Reactive Hypoglycemia Diet Help

30lbsorbust

I totally agree with you. I always keep some nuts in my purse, in my car and at work. I have found peanut butter or hard boiled egg or hummus are quick fixes ("whipped" peanut butter goes down easiest). I take Chromium Picolinate (inexpensive and avail wherever supplements are found) help me as well as speed my metabolism and give me a little energy without the jitters.

valcraig2

Hi everyone. I am basically on here to help my husband. Although we both have a lot of weight to lose, he has been diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia. It literally kills every diet we get on because he is not able to recover with orange juice, cheese, or meat. He HAS to have candy and have it now. He goes way low. He has been down to 30. So tell me what particular "diet" you have found to be workable. A certain number of calories, atkins, south beach, etc. That's the information I want to know and then I have to figure out how to split this into several little meals for him. Problem is, we are always on the go, so everything has to be able to be packed and carried with him. He's here for breakfast, and then he's here for supper and that's the only meals he eats here, (well also a bedtime snack of course), but everything between breakfast and supper needs to be, "on the go" type meals.

Thanks for any help. I'm at a loss to know what to do. Please Help

alexandriax03

Valcraig2: I have severe reactive hypoglycemia. I am extremely insulin sensitive.

First off, skip the specific diets. Just eat in moderation and plan to eat roughly 1300-1400 calories a day. If you are exercising however, you may need more calories. So more detail would be great.

Meal prepping is going to be a necessity for you and your husband especially due to his RH. The food needs to be ready because when your sugar is low, you are going to grab anything in sight. Pick a day (probably the weekend) where you will prepare food for an entire week. Then measure out serving sizes and package away in containers. I hope you have lunch boxes and ice packs to keep food cold.

The first mistake your husband is making is eating candy when he is crashing. Don't worry, LOTS of people with RH make this mistake because they want what's going to make them feel better the fastest, which is candy, soda, juice, etc. That's the worst thing you can do though because what's going to happen is a roller coaster effect… up down up down up down. He's going to crash, he's going to eat candy, he's going to spike, and then he's going to crash again. HOWEVER if he is EXTREMELY low, like in the 30s or 40s, he does need to drink 1 cup of juice. Then eat a mixed meal (carb, protein, fat). If he is in the 50s, 60s, or 70s, a spoonful or two of peanut butter will hold him over until he can eat a mixed meal.

Your husband should not go more than 2-3 hours without eating. This is very important. Some days he may have to eat within an hour. It all depends on his blood sugar.

He needs to eliminate refined carbs (cookies, cakes, cupcakes, muffins, pastas, white bread). Instead he should be eating complex carbs: sweet potatoes, whole grain bread, whole grain pasta, brown rice, etc. However, when he eats complex carbs, he MUST eat protein with it. At least 15 grams preferably. Your husband should not consume more than 45 g of carbs per meal. My dietician told me 30-45 g carbs per meal. At snacks, he should consume between 15-30 g carbs.

Fiber also helps slow down your blood sugar from crashing. Keep lots of veggies in the house and have them pre-cut. Cucumber sticks, celery sticks, carrot sticks, red/orange/yellow pepper sticks, etc. If he doesn't like veggies alone, make a dip from plain greek yogurt mixed with Hidden valley ranch seasoning powder. It's way better than pre made dressings.

Protein needs to be eaten at every meal.

By the way, is your husband on medication for RH? I take Metformin and it helps me.

cwtchme

i was diagnosed with hypoglycemia following a stroke when i was 17 years old. I'm not on any medication for that (I'm on plenty of medication for my arthritis instead). To ensure that I don't have crashes I have porridge for breakfast with some strawberries or apple cut up in it. I have a cereal bar mid morning. Lunch at 12 - salad followed by a yogurt. Mid afternoon i have some fruit. When I get home from work i have my main meal and. if I need it, i have some toast and hot chocolate before bed.

I keep a funsized mars bar in my desk drawer and handbag at work just in case I have a crash but I usually keep it under control.

sisterbriggs

I also have reactive hypoglycemia. I have battled with it for about 3 years then finally saw a Dr. Now that I know what is wrong with me I can control it better. I agree that eating candy to raise blood sugar isn't good but sometimes it's all you have. I used to crave crackers or chips when mine would plummet. Now I take Metfomin and follow the South Beach diet. All the tips on this blog are great! This has been the best information I've had so far. My doctor didn't even tell me that my condition had a name! Thanks to everyone for all the help. :-)

jewlster1259

I was just diagnosed yesterday with RH, however I have had the symptoms since early childhood. I am seeing lots of talk about low blood sugar levels and am wondering if I am supposed to be monitoring them with a digital monitor or if I will just get to know about what they are, over time?

