High Risk
Incidence of this condition increases in :
· Women during their premenstrual phase
· People under stress
· People who have been fasting or are on various food restricted diets
· People taking certain drugs
Checklist of Hypoglycemia Symptoms
Many of these symptoms may also be symptoms of other disorders and may not conclusively
indicate that you suffer from Hypoglycemia.
· Allergies
· Anxiety
· Blurred vision
· Chronic indigestion
· Cold hands or feet
· Convulsions
· Craving for sweets
· Crying spells
· Depression
· Difficulty in concentration
· Dizziness
· Dry or burning mouth
· Exhaustion
· Fainting or blackouts
· Forgetfulness
· Gasping for breath
· Heart palpitations
· Headaches
· Indecisiveness
· Insomnia
· Irritability
· Itching, crawling sensations on skin
· Light sensitivity
· Mental confusion
· Moodiness
· Muscle pain
· Muscle 'twitching or cramps
· Nervousness
· Noise sensitivity
· Numbness
· Obesity
· Phobias
· Restlessness
· Suicidal tendencies
· Sweating
· Trembling
· Uncoordination
Medical Controversy
Even though hypoglycemia seems to seriously affect many lives, it is surrounded
by controversy in the medical establishment. The American Medical Association
is among those who insist that hypoglycemia is nearly a nonexistent condition.
For some it is a diagnostic fad to be avoided like the
plague. They believe it to be a popular status disorder, or the "in"
disease of the jet set attributable to too much stress and heavy drinking. For
many others, it is an answer for everything that ails a human body, from chronic
fatigue syndrome to major depression. It is neither.
Still others believe that it is a carbohydrate metabolism
disorder that can be avoided or easily controlled. Many also believe, it to
be the invention of self diagnosing 'health faddists" and hypochondriacs.
Physicians who do not believe in hypoglycemia generally
do not talk about it and pretend it will go away if they don't discuss it.
However, many renowned physicians consider hypoglycemia to be one of the most
prevalent ailments in modem society. Some healthcare providers even consider
hypoglycemia to be a serious disease contributing to heart disease and cancer.
Some physicians feel that functional hypoglycemia is
a common problem but usually due to other causes such as excess sugar in the
diet, food allergies, emotional stress, weak adrenal gland function, thyroid
problems, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, etc. They feel that if the focus
is put on these causes and they are corrected, that the hypoglycemia will go
away.
Healthcare providers also differ in how they define
hypoglycemia. Some believe that it is the opposite of diabetes (too much sugar
in the blood); others believe it is caused by low blood sugar and curable by
consuming more of the easily available sugar.
Other experts view the underlying causes of hypoglycemia
are so complex and different on an individual basis that it is nearly impossible
to find a common treatment.