Eating fruits is an important component of a healthy lifestyle. - File

The technical term for low blood sugar is hypoglycaemia. The 'sugar' referred to is a substance called glucose. Glucose is the main fuel that our cells burn to create the energy for our body to function properly.

The healthy body keeps the level of glucose in the blood within very narrow limits, as too high or too low a level of blood sugar can severely disturb many important functions of the body.

Much attention is paid to high levels of blood sugar, the outstanding feature of the common disease, diabetes. But low blood sugar can be even more common and more dangerous. Both high and low blood sugar are, in fact, aspects of the same problem, described by doctors as dysglycaemia. I believe that both these conditions have common causes and similar solutions.

Excess carbohydrates in the body, particularly refined sugars, will cause the body to secrete excess amounts of the hormone insulin. This can result in a fall in blood sugar, sometimes to dangerously low levels. Many people live with their blood sugar swinging dangerously from high to low. This situation actually sets the stage for the development of diabetes later in life.

Early detection and correction of this situation can prevent the onset of diabetes. It is important to recognise that diabetes starts to develop many years before it is officially diagnosed and low blood sugar is often an early sign of impending diabetes.

COMMON CAUSES OF LOW BLOOD SUGAR

Poor eating habits with missed, late or inadequate meals.

High-carbohydrate foods - starches and simple sugars.

Diabetic medication - both insulin and tablets.

Alcohol consumption, and liver and pancreas diseases.

COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Sweating and trembling.

Palpitations - a pounding heart.

Hunger, nausea and or vomiting.

Anxiety and panic.

Confusion, drowsiness, coma and even death.

Speech difficulty and poor coordination.

Inability to concentrate, headaches.

SOME EFFECTS OF HYPOGLYCAEMIA

Although practitioners of conventional medicine took a relatively long time to accept hypoglycaemia as an important health issue, research has shown that it has far-reaching health consequences.

These include:

Syndrome X/Metabolic Syndrome: These are terms used to describe a combination of common conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and circulatory disorders, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, and obesity. Although modern medicine treats these conditions with a variety of different medicines as if they are unrelated, they all have a common basis - too much insulin in the blood. Hypoglycaemia is a common warning sign of the development of these conditions.

Brain dysfunction: When the brain is starved of glucose, it malfunctions. Dizziness, headache, clouded vision, blunted mental activity, emotional instability and confusion can result. There is even a strong, but controversial link between hypoglycaemia and criminal behaviour.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): This is a condition in women that is characterised by emotional and physical symptoms that appear seven to 14 days before menstruation. These symptoms seem to be related to a hormonal imbalance, of which hypoglycaemia is a common contributing factor.

Migraine headaches: Several medical studies have implicated hypoglycaemia as a common precipitating factor in migraine headaches.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A major contributor to the current epidemic of learning and behavioural disorder in our children is the fluctuations in their blood sugar levels.

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

This common problem can be prevented and treated by lifestyle changes and avoiding the predisposing factors discussed above.

DIET

Eat small, frequent meals. Avoid simple carbohydrates and emphasise adequate healthy protein and vegetables. A dietary plan called Shapeworks, developed for Herbalife International by Dr. David Heber from University of California, Los Angeles' School of Medicine, is an excellent way to correct this problem.

SUPPLEMENTS

The B vitamins, the omega-3 fatty acids and the minerals chromium, vanadium and magnesium all help in the control of blood sugar levels.

STRESS MANAGEMENT

Stress aggravates blood-sugar imbalances in many ways, especially by exhausting the adrenal glands. Adequate rest and relaxation is essential.

Your health is in your hands, and so is your blood sugar control.

Email Dr. Anthony Vendryes at vendryes@mac.com, visit the website www.anounceofprevention.org, or listen to 'An Ounce of Prevention' on Power 106FM on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.

HYPOGLYCAEMIA QUESTIONNAIRE

QUESTIONS YES NO

Do you crave sweets?

Do you feel irritable and tired if you miss a meal?

Do you feel tired an hour or so after a meal?

Do you get dizzy when you stand too quickly?

Is your memory or concentration poor?

Do you experience blurred vision?

Are you frequently anxious, nervous or shaky?

Do you have bouts of depression or mood swings?

Do you get fatigued during the afternoon?

Are you overweight?

TOTAL

SCORE:

4 or less positive answers - hypoglycaemia unlikely.

4-8 positive answers - hypoglycaemia is possible.

8 or more positive answers - hypoglycaemia very likely.