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by: Dr. Craig A. Maxwell
If you often feel shaky and weak when you don’t eat regular meals, you may have hypoglycemia. On this page, you’ll learn a little bit more about the symptoms of hypoglycemia and what you can do to treat low blood sugar naturally, including dietary changes and supplements.
What is Hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia is when a person’s bloodstream is deficient in blood sugar (glucose). Since glucose is the body’s main source of energy, people with hypoglycemia often face a variety of troubling symptoms if unable to eat regular meals. Though hypoglycemia in and of itself is not a disease, it is indicative of other health problems that need to be addressed.
Symptoms of Hypoglycemia
When blood glucose levels drop below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), your brain will send signals to your body that it’s time to eat now. People with hypoglycemia often notice a plunging drop in their blood sugar before they have a chance to eat or drink something to halt the symptoms. Symptoms of hypoglycemia can come on suddenly and be very difficult to deal with for both sufferer and those around them.
The most common symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
- Extreme Hunger
- Pale Skin
- Tremors and Shakiness
- Cold Sweats
- Nausea
- Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors
- Mental Confusion
- Accelerated Heart Rate and Palpitations
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Tingling in Lips and Extremities
In severe cases of hypoglycemia, a person may lose balance, have difficulty with speech, and lose consciousness.
Causes of Hypoglycemia
With hypoglycemia, your blood glucose levels are too low. This could occur because glucose is released into your bloodstream too slowly, your body uses up the glucose too quickly or you have too much insulin released at one time.
There are several different reasons this could happen:
- Diabetes – People who take insulin for diabetes may develop hypoglycemia if they use too much insulin, do not eat enough food or exercise more than usual without allowing the bodies to adjust.
- Alcoholism – If a person drinks to excess, the liver stops releasing stored glucose into the bloodstream, resulting in low blood sugar.
- Hepatitis – Liver diseases such as hepatitis can cause low blood sugar by preventing the release of glucose into the bloodstream.
- Endocrine Disorders – Adrenal and pituitary gland disorders are a common cause of hypoglycemia in children.
- Thyroid Disease – Hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Grave’s Disease, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can all lead to problems
with regulation of blood sugar. It is important to rule out thyroid disease when treating hypoglycemia.
- Allergies – If you suffer from hay fever or other allergies, it could be related to a metabolic disorder causing your hypoglycemia.
- Excessive Caffeine Intake – Many people don’t take into consideration just how dangerous a high intake of energy drinks can be. Excessive caffeine intake can affect your kidney’s elimination process, resulting in hypoglycemia.
- Stress – Prolonged periods of severe emotional stress can also lead to chronic low blood sugar because of its negative affect on the metabolic system.
- Gluten Intolerance – Undiagnosed gluten intolerance can lead to metabolic irregularities, which could cause low blood sugar. If you often suffer from severe digestive distress as well as low blood sugar, this could be the cause.
- Poor Diet – A diet high in refined sugar and flour can cause your blood sugar levels to spike high and drop low. Too much of this and your body is no longer able to adequately regulate insulin levels, which can lead to either diabetes of hypoglycemia.
Natural Treatments for Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia isn’t a disease but rather a symptom indicating a problem with the metabolic system. The first step to successfully treating low blood sugar is getting to the root cause of the problem.
For my patients with hypoglycemia, I recommend three essential tests:
- Dr. Maxwell’s Comprehensive Wellness Profile – In order to effectively treat hypoglycemia, it is important to have a comprehensive blood test to rule out underlying causes. This test can easily be ordered online and the order slip taken to the nearest LabCorp Office. You’ll receive the results in 7-10 business days, and may also have a copy sent to your physician if you wish.
- Alcat Comprehensive Wellness 1-Kit – One of the most comprehensive blood tests on the market, the Alcat picks up where a common CBC and CMP leaves off. This test tells you which foods and chemicals you might be sensitive to, and how severely. Food and chemical sensitivities can cause a host of health problems, including chronic low blood sugar. Just take it to the nearest LabCorp office for blood drawing and they pack it and send it off for you. You’ll receive your results in 7-10 business days!
