Hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar levels are another cause of chronic fatigue syndrome. There are many reasons why an individual can feel tired all the time. This week I’ll look at hypoglycaemia and low energy levels.
Normal levels of blood sugar are necessary to maintain the body’s energy levels. Hypoglycaemia occurs when blood sugar levels fall, causing irritability, anxiety and nervousness. The body will suddenly feel terribly fatigued. Cold sweats, shaking and palpitations are a reaction of the nervous system, and weakness, especially in the knees, is common. At night in bed, low sugar levels will prevent sleep. When hunger pangs accompany the other symptoms, the diagnosis is easier, but in times of stress, hunger is often not noticed.
The body has a great capacity for fine-tuning blood sugar levels so that they remain stable. When blood sugar levels are too high, the hormone insulin is released. When they fall too low, hunger signals are given and stores of sugar and fat are released into the bloodstream. If this natural balancing system is sluggish, hypoglycaemia can develop. Some conditions can cause hypoglycaemia - diabetes, for example - but in most cases people experiencing symptoms of hypoglycaemia do not suffer from serious illness. Rather, these symptoms are signals of food sensitivities or poor eating habits or both, especially over-indulging in sweets and having a lack of fibre. Simple sugars can be found in the refined white flour of bread and pastries, in pasta and refined white rice and in foods stripped of their natural fibre. These sugars are too quickly absorbed by the body, causing blood sugar levels to rise sharply, putting the pancreas under great stress. To compensate for the sudden rise in blood sugar levels, large amounts of insulin are released, causing a sharp fall in blood sugar levels. If carbohydrates from a healthy meal containing natural fibre are eaten, blood sugar levels will rise and fall more slowly, and with better control.
Missing breakfast, eating large, infrequent meals and using stimulant substances like coffee and tobacco create problems for people susceptible to hypoglycaemia. Alcohol is a problem because of its high sugar content and sedative effect.
Hypoglycaemia is often the result of years of eating sweet-baked foods made with white flour. Eliminate white sugar from the diet. For the occasional sweet-tasting food, eat raw fruit, which provides valuable nutrients and fibre. Treatment requires a radical change in the diet to whole foods like soaked whole grains, raw fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds. A good breakfast is important to prevent the morning slump typically experienced by people suffering from hypoglycaemia. Eat several small meals in the course of the day, including a snack before bedtime, to maintain consistent blood sugar levels. Take a small, fibre-rich snack such as an apple with some cheese or rice cake with avocado half an hour before a larger meal to prevent a hypoglycaemic reaction. Foods like cheese, avocado, nuts and seeds which contain some fat make an excellent snack food for people suffering from hypoglycaemia, since they offer long-lasting energy and important vitamins and minerals.
Take vitamin B complex 100mg with 200 mcg chromium to combat problems with blood sugar. Take spirulina between meals to help avoid extreme swings in blood sugar levels. Bee pollen in small quantities helps the body to deal with fatigue.
Ginseng regulates blood sugar, helps to increase energy and increase stimulation of the pituitary gland.
David Foley
MNIMH, MRCHM
Medical Herbalist
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