Low blood sugar: causes and conventional treatment
Blood sugar regulation can be difficult to manage premenstrually. If the blood sugar level drops too low production of the hormone adrenaline is stimulated.This hormone prepares the body for a 'fight' (increased heart rate, feelings of aggression, rage and irritability), 'fright' (panic, anxiety, apprehension), or 'flight' (withdrawn, depressed, poor concentration). Very low levels can also cause dizziness and nausea.
Avoiding low blood sugar
Eat regularly
To avoid low blood sugar and to keep insulin levels constant it may be necessary to eat small meals every two hours. This does not mean eating foods with high sugar content such as cakes, buscuits, chocolate and sweets - on the contrary these should be avoided. Wholefoods such as brown bread, nuts and fresh fuit are much more long lasting in their effect.Develop body awareness
It is important to take notice of your body's signals warning of low blood sugar and not to go without food. Crash diets and diets which severly limit the amount and variety of foods eaten should not be followed. Good health is the reward for taking care of your body and eating well.Avoid Alcohol
It is best to avoid all acoholic drinks, as these dramatically lower the blood sugar levels - as anyone with a hangover must realise!Don't give in to sugar craving
The body's response to low blood sugar is to create a craving for high sugar foods, eg chocolates, sweets, cakes and biscuits. Foods with a high sugar content give a quick fix which doesn't last and causes levels to plummet even more as these foods are too rapidly digested.Foods that take longer to digest and release their nutrients more slowly into the blood should be eaten instead.
A small meal of wholemeal toast and a little protein such as cheese or eggs will eliminate the feelings brought on by low blood sugar and replace them with feelings of well-being. Ideal foods are those with no added sugar such as wholegrain cereals, wholemeal bread, brown rice and pasta. Complex carbohydrates found in potatoes, carrots and peas, combined with small amounts of high protein foods (e.g. cheese, meat or meat substitutes, fish, eggs) all help to keep the balance.
