Preventing Hypoglycemia: A Guide to Stable Blood Sugar

Hypoglycemic episodes occur when the blood sugar level is too low. An episode may include dizziness, disorientation, even fainting or seizures. To prevent a hypoglycemic episode, it is important that blood glucose be kept level. Moderation and common sense go a long way in keeping your blood sugar level.

Things You'll Need

• Pocket spiral notebook
• List or booklet with suggested foods and menus for maintaining blood sugar levels

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Instructions

Prevent A Hypoglycemic Episode with Diet

• 1

  Plan all meals and snacks in advance. Know what, when and where you are going to eat.

• 2

  Keep to your meal and snack schedule and do not skip meals. Keep amounts and types of food (protein, grain and others) consistent every day.

• 3

  Get a list of recommended foods for meals and snacks from your doctor or dietitian. This list should have menus with several suggestions each for breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks.

• 4

  Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Both can create sudden spikes and troughs in blood sugar levels.

• 5

  Gauge your activity level. If you are planning on playing sports or doing some heavy home repair, add an extra snack to your schedule.

• 6

  Keep a small portable snack (like a granola bar) handy at all times. Break it out at the first sign of hypoglycemic symptoms.

Prevent a Hypoglycemic Episode by Keeping Records

• 7

  Buy a pocket spiral notebook and keep it with you. Write down everything you eat and at what time you eat.

• 8

  Keep track of your physical activity in the notebook, especially anything unusually strenuous.

• 9

  Note the days and times when you experience hypoglycemic episodes. Compare them with your food intake and level of activities.

• 10

  Find patterns in what you ate or did before the hypoglycemic episode and take note of these details.

• 11

  Avoid that pattern. Actively work to replace a particular food or combination of food and activity with something healthier.

• 12

  Find more facts about preventing hypoglycemic episodes at Health-Cares (see Resources below).