SarahJackson77

Hi all, my mum and I both suffer with low blood sugar possibly I feel reactive hypoglycemia, and reading all this has been brilliant. For my mum and I we're both stuck in a complex carbs rut and I'm personally so fussy about foods which I hate, so if anyone one has any simple breakfast and lunch meal ideas I would be very grateful and add me as a friend to help keep me on track x

katiegretel

I have also recently been diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia and I, too am really struggling with the right combinations to keep from crashing. My endocrinologist prescribed me Acarbose. It helped at first, but I'm back to figuring out foods again. Best advice I can give you is lots of eggs!! I eat scrambled eggs and a banana every morning for bf, but the consistency kind of stops there. Some foods that I've done well with are: chicken quesadillas (I usually prepare 3-4 at a time on Sunday night for lunches)-whole wheat tortilla, shredded chs, spinach, tomato and chicken with spices of ur choice on the chicken (I sautée it before I make the quesadilla in the skillet). Next is egg salad, tuna salad, edamames, regular salad (preferably with chicken in it or with garbonzo beans. I have learned to like black beans, garbonzo beans, and quinoa. All good sources of protein and complex carbs. Just made some vegetable soup and that did well. Also made baked chicken quinoa in oven (quinoa replaces rice/pasta). Lastly, make sure u are eating all whole wheat and whole grain pasta and bread. My MD said veggies are good anytime that are supposed to be slow releasing carbs. I usually dip them in something (beer cheese, queso, or regular veggie dip)-more protein and holds me longer than plain raw veggies.

Fruit for me is about the same as sweets, actually worse if its an apple. They are really simple sugars and you have to make sure your meal is loaded with protein to counteract. I keep a kids squeezable applesauce in all my bags/purses in case I get low and am out and need a quick up-have to make sure I get real food after. I also carry almonds with me and have tons of cheese sticks at work and home for these lows. I hope this helps!! I am feeling the same way as you! It stinks! You eat then crash 30' later regardless of food and its like, "what do I eat now?" Fortunately on low days I don't gain weight despite having to ck blood sugar and eat more frequently on those days. I usually ck it 5-8x day. (4-5 x on good days). Good luck!! U can PM me if u want to talk further on this.

katiegretel

You need a glucometer to monitor and I recommend getting one soon if you can. Try to get insurance to pay for it. Strips are a fortune (for me at least). Keep a log. I started logging in the notes section here, but I just got a Telcare app. I log all my numbers and just the carbs there, but my food and exercise here. Lots of time planning foods, logging blood sugars and food, but its a necessary evil. Good luck!!

carolynjpotter

I was diagnosed 28 years ago. Falling asleep after every meal, fatigued, depressed, brain fog etc. When you eat carbs, the insulin rushes in and over-does its job. Solution: STOP EATING CARBS. Even complex carbs like whole wheat, or natural carbs like fruit and milk - just forget it. Don't give your body any excuse to turn on the insulin hose.

Insulin does not react to animal protein, natural fats, and leafy greens. (Rice and beans count as carbs to your pancreas.) You really don't need carbs to live. Also, have a little protein every two hours, before you go to bed and if you wake up at night. Eat like this and you will have energy, clear thinking, no weight gain, good bloodwork numbers, and no diabetes. All your problems will go away and you will stay young and healthy besides.

carolynjpotter

Get on websites that support Low-carb-high-fat, and / or ketosis diets. There is lots of help and recipes there. Sugar and carbs are poison. It is the Department of AGRICULTURE that promotes the Food Pyramid with 11 servings of bread and starch each da. The American Diabetes Association is funded by the insulin manufacturers. The Heart Association is funded by the Stating manufacturers. They don't want us healthy, they want us sick and buying their grains and medicines. The only animals that wer designed to live on a grain-based diet are birds. We were designed to live on meat, fat, and leafy greens vegetables. Forget fruit: it's just like candy. Forget milk: even "low fat" is still FULL of sugar. Your health, energy and brain function will improve dramatically when you get the carbs and insulin out of your system. You will stop falling asleep after every meal.

Benheredoneart

I believe I have Reactive Hypo, missed diagnosed with early dumping syndrome. I have panic attack like symptoms after I have eaten a carb rich meal. Naturally I've been driven to a low carb diet. Since I was misdiagnosed I wasn't put on the right path as far as eating was concerned. But little by little I eliminated the foods that made me feel bad and have somewhat succeeded.
Sure do miss sugar though. Tried diet drinks and diet candies. Although they didn't spike me and put me in a happy place but they made me feel worst in the long run. Wouldn't be able to sleep through the night until I gave those up too.

What I eat now to keep me in my happy place:

B/F- I love whole rolled oats with flax seed, sunflower seeds, and cranberries. Philly Cheese Omelets with Swiss cheese, onions, peppers, and tomatoes. I love baked hash browns when I need sustainable fue. I work hard everyday so I also eat Greek yogurt with granola on top for my after breakfast before lunch snack.

Lunch: I love chicken! I stay away from rice pasta and all that jazz but fried chicken is a guilty pleasure of mine at least once week. Grilled chicken tenders with French fries. And chicken wings with no sauce. I get the sauce on the side with with sour cream to cool. Actually really yummy. I'm lucky to have a Whole Foods nearby. They have a hot bar with tons of veggies and good healthy proteins.

