and tricks that have helped you work through your low blood sugars. The Diabetes Council has interviewed 100 People with Diabetes and parents of Type 1 kiddos to share with us their “Go to treatment for low blood sugars”. We received an overwhelming response and had some amazing treatment methods shared with us, that we feel will benefit you greatly. Read on to find out what those that live and deal with diabetes on a daily basis have found to help treat low blood sugars efficiently. 1. “Juice, and Crackers”, “If I don’t have either of those I use glucose tablets”. Jaimie Rose Chaffin 2. “Peanut butter crackers or half a peanut butter sandwich”. Jacqueline Nichole, a mother of a Type 1 3. “Either a juice box or a glucose liquid “shot”. Rhon Marquess, a mother of a Type 1 4. “For me it’s a Sunny D”. Beth Ford 5. “Coke or Orange”. Susanne Malhiet-Fontenot 6. “Small biscuit and a juice”. Audrey Kerr 7.“Starburst when she’s on the go. Juice at home/school. More recently I started using a half a banana at night for borderline numbers to give a little boost, and it’s worked really well.” Wendy Rose, a mother of a Type 1 8. “Usually fruit snacks.. it still amazes me how she can chew them without chocking and being asleep the whole time”. Amy Ermel, a mother of a Type 1 9 Continue reading >>
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Eight Snack Foods For Better Blood Sugar
If blood sugar control is a concern, avoid foods high in sugars and refined carbohydrates. Instead, select snacks that combine protein, fiber and complex carbohydrates, as they are digested more slowly, preventing blood sugar spikes and helping you feel full longer. Keeping portions reasonable and avoiding mindless eating, such as in front of the TV, also helps keep your snacks from piling on too many calories over the course of the day. Rich in protein, plain yogurt is filling and versatile. Nonfat Greek yogurt has a thick texture and a rich, tangy flavor. If plain yogurt is too tart for your taste, choose a reduced-sugar flavored yogurt, add some berries or other fruit for sweetness, stir in a drizzle of honey or add a bit of non-caloric sweetener. For a dip for vegetables, add a bit of dried onion bits and herbs such as dill to Greek yogurt. Fruit To satisfy a sweet tooth, try non-starchy, high-fiber fruit, such as an apple, pear, orange or a handful of berries. You can add some protein in the form of string cheese or yogurt. If you need more of a carbohydrate boost, add a couple of whole-grain crackers to your snack. Vegetables Low in calories and high in fiber and complex carbohydrates, raw veggies such as carrots, celery sticks, jicama, bell peppers or cucumbers make a good substitute for chips when you crave something crunchy. Add a shot of protein by dipping veggies in a bit of hummus or herb-flavored yogurt. Nuts and Seeds A study reported in "Diabetes Care" found that eating 2 ounces of nuts daily instead of carbohydrate-rich snacks improved blood sugar control and cholesterol levels in type 2 diabetes. Walnuts, almonds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds and their ilk are rich in protein, fiber and healthful fats. Eat nuts out of hand, or spread peanut butter lightly on Continue reading >>
How To Maintain Normal Blood Sugar
If you are one of the millions of people who has prediabetes, diabetes, metabolic syndrome or any other form of “insulin resistance,” maintaining normal blood sugar levels can be challenging. Over the past several decades, these chronic disorders have swept through the U.S. and many other nations, reaching epidemic proportions and causing serious, but often preventable, side effects like nerve damage, fatigue, loss of vision, arterial damage and weight gain. Elevated blood sugar levels maintained for an extended period of time can push someone who is “prediabetic” into having full-blown diabetes (which now affects about one in every three adults in the U.S.). (1) Even for people who aren’t necessarily at a high risk for developing diabetes or heart complications, poorly managed blood sugar can lead to common complications, including fatigue, weight gain and sugar cravings. In extreme cases, elevated blood sugar can even contribute to strokes, amputations, coma and death in people with a history of insulin resistance. Blood sugar is raised by glucose, which is the sugar we get from eating many different types of foods that contain carbohydrates. Although we usually think of normal blood sugar as being strictly reliant upon how many carbohydrates and added sugar someone eats, other factors also play a role. For example, stress can elevate cortisol levels, which interferes with how insulin is used, and the timing of meals can also affect how the body manages blood sugar. (2) What can you do to help avoid dangerous blood sugar swings and lower diabetes symptoms? As you’ll learn, normal blood sugar levels are sustained through a combination of eating a balanced, low-processed diet, getting regular exercise and managing the body’s most important hormones in othe Continue reading >>
Good Snack Before Bed For Low Blood Sugar