- Doctor’s Data Comprehensive Stool Analysis x 3 DD Kit – I recommend this stool kit to evaluate for parasitic infection, leaky gut syndrome, and candida as these can all cause unusual metabolic disturbances. This kit measures your dysbiotic bacteria, digestive enzymes, digestion capability, and even takes a count of all probiotics to find out how your digestion is affecting your overall health.
Once you’ve figured out what could be causing your low blood sugar, you can now use some natural treatments for hypoglycemia.
- Dietary Changes
Good health begins with diet. In order to effectively treat your hypoglycemia symptoms, you must cut the junk. Processed and refined foods do nothing to nourish your body and can lead to cancer down the road. They also interfere with your body’s metabolism, which can lead to obesity, diabetes, and hypoglycemia. Cutting gluten from your diet has also been known to help improve hypoglycemia symptoms. Try it for a month to see if your health improves.
I also recommend my hypoglycemic patients eat plenty of protein. Carbohydrates may spike your blood sugar levels fast but they will drop them just as quickly. Instead, eat plenty of protein and high-quality fat such as coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, avocado, and butter to stabilize your blood sugar and keep it elevated for longer periods of time. Carry protein bars in your purse or car so they are available whenever low blood sugar strikes.
- Dietary Supplements
When it comes to treating hypoglycemia naturally, adding a few dietary supplements can help balance your blood sugar levels and improve your health.
For my patients with low blood sugar, I recommend:
Diamond Nutritional’s Foundation Vitamins
All Diamond Nutritional products are professional-grade, ultra-pure products and contain no added dyes or preservatives. They are easily digestible and 100% bioavailable, and are made in America under the strictest industry standards.
Foundation’s nutrients include:
- Vitamin A – 7,500 IU
- Vitamin C – 500 mg
- Vitamin D3 – 500 IU
- Vitamin E – 100 IU
- Vitamin K – 50 mcg
- Thiamine – 25 mg
- Riboflavin – 25 mg
- Niacin – 25 mg
- Vitamin B6 – 38 mg
- Folic Acid – 400 mcg
- Vitamin B12 – 500 mcg
- Biotin – 200 mcg
- Panthothenic Acid – 150 mg
- Calcium – 100 mg
- Iodine – 113 mcg
- Magnesium – 200 mg
- Zinc – 10 mg
- Selenium – 100 mcg
- Copper – 1 mg
- Manganese – 2.5 mg
- Chromium – 200 mcg
- Molybdenum – 25 mcg
- Potassium – 50 mg
- Choline Bitartrate USP – 50 mg
- Inositol – 50 mg
- Mixed Tocopherols – 50 mg
- Lipoic Acid – 25 mg
- N-Acetyl-Cysteine USP – 25 mg
- Rutin – 25 mg
- Lutein – 3 mg
- Boron – 1.5 mg
- Lycopene – 1 mg
- Vanadyl Sulfate Hydrate – 1 mg
Diamond Nutritionals’ Chelated Magnesium
Magnesium is responsible for over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, including the regulation of blood sugar. It also helps improve neurological health and eases anxiety. Unlike most store-bought magnesium supplements, our Diamond Nutritionals’ Chelated Magnesium formula is easier for your body to absorb. Each serving contains up to 59% of your body’s daily requirement for magnesium.
Diamond Nutritionals’ Vitamin D3 5,000 I.U.
Vitamin D3 deficiency is the most common vitamin deficiency in America. People with this vitamin deficiency often easily fall sick. Their bodies also have difficulty regulating insulin levels.
Though most conventional physicians say that people need only about 200 to 400 I.U. per day, most integrative physician’s, including myself, recommend much more than that. This is why I prescribe 5,000 I.U. for patients with this common deficiency.
Hypoglycemia can be difficult to live with and if left untreated, can cause serious health problems, and even be fatal. Getting your hypoglycemia under control may be as simple as finding out what’s causing it so you can take the right natural steps to get back to wellness!
