Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar): Therapy

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) usually occurs in the diabetic – person suffering from diabetes. Hypoglycemia in the nondiabetic patient is rare. Therefore, the following recommendations take into account the presence of diabetes mellitus disease.

General measures

  • Aim for normal weight!Determine BMI (body mass index, body mass index) or body composition using electrical impedance analysis and participate in a medically supervised weight loss program.
  • Nicotine restriction (refrain from tobacco use).
  • Limited alcohol consumption (men: max. 25 g alcohol per day; women: max. 12 g alcohol per day), as alcohol can lead to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
  • Limited caffeine consumption (max. 240 mg caffeine per day; equivalent to 2 to 3 cups of coffee or 4 to 6 cups of green/black tea).
  • Regular examinations of the feet and footwear (foot care).
  • Avoidance of psychosocial conflict situations:
    • Bullying
    • Mental conflicts
    • Social isolation
    • Stress
  • Avoidance of environmental stress:
    • Nitrosamines (carcinogenic substances).
    • Fungal toxins
    • Ackee fruit

Conventional non-surgical therapy methods

  • If the signs of hypoglycemia appear, supply of dextrose, for example.

Operative therapy

  • In the presence of an insulinoma, surgical removal

Vaccinations

The following vaccinations are advised, as infection can often lead to worsening of the present disease:

  • Pneumococcal vaccination
  • Flu vaccination

Regular checkups

  • Regular medical checkups

Nutritional medicine

Nowadays, the diet for a person suffering from diabetes is not as strict as it was a few years ago. It is also allowed to eat sugary foods.

  • Nutritional counseling based on a nutritional analysis.
  • The goal of the dietary change must be weight reduction to normal weight!
  • Observance of the following special nutritional medical recommendations:
    • Frequent small meals
    • Meals of diabetics should contain 15-20% protein (protein), 30% fats and 50-60% carbohydrates.
    • Avoidance or reduction of monosaccharides (simple sugars) and disaccharides (double sugars).
    • Diet rich in fruits and vegetables and marine fish (due toOmega-3 fatty acids).
  • See also under “Therapy with micronutrients (vital substances)” – if necessary, taking a suitable dietary supplement.
  • Detailed information on nutritional medicine you will receive from us.

Sports Medicine

  • Endurance training (cardio training) and strength training (muscle training).
  • If diabetic: exercise lowers blood glucose levels and improves insulin sensitivity. However, since diabetics during and after exercise blood glucose fluctuations can occur, a blood glucose measurement before and after exercise is important.
  • Preparation of a fitness or training plan with suitable sports disciplines based on a medical check (health check or athlete check).
  • Detailed information on sports medicine you will receive from us.

Psychotherapy

Training

  • In a diabetic training course, those affected are primarily shown the correct use of insulin and taught the importance of blood glucose self-monitoring and an adapted diet. Hypoglycemia can thus be avoided. Furthermore, a mutual exchange of experiences can take place in such groups.