Good Snack Before Bed for Low Blood Sugar by Ashley Ritzo, R.D. Snacking before bed is often said to be detrimental to your health, but a small bite to eat before hitting the hay can actually help stabilize your blood sugar levels while you sleep. Long periods of fasting -- like overnight -- can result in body processes that lead to suboptimal blood sugar levels. 1. Basic Physiology The level of sugar in your blood is regulated by hormones -- primarily insulin and glucagon. Insulin’s job is to pull the sugar out of circulation in your blood and deposit it into your cells, which can then use it for energy. Glucagon’s job is to pull sugar out of your body’s stores when not enough is circulating in your blood to provide adequate fuel to your brain and muscles. If these hormones aren't working properly or if you run out of stored sugar and your blood sugar level falls under the normal range of 70 mg/dL you can experience symptoms of low blood sugar. Signs of low blood sugar include shakiness, dizziness, sweating, extreme hunger and sleepiness. 2. The Somogyi Effect Sometimes people with diabetes experience the Somogyi effect, or rebound hyperglycemia. This occurs when the blood sugar dips too low – often in the middle of the night – and the glucagon hormone triggers a release of stored sugar to correct the low blood sugar. The result is a high blood sugar reading the following morning. Having a snack before bed can help keep the blood sugar from dipping too low during the night and provides a more desirable blood sugar level the next morning. 3. Carbohydrates A good bedtime snack should contain carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are the preferred energy source for your brain and muscles. Including them in your snack is important for preventing low blood sugar. When selec Continue reading >>
If You Have Diabetes, What Is Your Go To Emergency Snack For Low Blood Sugar? We're Looking For Some New Ideas!
Submit My husbands birthday is coming up and we are going for dinner then he and our friends may venture elsewhere. My question is if you go out how do you explain the diabetes kit? Do bouncers even care? (Needles, lancets etc) Submit Submit Submit I have been been getting really low blood sugar (around the 50s) ever since I came back to college a week and a half ago. I'm usually in class when it starts to happen or really far away from my dorm. Also I eat a healthy well balanced breakfast and lunch. The only thing is that I have to walk a lot since it is a really big campus. It is really scaring me. Does anyone have any opinions on what can help me? My son Brad was asked to speak last night at a JDRF walkathon fund raising evening about his experience with AFREZZA the new Inhaled Insulin. People were VERY excited. Over 100 attendees. He is 26&T1 Continue reading >>
20 Delicious Low-sugar Snacks
Low-Sugar Snacking The best snacks for type 2 diabetes have minimal added sugar and combine protein and/or healthy fats with high–quality carbohydrates—an ideal mix for keeping hunger at bay and blood sugar levels on an even keel. Choose one or two of the following snacks per day; I’ve also provided the total meal breakdowns for people who use the food-exchange system, and the total calories and grams of carbs for those who opt for carb–counting. Continue reading >>
5 Healthy Snacks For People With (or Without!) Diabetes
Yes, you can snack if you have diabetes When your stomach starts to rumble, you need a snack that can curb your hunger without blowing your blood sugar. Just like meals, snacks should be a combination of fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Aim for one that consists of 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrates and 100 to 200 calories (depending on your meal plan and medication). Here are five that typically get a seal of approval from diabetes educators and nutritionists. Whole-grain crackers, grapes, and cottage cheese Nutrient-rich whole grains like cracked wheat, whole wheat, rye, and quinoa can lower blood sugar and cholesterol. The cottage cheese adds protein to stabilize blood sugar, curb hunger pangs, and provide calcium for strong bones. Buy your favorite whole-grain crackers, and make sure that the first ingredient is whole-wheat flour or another whole grain, such as rye. (Even if the ingredient list says "wheat flour," it is not a whole-grain food unless it specifies "whole-wheat flour.") Arrange on a small plate 2 crackers, 1/4 cup nonfat cottage cheese, and 1/4 cup grapes. Serving size: 2 crackers, 1/4 cup cottage cheese, and 1/4 cup grapes. Nutritional information—Calories: 138, Total Carbohydrate: 21.2 g (7%), Dietary Fiber: 1.5 g (6%), Sugars 11.9 g Homemade popcorn Popcorn is high in fiber, and when made from scratch is an all-natural food without additives and artificial flavorings. Pour 1 tablespoon of mild-flavored oil such as canola into a heavy-bottomed medium-large pot. Cover the bottom of the pot with 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels spread in a thin layer. (If the kernels are too crowded, not all of them will pop.) Cover the pot and heat on medium, shaking the pot every minute or so until all of the kernels have popped. Take care not to cook too long, which could Continue reading >>
Foods To Boost Low Blood Sugar
