Low Blood Sugar – by Freda Coetzee – May 16, 2025

Why Am I Feeling Dizzy? Understanding Low Blood Sugar

Imagine this: you’re cruising through your day when suddenly, a wave of dizziness hits you like a ton of bricks, your hands start trembling, and a cold sweat breaks out on your forehead and upper lip. What’s going on? It could be your body’s way of signalling that your blood sugar levels are plummeting. Low blood sugar, medically known as hypoglycaemia, is capable of hijacking your day and leaving you feeling like you’re being taken as a hostage. What are the symptoms of low blood sugar? Our bodies send out subtle cues but unmistakable signals when glucose levels are taking a nosedive. So, buckle up and get ready to unravel the mysteries of low blood sugar. Common symptoms may include: Weakness and feeling tired. Fast heartbeat. Shaking. Sweating. Nervousness or anxiety. Irritability or confusion. Dizziness. Headache. Hunger. If these symptoms disappear after eating a healthy snack, your blood sugar was probably too low. What are the ideal blood sugar measurements? While having such symptoms, you can measure your blood sugar level with a simple finger prick blood test. A blood sugar level below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) is considered low. A blood sugar level below 54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L) is a cause for action (eat a snack). A healthy ( fasting) blood glucose level is 70 to 99 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L) Why am I feeling these symptoms? Hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar, can result from various reasons, like inadequate food intake, increased insulin secretion or usage, excessive physical activity, or certain medical conditions. How does our body regulate blood sugar levels? The pancreas is a remarkable organ that produces hormones such as insulin and glucagon. 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. Insulin helps lower blood sugar levels by allowing cells to take in glucose from the bloodstream to use for energy. Glucagon, on the other hand, raises blood sugar levels by prompting the liver to release stored glucose into the bloodstream when blood sugar levels are low, such as during fasting or between meals. Together, insulin and glucagon work to maintain blood sugar levels within a narrow range. Elevated insulin levels in the bloodstream cause blood sugar levels to drop too low, causing symptoms such as confusion, dizziness, and sweating. Here are some common reasons why the pancreas might release excessive amounts of insulin: Insulin plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels, so there is a direct correlation between hypoglycaemia and insulin. Stress: Stress triggers the release of stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline, which can temporarily increase insulin secretion to help the body cope with the stressor. However, chronic stress can lead to sustained elevation of insulin levels, contributing to low blood sugar and eventually insulin resistance. Over-eating and Obesity:  Excessive calorie intake, especially from high-carbohydrate and high-sugar foods, can lead to elevation of blood sugar levels. In response, the pancreas secretes more insulin to help lower blood sugar levels by promoting glucose uptake into cells. Insulin Resistance: In conditions like type 2 diabetes, the body’s cells become resistant to the effects of insulin, requiring higher levels of insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Insulinoma: Insulinomas are rare non-cancerous tumours in the pancreas that produce excessive amounts of insulin. Some chronic Medications: Medications, such as corticosteroids and certain antipsychotics, can interfere with insulin sensitivity or directly stimulate insulin secretion, leading to elevated insulin levels. Certain oral diabetes medications (e.g., sulfonylureas), that lowers blood sugar levels, where the dosage is too high can lower blood sugar too much. Genetic Factors: In some cases, genetic factors can predispose individuals to conditions characterized by excessive insulin secretion or insulin resistance. Which Nutritional Snacks Can Stabilize Blood Sugar Levels? Between meals – low-GI snacks can be a lifesaver. Snacks rich in healthy fats, fibre, and protein, can help stabilize blood sugar levels by slowing down sugar absorption into your bloodstream. A few examples are: Nuts A handful of nuts: almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, macadamia nuts, cashews, pistachios, or peanuts for a high-fibre snack full of healthy fats, makes a big nutritional punch with a low carb count. A peanut butter sandwich can be an excellent friend. Cheese Low-fat types like cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, or mozzarella are high-protein choices that help keep your blood sugar in check. Enjoy a quarter-cup of cottage cheese with a half-cup of fruit; a piece of low-fat cheese, or cheese spread on whole-grain crackers. Hummus Hummus made from chickpeas gives lots of fibre and protein to fill you up. Use a third of a cup as a dip for veggies or to spread on whole-grain crackers. Yes, it has carbs, but your body digests them slowly. That means they aren’t absorbed as quickly as other carbs and stabilize blood sugar. Tuna Half a tin of tuna on whole wheat crackers makes a tasty and healthy snack. Eggs A scrambled egg is good for a quick protein fix. Or a hard-boiled egg with some salad is a wonderful light meal. Keep a few boiled eggs in the fridge as on-the-go snacks. Yoghurt Mix some fresh fruit or berries into plain low-fat yoghurt for a sweet treat that’s light on carbs and a great pre-workout snack. Or if you have a savoury tooth, stir in peppadew, avocado or a sauce and use it as a dip for veggies or low-salt pretzels. Popcorn Put a few cups of the air-popped kind into a sandwich bag as a grab-and-go option that doesn’t overload on carbs. With a dash of salt, it’s the perfect savoury crunch for an afternoon snack. Avocado It’s yummy as-is, but you can also spruce it up. Keep your serving size to a quarter-cup for a snack (that has less than 20 grams of carbs.) Reduce fear, anxiety and stress. As mentioned above, prolonged stress can be very harmful to our bodies. Dr Henry W Wright studied the connection between biblical spirituality, psychology, and biology. He found that low blood sugar is primarily a fear, anxiety, and stress disorder. Unresolved emotional issues from our childhood, can produce a drivenness in us to meet the expectations of a parent in order to “measure up” or to be loved. This feelings leads to self-hatred and guilt that causes fear, that then activates the stress hormones and sets a negative spiral into action. Childhood hurts should be faced, so that forgiveness can be the starting point to an upward spiral of improved health. In a nutshell Prevent low blood sugar by reducing stress levels and eating regular healthy meals and snacks.Cutting back on those sugary carbohydrates can reduce insulin secretion.Being brave by facing emotional hurts can be the starting point to a more peaceful and healthy life.Make use of our Manna Blood Sugar Support, a completely natural and organic supplement that will help prevent your blood sugar levels from plummeting.