by Carole Horn

Hypoglycaemia, an abnormally low level of glucose (sugar) in the blood, is a complex and confusing disease. It is becoming increasingly common as a result of our highly stressed lifestyles and our over-processed Western diet.

How can low blood sugar be such a problem when so many people today eat far too much sugar?  Discovered originally in 1924 by American physician Seale Harris, the medical profession still claim that hypoglycaemia is a rare condition or that it is a trend invented by health food fanatics.  Harris noted that hypoglycaemic patients were being misdiagnosed as neurotic or psychiatric. They were prescribed antidepressants or sedatives and this was causing them more worry and confusion leading to further imbalances and an aggravation of their hypoglycaemic symptoms.

He considered that their emotional symptoms could be caused by organic malfunction and discovered that dietary changes resulted in the relief of their symptoms.  Some of the symptoms associated with hypoglycaemia are fatigue, headaches, obesity, PMT, joint pain, neuralgia, heartburn, hiatus hernia, stomach
ulcers, food cravings, irritability, anxiety, memory problems, poor concentration and depression.

Persistent low blood sugar leads to symptoms similar to those produced by chronic stress and are classed by doctors as stress disorders.  The effect of sugar on the nervous system can cause these symptoms and therefore they may be due to nutritional imbalances not personality failings.  The blood sugar level is vitally important to the normal running of the body. When the blood sugar level drops, the body automatically reacts in an attempt to restore balance (homeostasis).

Glucose is the main nutrient needed by the nervous system and it requires a continuous supply to function properly.  Drops in the blood sugar level directly affects various organs and systems of the body causing some of the above symptoms and can bring about changes in the circulatory system and the glandular (endocrine) and digestive systems.  A lowering of the blood sugar level and subsequent reduction in available
glucose to the nervous system leads to symptoms that are not constant or predictable.

Hypoglycaemia, which affects the adrenal glands, our defence against stress and persistent imbalances,  leads to a vicious circle of adrenal exhaustion causing anxiety and leading to further exhaustion and stress. People who are stressed tend to overeat or eat the wrong foods and often miss meals out altogether which causes further blood sugar level imbalances.

Sugar, as glucose, is needed as an essential fuel for the body, especially the nervous system but we do not need to eat glucose. It should enter our bodies as an integral part of various unrefined and complex foods and then be broken down before passing into the blood as glucose. When required, glycogen, which has been stored by the liver, can be converted into a useable form of glucose in case of shortages.  In a natural environment we could only obtain sugar by eating fruit or unrefined cereals and our normal appetite would only allow us to eat a limited amount. This would be digested and the glucose gradually released.

The level of glucose in our blood is constantly fluctuating.  Even the time of day may be significant as glucose levels reduce between meals, at night and if we go without food for four hours or more.  People with diets high in sugar discover that they are physically addicted to it and notice severe withdrawal symptoms when they reduce their intake for a few days. This often causes them to return to sugar as it makes them feel better. Some of us are more sensitive to sugar than others.

Our Western diet contributes to hypoglycaemia thanks to the refining, processing and high-pressure marketing of starch and sugar products. Important nutrients such as chromium, manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc and magnesium are stripped away during sugar refining.  As a result, our bodies actually have to use their own mineral reserves just to digest it.

The available amount of glucose in the blood is usually equivalent to just 2 teaspoons of sugar, so it is essential to be able to draw reserves from the liver in times of need. Under normal circumstances the available glucose is used by the body for energy and the blood glucose level drops. This lowering of the blood glucose level stimulates secretions in the outer layer (or cortex) of the adrenal glands, which are transported via the blood to the liver where they facilitate the conversion of stored glycogen into glucose.  This is the opposite effect to insulin thus balancing the action of insulin and an optimum blood sugar level is maintained.

Insulin promotes the storage of starch and fat (as glycogen and triglycerides). If we have too much glucose, some of the excess is stored in the liver as glycogen, some is converted into fat and stored in the tissues and the remainder overspills into the bloodstream where it causes a build-up of fats in the blood and circulatory system. If a person with high blood fat level is under stress, storage fat is released into the blood by the action of the adrenal hormones, which can cause the blood fat levels to increase dramatically. These circulating saturated fats (triglycerides) are a major factor in heart attacks and heart disease.

