Fasting Blood Sugar - Can it be too low?

Question:  "Can your blood sugar be too low and if so, what are the possible side effects?  My last reading, non-fasting was 62."

Answer:  Yes, absolutely.  From a nutritional and functional medicine point of view, fasting glucose (circulating blood sugar) should be between 75 and 90.  Depending on the individual's health, non-fasting can fluctuate anywhere outside of that range.  A non-fasting glucose number of 62 is far too low and referred to as reactive hypoglycemia or hyperinsulinimia.  In other words, after a meal is eaten - most typically a high carbohydrate meal - the pancreas pours out too much insulin removing too much glucose from the bloodstream too quickly, lowering the blood sugar.  Just for the record, a number 40 or below is a comatose state.

Erratic blood sugar is a perfect set up for diabetes.  Some of the roles of the hormone insulin are:

• lowers blood sugar
• converts glucose to fat
• moves fat from the blood and into the adipose (fat) tissue
• increases body's production of cholesterol

Some of the roles of the hormone glucagon are:

• raises low blood sugar
• converts fat to glucose
• releases fat from adipose tissue for use as energy
• decreases body's production of cholesterol

Both of these hormones are a function of the pancreas, so to answer the question the "possible side effects" of blood sugar that is too low is... diabetes!  Many individuals can go for years without knowing if they have diabetes.

Actions you can take now:

1. remove all sugar & simple carbs from the diet (examples: soda, fruit juice, white flour, cakes, cookies, pies, pasta, potatoes - you get the idea?)
2. eat a balance of protein, veggies and fat with each meal
3. take a fiber supplement like PaleoFiber 2-3 times daily
4. Get your Hemoglobin A1C tested (diabetes risk) - it should be less than 5.2
5. Exercise 20 minutes twice daily burns up circulating blood sugar

Call for a nutritional consultation (817-283-4424) to see what YOUR body needs specifically.  This eNewsletter is too short to address all areas of concern.