Hypoglycemnia: fact or fad?

In recent years, quacks would like us to believe that hypoglycemia or low blood sugar can occur in non-diabetic individuals. While this is possible in people with certain tumors and in those who take alcohol with little food, the majority of people who appear to be suffering from hypoglycemia are really reacting to stress and anxiety.

In some cases, panic attacks may resemble hypoglycemia. But patients don't know this and quacks are making a lot of money out of this false diagnosis.

The idea that hypoglycemia is widespread was popularized by Dr. E. M. Abrahamson in his 1951 book Body, Mind and Sugar. Abrahamson blamed hypoglycemia for all kinds of problems ranging from allergies to arthritis. He said low blood sugar resulted in alcoholism and suicide and was at the heart of all "delinquency and crime."

This notion was later echoed by Carlton Fredericks, a food faddist who claimed that 20 million Americans were suffering from hypoglycemia; and Dr. Robert Atkins, the popular author of a questionable diet book.

But medical authorities say otherwise. The American Diabetes Association said very few people have hypoglycemia and only those who receive insulin or are taking oral drugs for diabetes are most likely to experience it.

How do you know if you have hypoglycemia? This can be easily detected by a simple blood glucose test where blood is drawn after you've had nothing to eat or drink since the previous midnight. A fasting blood glucose level of less than 120 mg/dl (milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood) is normal in non-diabetics.

If two separate tests show a level greater than 140 mg/dl that means the person is diabetic. In hypoglycemia, blood sugar level may fall between 40 - 50 mg/dl. In the elderly, a value below 60 mg/dl already spells trouble.

It is also important to recognize the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia. Once you experience them, ingest something sweet like orange juice, a soft drink with sugar, candy, or two to three sugar cubes. This will relieve symptoms in 10 to 15 minutes. If not consume more sweets until blood sugar level returns to normal.

"When symptoms begin to appear, stop all activity - bring the car to a halt, turn off the lawnmower, cease jogging. It is also important to carry a concentrated source of sugar with you at all times in case a candy or soda machine unit isn't within easy reach when symptoms appear. Alert family and friends to the symptoms and the usual course of your hypoglycemia attacks. They should never attempt to feed you sweet substances if you have lost consciousness, but they may help you in the earlier stages or summon help if you lose consciousness. Sometimes syrup can be given to a semiconscious person a teaspoonful at a time without danger when drinks that are more liquid may 'go down the wrong way,'" Larson concluded. (Next: Drugless ways of controlling diabetes.)