Hypoglycemia often goes undiagnosed, but it refers to individuals who have trouble processing glucose, a simple sugar. Often these individuals feel dizzy, have afternoon headaches, feel like only food can cure feelings of discomfort and are overweight. There are ways to control hypoglycemia and still lose weight.
Identify Your Type
Learn about hypoglycemia and its causes first. It is important to know which type of hypoglycemic you are before taking on any weight-loss program. There are three types of hypoglycemics.
If you are neuroglycopenic, you will notice a rapid rise in blood glucose within the first hours of eating, followed by a sharp drop in the second hour. This will leave you moody, volatile and erratic within the second hour after finishing a meal. This can come from gastric dumping, too large a meal and glucose tolerance problems.
If you are adrenergic, your blood sugar rises for the first three hours, followed by a rebound period from four to six hours after a meal. You will notice a feeling of tiredness or exhaustion for two hours after meals and a feeling that you are allergic to something you ate. It can also cause sweating, racing pulse or a feeling that you are trembling.
In a flat curve response, your blood glucose doesn't waver too much. You may feel fatigue, apathy or that you have poor muscle tone. This is caused by poor digestion.
Diet and Exercise
One of the good things about hypoglycemia is that it is controllable without medication. Taking a multivitamin is important -- make sure it includes niacinamide -- to help ease digestion.
Consult your physician for a list of complex carbohydrates and high-fiber foods, which will be easier for your body to digest. Some foods to avoid: simple sugars, anything with high-fructose corn syrup, high-fat cheese and dairy products, excessive amounts of bread.
Look for high-fiber foods, including eggs (unless you also have a cholesterol problem), spinach and dark leafy greens and beans.
And, walk. Walking really helps your body break down food and aids digestion. Walk 15 to 20 minutes each day and you will immediately feel better. Add weightlifting and 30 minutes of cardio activity and plan to lose about 2 lbs. each week.
If you feel faint or dizzy, make sure you are eating enough. But hunger is one of the symptoms of hypoglycemia, so it can be hard to determine if you are actually hungry. Try keeping a food journal to understand when and why your hunger hits. Then look at what you ate before the incident and try to adjust it until you are satisfied and not having hypoglycemic incidents.
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