What to Do When Blood Sugar Goes Too Low

How to Manage High Blood Pressure Naturally

So how do we know when we have low blood sugar levels?

What is low blood sugar?

Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, is the condition in which the sugar levels in the blood become too low which is usually about 2.5mmol/l or less. This condition can normally be spotted by certain symptoms that go away after one has eaten. The blood sugar level at which these symptoms are experienced differently from person to person

What causes low blood sugar levels?

When functioning normally, the pancreas excretes the correct amount of insulin needed to keep the blood sugar levels balanced. However, when a person suffers from low blood sugar, the pancreas releases too much insulin which causes the blood sugar levels to become too low. This, along with other diseases, can cause hypoglycemic episodes.

What causes hypoglycemia?

• Reactive hypoglycemia:

This is the most common reason for low blood sugar levels in people who do not suffer from diabetes. This is when the pancreas releases too much insulin due to a sudden increase in glucose in the bloodstream, such as after a big meal containing lots of carbohydrates. The insulin is still present in the blood after several hours of the meal, which is not as it should normally be.

Reactive hypoglycemia often affects people who are overweight and people with type-2 diabetes. This is due to the fact that they have a need for more insulin, thus the chance of an over-production of insulin is greater. There is evidence to propose that reactive hypoglycemia can lead to Type-2 diabetes.

• Other, less common, causes of Low Blood Sugar:

  • • a tumour in the pancreas
    • an overdose of diabetic medication such as an insulin injection or diabetic tablets.
    • Addison’s disease ( a disease in the adrenal glands)
    • a weakened pituitary gland
    • damage to the liver which causes it to work ineffectively
    • people who have had their stomachs removed.
    • cancer
    • malnutrition and even fasting
    • too much alcohol consumed

What are the symptoms of Low Blood Sugar?

The following can be symptoms caused by hypoglycemia:

• • paleness in the face similar to when one is feeling nauseous
  • shaking as can be clearly seen in the hands
  • perspiration without much physical effort
  • feeling weak and deprived of energy
  • increased heartbeat
  • constant hunger
  • being agitated for no apparent reason
  • having trouble concentrating
  • becoming easily irritated
  • feeling fatigued
  • blurred vision
  • momentary loss of consciousness
  • convulsions
  • one can even end up in a coma during extreme circumstances

These symptoms are usually experienced about 3 or 4 hours after eating a meal.

When should I be seriously worried about low blood sugar levels?

• • Blood glucose level lower than 2.5mmol/l (or sometimes slightly higher.)
  • A few or all of the symptoms are listed above.
  • The symptoms disappear within 10 minutes of consuming sugar.

How can low blood sugar levels be treated?

Exercise:

Exercise lowers the blood sugar levels, but will not normally cause hypoglycemia in individuals who are overall healthy.

If you begin to experience symptoms of hypoglycemia while doing physical exercise, you should eat some complex carbohydrates such as starch or pasta before beginning.

Blood sugar levels can be kept up by consuming small, steady amounts of simple carbohydrates such as energy drinks or energy bars during exercise.

Diet:

If you have been diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia, the first thing to do is change or adapt your diet to help manage the hypoglycemia. It should include a lot of complex and unrefined carbohydrates such as potatoes, brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, whole-wheat bread etc. But stay away from refined or simple carbs, as they will just make the problem worse in the long run.

The dietary routine should also be changed. It should consist of more, but smaller meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner and three in-between meals. This helps avoid big fluctuations in insulin secretion from the pancreas.

You can follow the Manna Diet in the FREE e-book for a healthy diet, menu plan, and recipes.

Recommendation

We recommend diet, exercise, enough sleep and the Manna Blood Sugar Support Supplement 3 times per day with your normal meals. This supplement can help to control blood sugar levels and to reduce insulin levels.