October 6, 2003
                     Nutrition for Reactive (Postprandial)
                                               Hypoglycemia
                   What is Hypoglycemia?                              Examples are whole grain breads, cereals,
                   Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar.                pastas, brown rice, dried peas, beans and
                   Symptoms of hypoglycemia may include               lentils, whole fruits and vegetables, and dried
                   sweating, nervousness, tremors, a rapid            fruits (in moderation)
                   heartbeat, hunger, and possibly blurred            When you increase fibre, be sure to
                   vision and confusion.                              drink extra fluids as well.
                   In reactive or postprandial hypoglycemia        4.  Eat protein foods at each meal and
                   symptoms are felt when blood sugar levels          snack.  Including proteins at each meal
                   fall 2 to 5 hours after eating.                    and snack helps to keep blood sugar
                   How can I control hypoglycemia                     levels even.
                   symptoms?                                          Good sources of protein include: lean meat,
                                                                      skinless chicken, fish, eggs, dried peas,
                   Follow these healthy eating guidelines to          beans and lentils, tofu, soymilk, peanut butter,
                   help keep blood sugar levels steady and to         nut butters, low fat milk and milk products.
                   give you the nutrients you need for good        5. Limit simple sugars such as candy,
                   health.                                            honey, jams, jellies, molasses, sugar,
                   1.  Eat more often, up to 6 times a day.           syrup, sweetened drinks, large amounts
                      Eat a small meal or snack about every           of fruit juice, and sweet desserts.  Large
                      three hours.  Skipping meals or not             amounts can make hypoglycemia
                      eating for long periods of time can make        symptoms worse, especially if eaten on
                      symptoms worse.                                 an empty stomach.  Keep amounts
                                                                      moderate and eat them with other foods.
                   2.  At each meal/snack, eat a variety of        6.  Limit caffeine and alcohol.  The
                      foods from Canada’s Food Guide for a            caffeine in regular coffee, tea, and cola
                      well balanced diet.  The four food              can make symptoms worse.  Limit
                      groups from Canada’s Food Guide are:            caffeinated beverages to no more than 2
                      Grain Products, Vegetables and Fruit,           per day.
                      Milk Products, and Meat and
                      Alternatives.                                   Alcohol can cause low blood sugar.
                   3.  Choose high fibre carbohydrate foods           Discuss alcohol use with your doctor
                      at each meal or snack.  High fibre foods        or dietitian.
                      help keep blood sugar levels steady.         7.  The best time to exercise is after a meal,
                                                                      or after a high carbohydrate snack.
                               This information is not meant to replace the medical counsel of your doctor or individual
                               consultation with a registered dietitian.  This information may only be used in its entirety.
                            IAL    IETITIAN  UTRITION  NFORMATION  OCIETY OF 
                           D -A-D         N         I           S          B.C.                         1 of 2
                             Greater Vancouver: (604) 732-9191  Web site: http://www.dialadietitian.org
                             Toll-Free in B.C.: 1-800-667-3438
                           Nutrition for reactive (Postprandial) hypoglycemia (cont’d)                                                  October 6, 2003
                           Sample Menu for Hypoglycemia
                                                                                               *Examples of healthy snacks
                           Breakfast                                                           !  Whole grain cereal with low-fat milk
                             Fruit                                                             !  Fruit smoothie made with low-fat milk/soft
                             Whole grain cereal (with more than 3                                tofu
                                grams of fibre per serving)                                    !  Graham wafers and low-fat yogurt
                             Low fat milk
                             Water and/or decaffeinated                                        !  Cottage cheese with fresh fruit
                                coffee/tea/herb tea or grain beverage                          !  Whole grain crackers with lower fat
                                (unsweetened Postum or Ovaltine)                                 cheese (<20% M.F.)
                                                                                                  Hummus (chickpea and sesame seed
                           Mid-morning snack*                                                  !
                                                                                                 paste dip) with whole wheat pita bread
                             Whole grain toast, bagel or muffin                                !  Whole wheat sandwich or tortilla wrap with
                             Peanut butter, egg or low-fat cheese                                lean protein filling
                           Lunch                                                               !  Seeds or nuts (high in fat, so use in
                                                                                                 moderation) and dried fruit
                             Vegetable or bean soup                                            !  Air-popped popcorn with low-fat cheese
                             Half Sandwich made with fish, lean meat                              Whole grain bagel with low-fat cream
                                or poultry, or cheese                                          !
                             Margarine or Mayonnaise                                             cheese
                             Sliced tomato and lettuce                                         !  Whole wheat toast with peanut butter
                             Fruit                                                             !  Carrot sticks, lower fat cheese stick and
                             Water                                                               whole grain crackers
                           Mid-afternoon snack*                                                !  Raw vegetables with low-fat yogurt dip
                                                                                                 and whole grain crackers
                             Half sandwich from lunch                                          !  Homemade whole wheat banana bread
                             Low-fat milk or yogurt                                              made with a small amount of sweetener,
                           Dinner                                                                spread with nut butter
                                                                                               !  Homemade whole wheat bran muffin
                             Tossed salad with low fat dressing                                  made with a small amount of sweetener,
                             Cooked vegetables                                                   with low-fat cheese or low-fat milk
                             Baked potato with skin, brown rice or
                                whole wheat pasta                                              Recommended Resources
                             Fish, lean meat or poultry or alternative
                             Fresh or canned fruit packed in juice                             1.  Graham, K. (1998). Meals for good
                             Low-fat milk or yogurt                                                 health. Portage la Prairie, MB: Paper
                             Water and/or herbal tea                                                Birch Publishing.
                           Evening snack*                                                      2.  Hollands, M., & Howard, M. (1996).
                             Low fat milk                                                           More choice menus. Toronto, ON:
                             Graham wafers                                                          Macmillan Canada.
                                                                                               3.  Hollands, M., & Howard, M. (1993).
                                                                                                    Choice menus. Toronto, ON: Macmillan
                                                                                                    Canada.
                                            This information is not meant to replace the medical counsel of your doctor or individual
                                            consultation with a registered dietitian.  This information may only be used in its entirety.
                                        IAL      IETITIAN  UTRITION  NFORMATION  OCIETY OF 
                                     D -A-D                 N            I                 S              B.C.                                    2 of 2
                                         Greater Vancouver: (604) 732-9191                 Web site: http://www.dialadietitian.org
                                         Toll-Free in B.C.: 1-800-667-3438