How to deal with low blood sugar caused by weight loss and dieting

Low blood sugar caused by weight loss and dieting can be alleviated by adjusting dietary structure, eating small and multiple meals, supplementing sugary foods, monitoring blood sugar changes, and seeking medical attention in a timely manner. Hypoglycemia is usually caused by insufficient energy intake, abnormal insulin secretion, excessive exercise, medication side effects, liver disease, and other reasons.

1. Adjust dietary structure

Reduce refined carbohydrate intake and increase the proportion of whole grains, vegetables, and high-quality protein. Whole grains such as oats and brown rice are rich in complex carbohydrates, which can slowly release glucose and avoid drastic fluctuations in blood sugar. High quality proteins such as eggs and fish can prolong satiety and reduce the probability of hypoglycemia. Avoid complete fasting or extreme low carbohydrate diets.

2. Small and Multiple Meals

Change three meals a day to 5-6 small portions, and supplement nutrition every 2-3 hours. Each meal should contain carbohydrates and protein, such as a slice of whole wheat bread with jam, or apples with sugar free yogurt. This eating pattern can maintain stable blood sugar levels and prevent postprandial blood sugar drops. Carry healthy snacks with you for emergencies. When experiencing symptoms of low blood sugar such as palpitations and sweating, immediately consume 15-20 grams of rapidly absorbed sugar. You can choose glucose tablets, sugar cubes, honey, or sugary drinks, and symptoms usually subside within 10-15 minutes. After the symptoms are relieved, it is necessary to supplement complex carbohydrates such as biscuits to maintain blood sugar. Avoid consuming too much sugar at once, which can lead to reactive hyperglycemia.

4. Monitor blood glucose changes

Use a portable blood glucose meter to regularly measure fasting and postprandial blood glucose, and record the pattern of numerical changes. Be alert when fasting blood glucose is below 3.9 millimoles per liter or postprandial blood glucose drops rapidly beyond 2.8 millimoles per liter. When abnormal fluctuations are detected, a nutritionist should be consulted to adjust the diet plan. Patients with diabetes need to pay special attention to the matching of insulin dose and diet.

5. Seek medical attention promptly

When severe hypoglycemia or consciousness disorders occur repeatedly, pathological factors such as insulinoma and adrenal insufficiency should be ruled out. Endocrinologists may recommend conducting a 72 hour hunger test, insulin antibody testing, etc. If hypoglycemia is caused by diabetes drugs, the medication plan needs to be adjusted. Do not self medicate with sugar boosting drugs to mask symptoms. Establishing a regular sleep schedule and ensuring 7-8 hours of sleep per day can help regulate blood sugar levels. Extra carbohydrates should be supplemented before and after exercise to avoid fasting. Long term dieters should gradually restore their dietary intake and increase their calorie intake by 100-200 calories per week. Carry a medical warning card with a history of hypoglycemia on hand. Regularly conduct nutritional assessments and health check ups, and use nutritional supplements under the guidance of a doctor if necessary. If there is an urgent need for weight loss, it is recommended to develop personalized plans under the supervision of professional nutritionists to avoid extreme dieting behaviors.