To choose the best hypoglycemia diet, you should begin by discussing the process with your doctor. He or she will be able to make recommendations based on your specific type of hypoglycemia, and the reasons behind it. In addition, you may want to consult a nutritionist who can develop a specialized hypoglycemia diet just for you, based around your needs, as well as around any other concerns you may have, such as losing weight or lowering cholesterol. Then, you may want to do some research on your own in order to choose specific foods for yourself that you will also enjoy eating every day.
There are some recommendations that apply to almost everyone following a hypoglycemia diet, and these are to avoid the foods that quickly enter the bloodstream, causing a rapid increase in blood sugar followed by a crash. Nutritionists often recommend eliminating sugar and white flour altogether; this will require the careful reading of labels, because many foods unexpectedly contain sugar. In addition, foods and beverages that contain caffeine should be avoided, as well as alcohol. Though it is not considered part of the diet, tobacco products should be eliminated as well.
In addition, the frequency of consuming food is an important part of any hypoglycemia diet, so you should look for a diet that takes this into account. Typically, people following a hypoglycemia diet will try to eat five or six small meals every day, rather than eating three large meals. Eating in this way helps to keep the blood sugar at a more stable level throughout the entire day, without causing spikes and crashes. In addition, it aids in digestion, and can also be beneficial for people who are trying to lose weight. People following this diet should plan to take healthy snacks with them if they will be out for a few hours.
The types of foods eaten in a hypoglycemia diet are very important as well. Protein, whole grains that contain fiber and that are made up of complex carbohydrates, and vegetables are the staples of a hypoglycemia diet. Sometimes nutritionists will recommend eating fruit regularly as well, but sometimes people with severe hypoglycemia cannot eat fruit because of its high sugar content. Dried fruit should generally be avoided entirely. The foods that make up a hypoglycemia diet are the ones that are digested slowly, and therefore enter the bloodstream slowly, providing steady, lasting energy without drastically altering the blood sugar.
