Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar is a problem that is much over-looked by many doctors today. It is a condition that usually results from an over active pancreas (too much insulin) and an under active adrenal gland.

Let's explain that a little further: let's say you ate a candy bar (for example), within a matter of minutes the blood sugar level rises substantially. When this happens the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas are stimulated to secrete insulin, the insulin tells the liver to convert excess blood sugar to glycogen (the form sugar is stored as in the body). Now, when the blood sugar drops below the normal level the adrenal glands are stimulated to secrete a hormone to tell the liver to change the glycogen back to glucose (blood sugar) so the body can make use of it. In diabetes there is not sufficient amount of insulin therefore the blood sugar level remains high. But, in hypoglycemia, because the pancreas is over active, it is secreting too much insulin, thereby, lowering the blood sugar too much (below normal limits). As mentioned before, when this happens the adrenal glands secrete a hormone to raise the blood sugar level but in hypoglycemia the adrenals are under active therefore they are unable to raise the blood sugar level sufficiently. We now have a state of low blood sugar which will result in a variety of possible symptoms.

Following a diet high in complex carbohydrates and moderately high in protein and fats (oils - unsaturated) is essential to first controlling and then the treatment of hypoglycemia. This should consist of either 5 to 6 small meals per day or 3 normal moderate meals with snacks in between. All simple carbohydrates (sugars in the form of sugar, honey, molasses, fructose and fruits etc.) must be avoided altogether. Fruits and some other sweeteners (such as molasses, pure maple syrup, and acacia or tupelo honey) MAY be added back to the diet after about 3 weeks, consult your physician. Refined sugar, caffeine and alcohol must be permanently avoided from the diet. Remember, also, to read labels because there are a lot of hidden sugars. Sugars may come in the form of not only sugar but also dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, sucrose, maltose, turbinado and corn syrup, to mention a few.

Keep in mind that the diet represents 50% or more of the total program; the efficacy of the other parts of the program as administered by your physician, the proper nutritional supplements, hinges on your following this diet. With it, results are often very good but without it nothing can be accomplished.

Beverages: Alcoholic and caffeine containing beverages (such as beer, wine, coffee, cocoa, cola, soft drinks), fruit juices* and diet soft drinks containing real fruit juice (except lemon & lime).

Vegetables: Sweet pickles and relishes and most canned vegetables (they contain sugar).

Other Vegetables**: Hominy, potatoes (okay in moderation with protein), white rice, shell beans, sweet potatoes and yams.

Fruit: Fresh fruit* (see below), dried fruit and canned fruit, blueberry, any in heavy syrup, grapes, guava, huckleberry, mango, plantain, banana.

Meat: Processed meats such as canned, cold cuts (with sweeteners), hot dogs (with sweeteners), sausage, bacon and ham containing sugar etc.

Breads: White breads, cereal, crackers, waffles, pancakes, pasta****

Sweets***: Anything containing sugar in any form (see above), barley malt.

Misc.: Cigarettes, certain drugs will affect hypoglycemia (such as alcohol containing drugs, Anacin®, cold tablets, Midol® and narcotics); mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and salad dressings.

* usually can be added back into the diet IN MODERATION in about 3 weeks

** should be avoided in more severe cases for 2 to 3 weeks

*** acacia or tupelo honey along with pure maple syrup, molasses, sorghum and sucanat sugar usually can be added back into the diet IN MODERATION in about 3 weeks

**** After 1 month or stabilized hypoglycemia pasta may be added, preferred: soy, vegetable or whole wheat

Beverages: Herb teas, decaffeinated (water process) coffee (in moderation), coffee substitutes (such as Pero, Cafix, Dacopa, Bambu and Pioneer), clear broth, nutri-sweet containing drinks (providing there is no intolerance to phenylalanine), most vegetable juices and milk

Vegetables: Most vegetables not mentioned above.

Fruits: Avocado, tomatoes (see above), lemon & lime

Meats: All unprocessed meats, fish and poultry (watch out for batters and breadings - they may contain sugar)

Breads and grains: Most whole grain breads can be tolerated in moderation, brown rice and whole grains

Sweets: (See above,) Nutri-sweet containing desserts (providing there is no phenylalanine intolerance); Acacia and Tupelo honey only, succinate sugar, Splenda® (in Canada).

Fats and Oils: Oils are essential for certain hormone production so the use of butter, cream, whole milk (if tolerated), vegetable oils are necessary to maintain a well balanced diet. Animal fats will not affect hypoglycemia but are best to keep to a minimum.

Snacks: Protein - meat, fish, foul, shell fish, cheese, dairy products and eggs, all nuts and nut butters (including peanuts). Every two hours until stabilized. Two spirilina tablets may be substituted

Fruits: (in moderation after hypoglycemia has stabilized and with a source of protein) Best choices (lower carbohydrates) - Boysenberry, cantaloupe, casaba melon, coconut (fresh), cranberry, fruit salad (no grapes), gooseberry, honeydew melon, lemon-lime, strawberry. Higher carbohydrate choice: limited amounts - Apple, apricot, blackberry, cherry, dewberry, grapefruit, loganberry, orange, peach, pear, pineapple, plum, raspberry, tangerine, elderberry.

Below are a couple suggested menus, not something you need to stick to strickly but to give you an idea how to eat.

Breakfast: 2 eggs, 1 slice whole grain bread

1 glass milk or other acceptable beverage

Snack: 1 oz. cheese, nuts, protein tablets or combination of nuts and vegetables (celery or carrot sticks)

Lunch: Hamburg patty, Salad with oil and vinegar, sauteed mushrooms with butter, Acceptable beverage

Snack: Same as above

Dinner: Broiled chicken, Mixed raw vegetables, Acceptable beverage

Snack: Same as above

Breakfast: Hot oat meal with milk; sweetened with Equal®

1 Slice whole grain toast

1 Glass milk or other acceptable beverage

Snack: See MENU I

Lunch: Tuna salad with celery

Cheese wedge

Lettuce, olives, radishes

Herb tea

Snack: Same

Dinner: Roast beef or turkey

Carrots, Potato, Salad with oil and vinegar

Nutri-sweet sweetened jello

Herb tea

1 Cup peanut butter (unsweetened) or other nut butter or combination

1/4 Cup unsweetened carob powder

1/2 Cup powdered milk or protein powder or combination

1 tsp. pure vanilla

1/4 Cup (if allowed by physician) acacia or tupelo honey; or pure maple syrup or combination

1/2 Cup melted butter

(optional) sunflower seeds and/or nuts

(optional) sesame seeds

Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Form into balls & roll in sesame seeds if desired or pat into pan & cut into squares. Chill.

The diet is about half of the treatment for hypoglycemia. The other half of the treatment is a supplement providing support for the adreanl glands, pancreas, liver etc. to help maintain a proper blood sugar level and to help build up the affected glands. Call or write if you are interested in obtaining the hypoglycemic supplement.

Remember to read all labels, many foods that you would not think, may have hidden sugars in one form or another.©1987, 1998