Hypoglycemia Diet 101: 27 Foods to Eat and Avoid

Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar, can cause shakiness, irritability and anxiety. While it’s commonly associated with diabetes, it’s possible to experience hypoglycemia without diabetes. If you have symptoms of hypoglycemia, it’s important to monitor the glycemic index (GI) of the foods you eat and alter your diet if necessary. Keep reading to learn more about the hypoglycemia diet and foods to eat and avoid to keep your symptoms in check.

What is Hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia is a condition in which your blood sugar (glucose) levels are too low. Although it’s more common in people who have diabetes, it can also occur in people who do not have diabetes. It happens in people with diabetes if the body produces too much insulin. If you don’t have diabetes, hypoglycemia can occur if your body can’t stabilize your blood sugar levels. It can also happen if your body produces too much insulin after meals.

Glucose is the main source of energy for your body and brain. Insulin helps keep blood glucose at normal levels so your body can work properly. Insulin helps glucose enter your cells where it’s used for energy, and if your glucose levels are too low, it can lead to hypoglycemia.

What Are the Symptoms of Hypoglycemia?

Symptoms of hypoglycemia can range from minor to severe.

Minor symptoms include:

• Dizziness
• Shakiness
• Sweating
• Hunger
• Headaches
• Anxiousness
• Inability to concentrate
• Irritability
• Drowsiness
• Exhaustion

More severe symptoms include:

• Muscle weakness
• Slurred speech
• Blurry vision
• Consistent drowsiness
• Seizures
• Fainting and unconsciousness
• Heart palpitations
• Turning pale

What Causes Hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia is defined as blood sugar below 70 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL) or 3.9 millimoles per litre (mmol/L).

Hypoglycemia With Diabetes

For those with diabetes, hypoglycemia occurs when there’s too much insulin and not enough glucose in the blood. Causes include:

• • not eating or skipping meals
  • drinking alcohol without food
  • taking too much insulin
  • increasing physical activity

Hypoglycemia Without Diabetes

If you don’t have diabetes, hypoglycemia can occur due to factors such as:

• binge drinking
• liver disease
• eating disorders
• hormonal deficiencies
• malnutrition
• excessive exercise
• hypothyroidism
• hemodialysis

You’re at an increased risk of developing hypoglycemia if you have other health problems, are obese, have family members with diabetes or have pre-diabetes.

There are two types of non-diabetes hypoglycemia:

• Reactive hypoglycemia occurs within 4 hours following a meal. The exact cause is unknown, but it often relates to variations in your diet, such as the time of day you eat.
• Non-reactive hypoglycemia isn’t typically related to food, but may be a result of an underlying condition such as heavy drinking, eating disorders or chronic illnesses like liver, heart and kidney disorder.

What is a ‘Hypoglycemia Diet’?

If you have hypoglycemia, you can help manage your systems through your diet. Rather than 3 large meals per day, eat small meals every 3 to 4 hours throughout the day and avoid foods high in saturated or trans fats. Try to eat your first meal as soon as you wake up, as your blood sugar levels may have dropped during the night. You can also avoid symptoms by making sure to always carry a snack with you so your blood sugar levels don’t drop.

While there isn’t a specific diet for hypoglycemia, modifying your diet can help with your symptoms. Make sure to eat a variety of foods, including protein, fatty foods and high fibre foods, and limit high sugar and processed foods. If you have hypoglycemia, you should be aware of the glycemic index or GI of foods you eat. Some healthy foods may have a high GI.

Foods to Eat on a Hypoglycemia Diet

1. Fruits like berries, apples, banana, apricots, cantaloupe, mango, orange, peach, pear, plum, pomegranate
2. Vegetables such as dark leafy greens, sweet potato, peas, winter squash,
3. Beans and lentils including chickpeas, kidney beans, mung beans, edamame and split peas
4. Lean protein like chicken, meat and fish
5. Eggs
6. Foods high in soluble fibre such as black beans, avocados, broccoli and kidney beans
7. Complex carbohydrates including brown rice, oats, vegetables, legumes and nuts
8. Greek yogurt and frozen yogurt
9. Almond milk and soy milk
10. 1% and 2% cow’s milk
11. Spelt bread
12. Sourdough bread
13. Nuts and nut butter
14. Tofu
15. hole grain tortillas
16. ll-bran and oat bran cereals
17. Steel cut oats
18. Alternative sweeteners such as Stevia

Foods to Avoid on a Hypoglycemia Diet

1. Processed foods like cheese, bacon, canned vegetables, deli meat, cakes, cookies, and microwave meals
2. White and whole wheat bread
3. Jasmine rice or instant white rice
4. Foods with refined sugars such as
5. Starches like pretzels, rice cakes and soda crackers
6. Simple carbohydrates including candy, sugary drinks, baked goods, sugary cereals
7. Caffeine
8. Alcohol
9. Fruit juice

30 Hypoglycemia Diet Recipes

1. Spiced Cauli Paleo Breakfast Bowl | Maria Marlowe
2. Simple Poached Egg and Avocado Toast | Pinch of Yum
3. Jerk Sweet Potato and Black Bean Curry | BBC Good Food
4. Spinach Quiche Cups | Manila Spoon
5. Arugula and Crisped Prosciutto Egg Sandwich | Food for My Family
6. Egg and Bean Breakfast Burritos | Diabetes.org
7. Smoked Haddock with Lemon and Dill Lentils | BBC Good Food
8. Tomato and Zucchini Frittata | SkinnyTaste
9. Zucchini Bake | Christine’s Cozy Corner
10. Low GI Breakfast Bowl | Food By Maria
11. Healthy Chicken Lettuce Wraps | The Toasted Pine Nut
12. Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie | Fifty 50 Foods
13. Avocado Tuna Salad on Apple Slices | My Fitness Pal
14. Chicken Fried Rice | Food.com
15. BBQ Chicken Spaghetti Squash Boats | The Toasted Pine Nut
16. Maple Glazed Chicken Thighs | Fifty 50 Foods
17. Antipasto Toastie | GI Symbol
18. Easy Low Carb Oatmeal | Diabetes Strong
19. Apricot Granola with Pinoli Nuts | Fifty 50 Foods
20. Spiced Cauliflower and Green Romesco | The Toasted Pine Nut
21. Golden Overnight Oats with Blueberries | My Fitness Pal
22. Asparagus, Corn and Brazil Nut Salad | GI Symbol
23. Artichoke Chicken Bake | Kalyn’s Kitchen
24. Fish with Herbed Chickpea Puree | Taste
25. Low GI Chocolate Chip Cookies | Spark Recipes
26. Easy Baked Tilapia | All Recipes
27. Mexican Baked Eggs | Kalyn’s Kitchen
28. Layered Chicken, Lemon and Risoni Bake | Taste
29. Ginger Glazed Mahi Mahi | All Recipes
30. Steamed Ginger Fish with Gai Lan | Taste

If you have hypoglycemia, use these tips and recipes to manage your symptoms and feel better all around.