We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider. Foods containing carbohydrates become glucose or blood sugar when digested, and controlling blood sugar is important if you have diabetes.
Learn more now. Carb counting is a useful tool for people who have diabetes. Balancing carbohydrates and insulin helps keep your blood sugars in a healthy range. Learn more. Are you counting your carbohydrate intake?
Use this list of foods, each of which has been measured to about 15 carbs, to help in your efforts. Having low blood sugar is often associated with diabetes , but it is possible to experience hypoglycemia without having diabetes. Other common causes include hormonal deficiencies, critical illnesses, and excessive alcohol consumption.
When blood sugar drops within 4 hours of eating a meal, a person may be experiencing reactive hypoglycemia. This condition is caused by excessive insulin production after eating. A person should always try to eat breakfast as soon as possible after waking up, as blood sugar levels may have dropped during the night.
It is advisable to limit intake of fruit juices in the morning and stick to juices that do not have added sugar, as these may cause blood sugar levels to become unstable. Cinnamon is thought to help reduce blood sugar levels and can be sprinkled on many breakfast foods. Some of these products are available to purchase online, including sunflower seeds , agave syrup , and oatmeal.
Lunch should be a small meal but packed with protein, healthful fats, and complex carbohydrates that will continue to release energy slowly. It is necessary for a person with hypoglycemia to be aware of the glycemic index or GI of the foods they eat. Some foods that appear to be healthful may have a high GI. Fortunately, there is often an alternative that has a lower GI.
For example, sweet potatoes have a relatively low GI and are full of antioxidants , making them a better choice than other types of potato, such as white russet potatoes, which have a high GI.
While it may be tempting to eat more in the evenings, a person with hypoglycemia should keep their evening meals small. A good dinner choice will include protein and complex carbohydrates.
People with hypoglycemia should try to include small, nutritious snacks in between meals to keep blood sugar levels constant and ensure they are having enough vitamins , minerals, healthy fats, proteins, and fibrous carbohydrates in their diet. Eating one snack mid-morning, another mid-afternoon, and something small close to bedtime can help keep blood sugar levels stable throughout both the day and night. It is important to remember that people who exercise regularly may need to eat more frequently, as strenuous or sustained physical activity can cause blood sugar levels to drop.
A person should eat a small snack that includes carbs and protein before a workout. Good choices include:. Exercising on a full stomach is not advisable, so keeping pre-exercise snacks small and remembering to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water are important.
So your new normal consists of throwing a granola bar in your bag, chugging as much coffee as possible, and hoping for the best. What gives? You might be dealing with hypoglycemia, aka low blood sugar. But as a general FYI, here are some quick diet tips for avoiding low blood sugar. While those with diabetes are more likely to experience hypoglycemia, there are two types of non-diabetes hypoglycemia — reactive and non-reactive.
More serious symptoms unlikely unless you take diabetes medication that lowers blood sugar include:. There are a variety of issues that can cause hypoglycemia in people without diabetes. Causes include:. Reactive hypoglycemia occurs within 4 hours following a meal. The exact cause is unknown, but it often relates to variations in your diet, such as the time of day food passes through the digestive system.
It may be the result of an underlying condition. Sounds a bit like trying to study during college amiright? Your body is depleted of the fuel it needs to generate glucose, resulting in hypoglycemia. Medications: Certain medications, such as quinine Qualaquin , which is used to treat malaria, are known to cause hypoglycemia. Hormone deficiencies: Children may be affected by hypoglycemia if they have a growth hormone deficiency.
Adults and adolescents with pituitary gland or adrenal gland disorders may also be affected. Tumors: Although rare, certain tumors may cause excessive production of insulin in the pancreas, causing hypoglycemia. Sleeping is the best.
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