Not surprisingly, many hypoglycaemia sufferers are overweight. Being overweight causes fatigue and fatigue slows metabolism. People with low blood sugar crave sugar and their high calorie starch and sugar diet encourages the production of insulin, which causes fat to be stored. Finally the excessive insulin creates a low blood sugar situation and the craving for more sugar continues. A high sugar diet causes a situation where the blood is flooded with glucose it cannot use. Some is stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles but this imbalance leads to over reaction by insulin apparatus. Over the years, the body is conditioned to produce more and more insulin so that eventually just a slight increase in blood glucose causes a sudden and dramatic increase in blood insulin

Today's hypoglycaemic is tomorrow's diabetic as the overworked and exhausted pancreas finally gives up and can no longer produce insulin.  The diet for both hypoglycaemic and diabetic patients is similar; the hypoglycaemic avoids sugar to allow the pancreas to reduce and normalise insulin output and the diabetic avoids sugar, as the body doesn't produce enough insulin to convert and utilise it.  Research indicates that westerners now eat approx 54kg of sugar each year, that's more than 1kg each week.

In 1780 a typical Englishman would take 2 years to eat the same amount of sugar that his 1980 counterpart eats in one month! Consumption of sugar in Britain is the highest in the world and 12-14 year olds are responsible for the majority of it.  Hypoglycaemia is one of many conditions, such as diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, migraines, depression, obesity and rheumatoid arthritis, which run through several generations of the same family.

Over the last 100 years or so there has been a marked increase in degenerative diseases and mental disorders. Diabetes, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, heart conditions, cancer, obesity and mental illness are all increasing. It is significant that the increased incidence of these conditions correlates with the increased sugar consumption during te same time period.  There is plenty of evidence to show that the health of a nation or community declines when sugar consumption increases.

The introduction of sugar to primitive societies of the world has resulted in a rapid increase in diabetes, stomach ulcers and coronary heart disease.  Coronary heart disease is the number one killer. It used to be attributed to old age but is now responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people, often in their early thirties. This is linked to the massive increase in sugar consumption and the imbalance in sugar and fat metabolism caused by this consumption. A lot of research shows that hypoglycaemia and a high sugar diet contributes to various heart disorders.

Low calcium levels in the blood accompany low blood sugar levels. Low blood sugar results in over production of stomach secretions. Unless the gastric acid (pH) is normal, calcium is not absorbed.  This may lead to rheumatic patients with low blood sugar taking calcium from their bones to maintain normal levels of blood calcium. Hypoglycaemia affects muscles and joints. Overactive adrenal glands cause a reduction in cortisone, which protects against joint injury and inflammation as in arthritis.  The low carbohydrate diet required by hypoglycaemia sufferers eliminates 50-60% of so called food allergies, however if the diet and treatment does not improve symptoms, then food allergies or Candida should be investigated further.

Poor nutrition and in particular low blood sugar can affect the mind. There is a tendency to attribute the increase in mental illness to the stressful effects of modern living, economic pressures and competitiveness, which cause neurosis, depression and mental breakdown. Nutritionists have proved that mental disease is affected by the bio-chemical requirements and nutritional imbalances within the brain and nervous system.

It was once assumed that vitamin, mineral and trace elements were needed by the body in minute amounts and that the quantities were adequately supplied by a normal Western diet.  However individual requirements vary enormously and some people require many times the average just to maintain normal health. A variety of emotional conditions are caused by a diet deficient in essential nutrients.  Many people suffer from mild vitamin deficiencies that give rise to sub-clinical personality disorders, most of which are reversible. 

The optimum supply of blood sugar is vital for normal mental health, as there must be an adequate supply of glucose available for the transportation, absorption and utilisation of nutrients in the brain. Hypoglycaemia
produces symptoms of lethargy and weariness due to lowered absorption of essential brain nutrients and it causes decreased oxygen availability to brain tissue resulting in bio-chemical inefficiencies.

