I was diganosed with hypoglycemia over a year ago. For those of you who aren't too sure what it is exactly, it's pretty much the OPPOSITE of diabetes. My blood sugar spikes down very low, and I end up passing out--One of the times I passed out, I suffered a closed head injury from hitting my head on the back of a lab bench. To prevent this happening, I have to refrain from sugar (unless I'm eating it with a meal, then I'm okay), and I have to snack frequently--Every 2 hours! I'm supposed to snack on things that contain simple carbohydrates or protein (things like crackers, soy milk, etc.)
Snacking often and being on a diet do not go hand in hand....that's what made me gain weight in the first place! I'm tired of being overweight, but at the same time, I really don't want to pass out again =(
Eat small meals and make sure they contain good carbs. These good carbs will help keep your blood sugar at a stable level.
Snacking isn't necessarily sabatoge for a diet plan. Infact, snacking frequently keeps your metabolism going because each time you eat, you have to digest the food, which burns calories.
SHANE has the right idea I think, KITTY. I have had a problem with this for quite a while now and when my sugars dip too low, I feel nauseated and dizzy (not a pleasant feeling at all). I have to snack too and that makes it harder to lose, but not impossible.
I like to have apples, cheese, yogurt, other fruits like pears or peaches, whole wheat soda crackers, Quaker Rice Cakes, cukes with vinegar, celery with cheese, skim milk, tea, and so on. I also sip on water; it seems to help, but I'm not really sure why as it has no energy in it; hydration, maybe!
The biggest key for me is not over-eating those carbs (as in cereal, popcorn, and such); I limit those w/wh soda crackers to 4-8 per serving. You seem to be doing well; you are losing and only have about 4 lbs to go.
Last edited by Justwant2Bhealthy; 10-28-2007 at 10:42 PM.
Yup, what they said. I'm hypoglycemic too. I've been through that horrible five hour glucose tolerance test twice.
Honestly, I've been much better controlled since I've been watching my weight. All you have to do is spread your calorie consumption out over the day. The snack that keeps you from dipping too low does not have to be much (three peices of celery with a smear of peanutbutter for instance) and it doesn't have to be extra calories.
If you have packed salad, cheese and whole wheat crackers in your lunch, just nibble a cracker or two with part of your cheese at 10 o'clock or so. Save your fruit and yogurt for 3 o'clock-ish.
Even a few mouthfuls of milk or a sturdy splash of cream in your coffee can help tide you over.
I also have hypoglycemia and hate the having to snack part to but it really does speed up your metabolism by eating frequent small meals. What do you guys use for snacks? Would you say the best snacks would be fruit?
RUDY ~ my doctor recommended fruit ie an apple; I tried the other things on my own (see post above). Keep it small and varied, ie I cut up cheese in one inch squares. Even a nice cup of tea can help ...
Snacking and being on a diet GO hand in hand. Eating every few hours keeps your blood sugar more even and keeps you from getting too hungry before the next meal. Complex carbs are good for you and your blood sugar. Whole grain crackers, milk, fruit, etc. Simple carbs are bad for everyone, even though we sucumb occasionally. Sugar has no redeeming value.
I have the same trouble, which is why I have always has a hard time dieting. This is the diet I follow and it helps A LOT.
Eat 5-6 meals a day, 2-3 hours apart. Each meal I eat has 2-3 oz of protein, 5 oz of yams or oatmeal (They REALLY help keep blood sugar stable longer for me) and 1 cup of veggies. When I feel my blood sugar getting low I drink Amazake rice shakes. They come in flavors like almond and hazelnut and you can pick them up at health food stores.
Anyway, I just wanted to share with you because I know how hard it can be to find the right diet with hypoglycemia. I found it really put my in touch with what exactly my body needed... it took a while to get to that point, but it's a pretty neat feeling. If you (or anyone else) is interested and what any more info just let me know and I'd be happy to send you recipes/more info. =)
Location: somewhere on the west coast in the mountains
Posts: 6
i totally hear you
i deal with this on a day to day basis except my daughter is type 1 diabetic and she is 7 and a half....we've done this 4 five years now and like you she can't have the sugar and eats every 2 hrs....she's gone as low as 11 mg/dl
but because she get s so many ketones she is skinny
healthy eating is the way to go...good carbs and protein...thats
what we do to....
i'm sorry and i hear ya
I, too, am Hypoglycaemic, and I haven't had any problems. I eat Low Fat and I keep peanuts and raisens on hand at all times. The peanuts and raisens keep my sugar levels where they need to be without putting on the weight. When I feel that my sugar levels are dropping I just eat a few raisens or peanuts and I am fine.
You might want to talk to your doctor about your caffeine intake as well. Hypoglycemia runs in my family and my father's doctor told him to limit caffeine as well as sugar. I'm not sure how it affects your blood sugar, but it does. On days when my dad had caffeine in the mornings (black tea) he had more problems.
Hypoglycaemia