People with diabetes try hard to keep their blood sugar from getting too high, but sometimes they succeed too well. Certain diabetes medications -- including insulin injections and pills such as chlorpropamide (Diabinese) -- can sometimes make blood sugar too low, a condition called hypoglycemia. People with diabetes can also get low blood sugar simply by skimping at mealtime, drinking too much alcohol, or overexercising. Low blood sugar is usually mild and easy to fix, but if you wait too long, you can lose consciousness. If your blood sugar level drops below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or if you notice signs of hypoglycemia -- shakiness, dizziness, light-headedness, confusion, anxiety, weakness, heart palpitations, blurry vision, hunger, or sweating -- you can bring your level up again with a quick, sugary snack. If you are away from home and experience symptoms, and you can't test your blood sugar first, it's better to have a small snack before you become even more ill. Here are some proven sugar-boosting options: One-half cup of fruit juice One-half cup of non-diet soda 1 cup of milk A small handful of hard candy 1 tablespoon of either sugar or honey 3 or 4 glucose tablets About 15 minutes after your snack, check your blood sugar again. If you're still below 70, try another dose of sugar. Check again 15 minutes later, and keep the pattern up until your blood sugar is in a normal range. It's important to treat low blood sugar as quickly as possible. If you wait too long, you could pass out. For this reason, you should keep a sugary snack within reach at all times. Even if you aren't able to check your blood sugar, you can head off hypoglycemia whenever you get that sinking feeling. References National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. H Continue reading >>
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4 Ways To Keep Your Blood Sugar Steady
You’re having a hot or cold sweat, losing your concentration, and you feel shaky. Maybe you’re a little nauseated or even faint. Most of us know the feeling. Most of us have been there at one time or another, especially women. The blood sugar crash, or what my colleague at The UltraWellness Center, Dr. Mark Hyman, calls “The Food Emergency,” is super common. It’s an awful feeling that can interfere with work, productivity, and even our safety if it happens while we’re driving! As a young mom, keeping up with a breastfeeding baby and toddlers, then again later as a medical resident working insanely long hours, I often skipped meals, or at least skimped on them, only to find myself at the bottom of the blood sugar barrel. And what happens when you land there? You’re body goes into survival mode – literally – and you will eat ANYTHING in front of you. Since most Americans live in a sea of quick carbohydrate and sugar “fixes,” we grab what is quick and right in front of us. Most often that is bread, chips, a cookie or brownie, a soda, juice, a candy bar, or other quick acting sugary food. And hey, in a pinch, it really does feel life saving. But in the long run, this is not a fix at all. In fact, the cycles of low and high blood sugar, and the reliance on sweets and carbs to rescue us from our blood sugar crashes are a key cause of our national diabetes and obesity epidemics. And did you know that Alzheimers disease is now considered a form of diabetes? YIKES! Over time I learned how to keep my blood sugar steady, completely prevent blood sugar crashes, and always have access to good quality foods. Here are my 4 key tips so you can do the same! 1. Eat a quality breakfast. What you eat for breakfast sets the barometer for your day’s blood sugar. Eat a Continue reading >>
Diabetic Snacks: What To Eat And What To Skip
"Don't eat between meals." That's one piece of advice diabetics might want to take with a grain of salt. If you go more than four or five hours between meals, a mid-afternoon snack might be just what the doctor ordered to help you keep your blood sugar steady. Snacking is also important if you're taking medication that could cause a blood-sugar low between meals. Discuss with your doctor or a registered dietitian what snacking approach is right for you. Keep your snacks to 150 calories or less The danger of snacks is that they can become more like extra meals if you go overboard. First, make sure you're truly hungry—and not just bored or stressed or craving chocolate—before reaching for a snack. Then limit yourself to 150 calories per snack. (Cutting calories is easier than you think.) This will help keep your snacking "honest." After all, it's hard to find a candy bar with only 150 calories. And if you're hankering for a candy bar, but a healthier snack doesn't appeal, you're probably not truly hungry. Beware of low-fat snacks Studies show that people tend to eat about 28 percent more of a snack when it's low-fat because they think they're saving on calories. But low-fat snacks, such as cookies, only have about 11 percent fewer calories than their full-fat counterparts. Stick to the same amount you'd eat if you thought the snack was full-fat. Need more snack ideas? Check out these delicious snacks for adults. Check the ingredients Avoid heavily processed crackers and chips. If the list of ingredients is long and has big words with lots of syllables, put it back on the shelf. Stay away from these worst eating habits for diabetics. Watch those carbs Carbohydrates are major culprits when it comes to raising blood sugar (though there are some good carbs for diabetes). Continue reading >>