Beanitos!! Bean chips made with pinto beans and brown rice. I eat these when I get home from work. Nachos baby! So good with cheese, olives, tomatoes and whatever veggie you want. I found as also with less than 1mg of sugar in it that is super yummy too.
Beanitos make a black bean and white bean chip too, I keep these in my car to level me out or just keep me going.

For dinner I eat protein and veggies and snack on something small
Before be. I've lost 80 pounds in a year. And look and feel good. I am starting to test out fruits to see what does what. It seems that I can eat some sugar in the mornings in the form of yogurt and granola. Any suggestions in fruit will be appreciated. I've read that kiwi and strawberries are low on the glycemic index.

Trying to look on the bright side to this ailment and hope to possibly overcome it with some serious ex resize and good healthy living. Doing acupuncture and going to the chiropractor as well. We shall see!

inguy4

Fellow RH'er here. I would strongly suggest people here understand the biology behind reactive hypoglycemia. I struggled with it for years and had gotten dr bernstein's diabetes book(in 2003 from the US). The message was radical but it was essentially a low carb diet. It wasn't until I increased my protein intake in 2010 onwards that I started feeling productive.

What works for me now is keto diet but even a low carb diet at 50-70 gms of carbs per day should work. The key? LCHF. Your fat intake should be 65-80 %, protein 5-15 % and carbs for the rest(most of these can come from veggies)

Was prescribed acarbose for my RH and it does work but liberal servings of fat works even better.

HeidiCooksSupper

i guess my single concentrated piece of advice is, don't eat anything without a protein accompaniment!

any examples of what you eat in a day?

The handiest on-the-go proteins for me have been string cheese or BabyBel little goudas. They will survive hours and hours in a book bag. I used to always carry them when I was doing long teaching sessions. If I felt myself wavering like grass in the wind in the midst of an all day session, I'd grab some string cheese and be set to go for hours.

JassiBear

Hello all! I have been on here for a while and have lost a decent amount of weight...however I feel like I am not taking care of myself. You see, I have reactive hypoglycemia, and I struggle daily with the crashes of blood sugar. I was wondering if anyone else on here who has this condition would be willing to give me examples of their daily food intakes and maybe add me as a friend so that I can really work harder on taking care of myself. This site isn't just about losing weight. It's about being healthy. I think one of my greatest struggles with this is that I am a working mother to a very vibrant/energetic girl and my husbands works...ALOT... so it leaves a lot on me to do. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hi, I also struggle with low blood sugar and I find that eating a breakfast with a lot of protein like two or three eggs and avoid simple carbs like oatmeal or cereals or white bread, also coffee avoid it, my blood sugar is more stable thru the day. I carry raisins, hard candiez, and juice pouches in my purse when i am running late on having my next meal, and make sure you have complex carbs at dinner to keep your sugar in a good range.

JassiBear

Look up on google "low glycemic index diet" and look for a glycemic index chart or list on foods and avoid any high glycemic index foods that will send your sugar soaring up and crashing down, unless youre in an emergency where your sugar ia already dipping low. It helps a lot..... no simple sugars unless your blood sugar is already low and you feel faint lightheaded or sick

fitcamomama

hi i was recently reading this board and wondering what meds they have you on for hypoglycemia? has it helped with insatiable hunger and cravings? weight loss? Im struggling and feel like mine has just gotten worse and will continue to get worse if i dont do something about it.

blktngldhrt

Hello. I know this topic hasn't been active for awhile but..

I was diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia 11 years ago and am still trying to get my blood glucose under control. There was a period of two to three years when the symptoms almost completely dissipated but they came back full force three years ago. I've lost certain symptoms (blackouts and headaches) and gained new ones (panic attacks and extreme fatigue) along the way. It won't get better if you don't do anything about it.

I think the trickiest part about controlling Rh is that it won't be the same for everyone. It's pretty much trial and error until you find something that works for you. I was on a diet of only low Gi foods since my diagnosis and then that stopped working. My pancreas seems to be overreacting to any carb that gets put into it. I am now on acarbose and just began the low carb high fat diet. I'm still getting lows.. But not at the frequency I was before the acarbose. The best part about the medication is I have been having less intense cravings... Man, the cravings for sugar and starches before were awful. I haven't had any carbs or sugars from anything but high fat dairy or vegetables since beginning. Also, my brain fog and word slurring gave gotten slightly better. If acarbose doesn't help I will have to hospitalized for two days to be monitored..without food. I haven't tried exercise yet with the medication. I drop pretty low about 15-20 minutes in and get heart palpitations regularly while exercising so I'm trying to work up to it.

I agree with not eating sugar to correct lows. However, if you are on acarbose (I think I read someone else in here was or is) you must take oral glucose because the usual snacks people with rh should be having to correct won't hit the bloodstream fast enough.