Hypoglycemia Problem For CFS Patients

Research has shown that Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a common problem among Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers.

When blood sugar levels fall too low, the energy supply to all of the body tissues including the brain are impaired. On the flip side, if blood sugar levels rise too high it becomes very damaging to the arteries, which can result in heart disease and strokes over time.

Symptoms of Hypoglycemia include:

Brain symptoms = difficulty thinking clearly, feeling spaced out/dizzy, word finding difficulty, foggy brain, ringing in the ears, blurred vision

Body symptoms = suddenly become very weak/lethargic, faint feeling, shaky, stomach rumbles, craving for sweet foods

The person experiencing these symptoms will often have to immediately sit down and they look as though they may faint. Symptoms can be relieved by eating something sweet. If the sufferer doesn’t eat anything they will gradually recover.

A ey symptom of a hypoglycemic tendency is disturbed sleep. This occurs typically at 2 or 3 a.m., when blood sugar levels fall and there are insufficient short chain fatty acids to maintain a blood sugar. Low blood sugar is potentially serious to the brain, which can only survive on sugar and, therefore, there is an adrenalin reaction to bring the blood sugar back, but this wakes the sleeper up at the same time.

Source: Treating Hypoglecemia

“Treatment is to avoid all foods containing sugar and refined carbohydrate. The problem for the established hypoglycemic is that it may take many weeks or indeed months for the liver to regain full control of blood sugar, and therefore the symptoms of hypoglycemia may persist for some time whilst the sufferer continues to avoid sugar and refined carbohydrate.

This means that when you change your diet you will get withdrawal symptoms and it may take many weeks of a correct diet before these symptoms resolve. This type of addiction is very much like that which the smoker or the heavy drinker suffers from.”

One needs to switch to a diet which concentrates on eating proteins, fats, and complex (and therefore slowly digested) carbohydrates.

-Initially I suggest doing a high protein high fat diet, but include all vegetables (care with potato), nuts, seeds, etc.

-Fruit is permitted but rationed, since excessive amount of fruit juices or dried fruits contain too much fruit sugar for the liver to be able to deal with. I suggest one piece of fruit at mealtimes.

-I now consider taking high dose probiotics an essential part of controlling low blood sugar. [Probiotics are dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacterial cultures intended to assist the bodys naturally occurring gut flora to reestablish themselves.] This is because probiotics ferment carbohydrates to short chain fatty acids these have no effect on blood sugar and are the preferred fuel of mitochondria.

With time the regime can be relaxed, but a return to excessive sugar and refined carbohydrate means the problem starts again.

Finally, many sufferers of hypoglycemia may need something sweet to eat immediately before and during vigorous exercise, until the body learns to fully adapt.

-Hypoglycemia is usually accompanied by micronutrient deficiencies. You should also take nutritional supplements.

Source: Immunesupport: Click Here