Hypoglycemia literally means "under-sweet blood". It is a condition caused by a severe drop in blood glucose levels and can stem from different causes. Many people suffer from one of the two forms of hypoglycemia and its effects can be frightening if you don’t know what’s happening. Hypoglycemia can be dangerous, especially when driving. Impaired vision and judgment can be symptoms of a severe drop in blood sugar.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia are dizziness, shaking and tremors, sweating and a feeling of hot or cold, heart palpitations and anxiety. Not all symptoms appear in everyone suffering from hypoglycemia and the symptoms do not appear in any specific order. Symptoms may also vary by age. If you have symptoms of hypoglycemia, tell your doctor. A simple fasting blood sugar test will be performed to determine if you have hypoglycemia or diabetes.

The superficial cause of hypoglycemia is a drop in blood sugar. This drop can be caused by many different things, including binge drinking, medicines, diabetes treatment and diabetes itself. Many people suffer from hypoglycemia, but, thankfully, treatment is pretty easy. If your doctor diagnoses hypoglycemia you may be referred to a dietician, but more frequently, the doctor will have you follow a few simple rules.

People suffering from hypoglycemia are recommended to follow the diet rules that apply to diabetics. Eating six times a day will help maintain steady blood sugar levels and avoid the unpleasant symptoms caused by a drop in those levels. Eating habits will probably need to be changed, but breakfast, a midmorning snack, lunch followed by an afternoon snack, and dinner followed by an evening snack will go a long way towards preventing symptoms. If you find yourself unable to eat at the recommended times, carry snacks with you in the car, your purse or wherever is handy. Snack as often as needed to maintain blood sugar levels. Choose healthy snacks like fruit and low sugar products, though you’ll need to carry a supply of quick fix foods as well, hard candy, candy bars and the like.

Glucose tablets, apples, oranges, granola bars, bananas and other healthy foods are ideal as snack foods for a hypoglycemic. They’re easily carried, require no prep tools and can be stored easily in a purse, car, or desk drawer. To avoid unwanted weight gain, choose healthy snacks and moderate exercise. Exercising will also help your body maintain blood sugar levels. A healthy snack after exercising is digested more quickly and the glucose is absorbed more readily into the blood stream.

If properly treated, hypoglycemia doesn’t have to be debilitating. With the proper diet and moderate exercise the symptoms almost completely disappear, but don’t mistake this for a cure; the symptoms will return if you don’t follow the meal guide or if you miss snacks.

Hypoglycemia can turn into diabetes, but not usually. If hypoglycemia is properly managed, the fear of diabetes can be put away except in a few rare cases. Snack often, eat right, get exercise and regular checkups from your doctor and hypoglycemia can be easily managed.

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