How to Control Hypoglycemia With a Low-Carbohydrate Diet

Hypoglycemia literally means "under-sweet blood" and is used to refer to a pathologic state of low blood sugar. It is a general description and does not have a specific definition. Hypoglycemia is usually the result of treating diabetes with insulin and these patients must carefully monitor their carbohydrate intake.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Follow your meal plan as much as possible. If you have diabetes, you will need to agree on a meal plan with a registered dietitian that fits your lifestyle and preferences.
2. Eat regular meals. It is especially important that you eat enough at each meal and don't skip scheduled meals or snacks if you are prone to hypoglycemia.
3. Match your insulin dosage to your carbohydrate intake carefully. If you skip a meal and take your insulin as scheduled, your blood sugar still will be lowered and there will be no incoming sugars to raise it.
4. Supplement your diet with a snack before engaging in physical activity, especially if it is unscheduled. Your blood sugar requirements will increase with your activity level and you need to coordinate this with your carbohydrate intake, especially if you are diabetic.
5. Measure your blood sugar level often. If you are hypoglycemic, you may need to eat a snack to bring your glucose level into the desired range. It should still be in the 70 mg/dL to 110 mg/dL range when you first wake up if you are not diabetic. Diabetics should not allow their glucose level to drop below 90 mg/dL.