The first step toward the natural treatment of hypoglycemia rests in your diet. And the very first change that needs to be made is the elimination of sugar . . . as well as foods made from sugar.
Great, you say. I don't use that much sugar anyway. But wait. We're not just talking about the teaspoon or so you put in your morning coffee or tea. We're talking about the nearly ubiquitous amounts of sugar that are found everywhere – and we mean everywhere.
When you eliminate sugar that means you eat no cake, candy, cookies, ice cream, sweetened cereal, canned fruit and frozen desserts, just for starters. Then you need to become even more of a savvy shopper, because you have to scour the labels at the grocery store to mine the hidden sugar from the processed and packaged foods. In fact, it's a great idea to avoid both the processed and packaged foodstuffs as much as possible – just for that reason!
It's recommended that you eliminate the use of all artificial sweeteners from your diet too.
You'll also need to stay away as much as possible from instant rice and instant potatoes, as well as white flour, soft drinks and alcohol.
Instead, the bulk of your diet should come from complex carbohydrates and fiber. Both of these categories help to stabilize the blood sugar levels. The goal is to eat the most natural, least processed forms of food possible. With our hectic lifestyles this is a tall order, but the closer you can get to this goal, the less you'll have to deal with the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Another way to reduce chances of experiencing low blood sugar is to eat your meals at regular times. Don't skip meals and don't eat late. Be sure that you include some protein at both your lunch and your dinner.
Limiting – or better yet – eliminating alcohol intake will help alleviate the symptoms to this problem immensely. Additionally, medical experts suggest that quitting smoking will also help.
Try to drink only one cup of caffeinated tea or coffee daily. The same goes for soft drinks that have caffeine. A hidden source of caffeine you'll want to watch out for is over the counter drugs. Some headache tablets especially include caffeine as an active ingredient.
And while you're contemplating those changes in diet, think about adding some exercise to your daily routine as well. Exercise is an important tool in the management for hypoglycemia. It's a great metabolic booster. Your body benefits through an increase in insulin sensitivity as well as lowering your insulin needs. In fact, initiating a weight control program is one of the best things you can do to improve your overall health.
