Hypoglycaemia

Hypoglycaemia means low blood sugar. In early 2001 I discovered that I very badly verdraagde all carbohydrates. After consuming carbohydrates (such as fruits, sugars, potatoes, cereals, etc) took about one or two hours before I ended up in a dip. Then I felt very lethargic and I could not think straight. After reading a few books, I discovered that I should avoid all carbohydrates. Now I eat only 30 grams of carbs per day, all of which come from vegetables. I eat no sugar, bread, potatoes and other cereals more. It was an instant hit. My blood sugars are stable. All symptoms have disappeared.

The cause

After reading and studying many medical studies and books, I come to the conclusion that hypoglycemia is curable. I will substantiate this claim using a selection of scientific studies.

Excessive consumption of carbohydrates is the direct cause. It does not matter whether they are sugars or starches. Both are indeed about as rapidly absorbed and thus produce a similar increase in blood sugar. For example, a boiled potato a higher glycemic index value than table sugar.

All carbohydrates in the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) is converted into monosaccharides, namely glucose (but also, fructose and galactose). All starches are converted to maltose and isomaltose (a double sugar) and then be converted to glucose + glucose. Glucose is the type of sugar that the cells can be used. The blood sugar actually does the concentration of glucose molecules in blood again.

Studies [Barbagallo, Renick 1994] show that high blood sugar levels to ensure that different minerals from the body flushed. This primarily concerns the very essential mineral magnesium. Calcium, the antagonist of magnesium, however, remains in the body. After years of a carbohydrate-rich diet to eat (like everyone in the Western world eat), which is still more little magnesium is present, there is inevitably a magnesium deficiency in the blood and later in the cells: an intracellular magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium is required for proper insulin metabolism
At a low intracellular magnesium in insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, insulin production becomes disordered. Besides resulting low intracellular magnesium in all other cells of the body in an increased insulin resistance. Insulin resistance means that the cells no longer respond properly to insulin. Insulin is actually the key that opens the door of the cell, so that glucose molecules can flow into the cell. If this key does not fit anymore (because the magnesium deficiency has changed the lock), the blood sugar level can not be properly regulated by the insulin.

What's wrong?

If there is a sandwich is eaten, it is converted in the intestines to millions of molecules of glucose (starch -> maltose -> glucose + glucose), which are then absorbed into the blood. One sandwich contains much glucose the blood sugar is very high. The pancreas responds by producing insulin now. The pancreas is a self-regulating body. It constantly monitors the pumping of blood glucose and increased insulin levels in the blood. Insulin hear the glucose into the cells, which prevents the blood sugar level drops, resulting in the pancreas less insulin pumps. If eventually the blood values ​​neutral, the pancreas stops pumping.

This happens unfortunately. Insulin: no more key fits the lock of the door of the cell glucose. The result is that high blood sugar and maintain that the pancreas continues to pump insulin. We call this hyperinsulinemea (hyper = too high). Over time some of the cells starts now but the insulin response. The blood sugar level drops slowly. When the neutral glucose levels reached the pancreas stops pumping. Unfortunately, very long time before the values ​​declined. The result is that a very large amount of the hormone insulin in the blood remains. The blood sugar level continues through this fall below the neutral level.

Normally there will be a regulatory action now in motion that causes the blood sugar level is back on track. These are the hormone glucagon, which is also produced by the pancreas. Glucagon causes glycogen reserves (glycogen is animal starch) in the body are converted into glucose in the bloodstream to be charged. The problem is that the high levels of insulin in the blood, the production of glucagon impossible. So the blood sugar level drops further and further until the person almost in a coma.

At that time, the body pulls the emergency cord and the hormone epinephrine is used. This ensures that (regardless of insulin levels in the blood), the glycogen reserves are actually used. The blood sugar level rise, and fast reach back to the neutral values.
The epinephrine (aka adrenaline), however, provides for the "fight or flight" syndrome. The person is shaking in his legs like he just face to face with a lion. Often the sweat on his / her forehead. The problem is that epinephrine, a relatively long half-life. It takes up to one week before all of epinephrine from the blood disappeared. This explains why a patient hypoglycemia irritable and sometimes very hostile to happen.

The solution
In order to avoid hypoglycemia in the first place almost all carbohydrates from the diet removed. This means: No bread, no pasta, no sugar containing products, no grains, no corn, no potatoes anymore. Instead, eat more fats and proteins. See how innocent and very healthy fats and proteins.

Then, the intracellular magnesium levels are brought back on track. Start with taking magnesium glycinate pills, about 1000mg per day. This is the worst symptoms resolve. The real solution is administered by infusion or injection of 4.500mg of magnesium per day. And this is four weeks long. That's at least the values ​​used in this study. Lower values ​​are possible also effective.
Note (March 19, 2002): Read below under Experience. I now believe that magnesium supplementation in combination with a low-carbohydrate diet is sufficient to hypoglycemia caused by insulin resistance heal.
Now, when the intracellular magnesium levels have been replenished to gently back more carbohydrates eaten. Overdo this, however, because the carbohydrate was the direct cause of the hypoglycemia.

It is also wise to keep using a magnesium supplement, because as I said before, the Western diet contains far enough magnesium. There are even studies which concluded that approximately 70% of the population has a magnesium deficiency. It is also important to periodically monitor intracellular magnesium levels. This could include the European Nutrient Lab in Bunnik. This costs about 150 guilders. Serum magnesium levels are meaningless, because only 1% of magnesium is in the blood.


Applicability in other conditions
The same protocol can be used in o.a.:
Asthma
Depression
Allergies
Heart rhythm disorders
Headache and Migraine
Muscles
Magnesium is an extremely important mineral in the body. All cells of the body have enough magnesium for proper operation. Thus the mast cells explode too rapidly as the intracellular magnesium levels are too low. Mast cells contain histamines responsible for allergic reactions of the body.
Magnesium is also needed for relaxing muscles, while calcium is needed for muscle contractions. If the ratio is disturbed Calcium Magnesium, a muscle pull together quickly. This causes the heart muscle contractions and cardiac arrhythmias.

Magnesium is needed for the liver to detoxify chemicals. Magnesium is needed for the intestines to absorb magnesium from food (remember what this affects you). If the magnesium-calcium ratio is disturbed in the brains, neurons are firing uncontrollably. Here is an analogy with the muscles namely: Calcium is required for clamping and magnesium provides for relaxing.

I later learned that following a low-carbohydrate diet for at least six months of the insulin resistance can heal. Especially when combined with magnesium supplementation would be sufficient. My experience is that my glucose tolerance improved, although I do not want to experiment this hard to prove.
I also suspect that some of my problems, hypoglycemia is caused by yeast in my gut that produce arabinose. This is a type of sugar that goes through a complex mechanism causes a functional vitamin B6 deficiency. Vitamin B6 is needed for gluconeogenesis, or the conversion of sugars to proteins. If this mechanism does not work, it is easy hypoglycemia (especially when the glycogen reserves are very low).
Another possible cause of hypoglycemia may be a malfunctioning adrenal cortex. The adrenal cortex is responsible for the production of aldosterone and cortisol among others. These hormones have a major impact on sugar metabolism in the body. When the adrenal cortex is disrupted, it also has consequences for the blood sugar levels. More about the exact mechanisms will be published shortly.