Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)

Low blood sugar or hypoglycaemia is an almost inevitable result of Western diets. It results in metabolic syndrome and is driving our current epidemics of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and dementia (also known as Type III diabetes). Sugars and refined carbohydrates are a serious health problem because they are addictive, convenient and cheap.

The starting point for treatment is the low glycaemic index diet. However, many people struggle to change their diet so that they fuel their body with fat instead of carbohydrates. This problem is called metabolic inflexibility. See Metabolic Inflexibility.

Where there is upper fermenting gut this further destabilises blood sugar - this may be an effect of the products of fermentation, which include alcohol.

Correction of thyroid function and adrenal function often helps to stabilise blood sugar levels.

Allergy reactions to foods can sometimes manifest with hypoglycaemia.

Alcohol alone will drop the blood sugar, but sweet drinks with a high carbohydrate load may have the opposite effect. Alcohol is good at disrupting sleep probably because of its destabilising effects on blood sugar. It is very poorly tolerated in CFS for many possible reasons. See Alcohol intolerance in CFS - which gives us a clue as to the mechanisms of fatigue.

There are some nutritional supplements which are helpful in addition to the Basic Package. Those known to have a direct effect on blood sugar levels include chromium, up to 2 mgs daily for 3 months (to correct a deficiency), and niacinamide 1500 mgs slow release one to two daily.