There is a huge range of diseases and symptoms that can be caused or influenced by hypoglycaemia. All of the conditions mentioned above can be due to other causes.  However in each case there is a link with hypoglycaemia that has been proved and evidence shows that the dietary approach so necessary in hypoglycaemia has provided relief from symptoms in cases where other treatments have failed.

As hypoglycaemia masquerades as so many conditions and creates such diversity of symptoms, it is not always easy to diagnose. It is not wise to diagnose and treat without professional help. Hypoglycaemia mimics very many serious diseases and it is essential that the more serious causes of low blood sugar symptoms be ruled out.

The early signs of hypoglycaemia are fatigue on waking, dulling of concentration, irritability, anxiety, depression and lack of energy mid-morning.  Symptoms such as headaches and craving for sweets are often put down to stress.  If sedatives and relaxants are prescribed there may be temporary relief but ultimately the symptoms will still be there. The role of the body's early warning system is to indicate the development of a bio-chemical imbalance or damage of some kind.

The diagnosis of hypoglycaemia involves evaluation of a person's family health, and a positive result from the six-hour glucose tolerance test (G.T.T.).  For this the person has to fast for 14 hours prior to the test and then seven small blood samples are taken during the test to monitor the effects of the glucose on the blood sugar level.  At 9am the first blood sample will only show the level of fasting blood sugar, after which the person will drink 50grams of soluble glucose. The remaining samples are taken at intervals during the day. People are asked to rest during the test as exercise can influence the blood sugar level. Any symptoms that occur during the test and the timing of those symptoms help regarding the diagnosis.  Faulty nutrition is the most important cause of hypoglycaemia.

Our modern diet with its high sugar content, refined starches and artificial additives, which our taste buds favour above nutritional value, provides the perfect opportunity for causing blood sugar imbalances to occur.  Our modern habits of snacking, frequent coffees and excessive use of drugs (especially alcohol and tobacco) are creating increasing numbers of high and low blood sugar conditions. There is a definite reciprocal relationship between alcoholism and low blood sugar in that the alcohol lowers the output of glucose by the liver, worsening the existing hypoglycaemia symptoms.  People with low blood sugar, drink because alcohol has the same effect on the body as sugar. 

Caffeine too has a similar effect to sugar though not so immediate. It stimulates the adrenal glands to increase blood sugar levels causing the release of insulin to regain the balance.

Smoking is a handicap to the treatment of hypoglycaemia as nicotine stimulates the adrenal glands to release large amounts of glucose into the blood and an equally sharp drop in the glucose level follows this. After each cigarette the smoker craves another stimulant. Smoking causes the loss of Vitamin C which is also connected with sugar metabolism.

Because hypoglycaemia is intimately linked with the appetite, a frequent symptom is a ravenous hunger and often a craving for a particular food.  Strangely, the hypoglycaemic person cannot face food first thing in the
morning, as the blood sugar level has dropped during the night and usually it is the first coffee or cigarette that provides the high that starts the day, followed by the inevitable low mid morning when they reach for the biscuits or chocolate bar.

In conclusion, following a diagnosis of hypoglycaemia, the dietary recommendations for successful recovery are an eight to twelve week regime of :

1. Total carbohydrate consumption reduced and refined carbohydrates (sugar, chocolate etc) must be avoided.

2. Five or six small meals spread throughout the day.

3. Diet to be quite high in fat and protein.

4. A substantial breakfast and supper, taken as early and late as possible.

5. No stimulants eg. alcohol, tobacco and caffeine that may raise and lower blood sugar levels.

During the first few weeks of the diet, the insulin response is still very sensitive. Gentle exercise and the avoidance of potentially stressful situations together with a short-term supplementary treatment will provide further support.  Occasionally people feel very tired when their diet changes from high sugar and stimulants to the hypoglycaemic diet.  This is because they are not getting the instant energy boost provided by these substances and they have to adjust to converting proteins and fats into energy. 

After this, a follow-up regime is recommended.  This consists of fresh unrefined foods such as whole-wheat bread and cereal, fruit, salad, vegetable and quality proteins and fats.  With time, most people learn their own tolerance to sugar and manage to find a diet that they are happy with.