Health News

The incidence of hypoglycemia is greatly exaggerated by faddists who claim that most fatigue and anxiety can be explained on this basis. The facts are otherwise, and hypoglycemia can be diagnosed only by determining the fasting blood sugar and a glucose tolerance test.

Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar, and is a symptom of a number of conditions. It occurs when a patient with diabetes mellitus has taken too much insulin or oral compounds or has failed to eat. Similar symptoms occur in some patients who have had a gastrectomy so that food passes through the intestinal tract rapidly. It also occurs in Addison’s disease, and is sometimes a functional disorder.

Functional hypoglycemia (hyperinsulinism)

No organic lesion is present. When the individual eats carbohydrate-rich foods there is increased production of insulin and the blood sugar drops 2 to 4 hours after meals with typical hypoglycemic symptoms: weakness, hunger, nervousness, trembling, increased perspiration, and occasionally loss of consciousness.

Dietary management

The diet is calculated using meal exchange lists. The diet prescription is planned as follows:

1. The calorie level is sufficient to maintain desirable weight.

2.   Carbohydrate is restricted to 75 to 100 gm. This reduces the amount of insulin that is produced. The carbohydrate is supplied by milk, fruit and vegetable exchanges; bread exchanges are usually omitted.

3.   The protein intake is increased to 100 to 150 gm; about 50 per cent of protein can be metabolized to glucose for the body’s needs but the slower rate of absorption does not stimulate the production of insulin.

4.   The remaining calories are provided by fat.

5.   The daily food allowance is divided so that each meal provides the same amount of protein, fat, and carbohydrate.

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