KARPAT PUBLISHING CO. Inc

LOW BLOOD SUGAR

By B. H. C.

Fifth Edition

KARPAT PUBLISHING CO. Inc.

P. O. BOX 5348

CLEVELAND, OHIO 44101

CONTENTS

The Purpose of this Pamphlet 1

A Wide-Spread Little Understood Condition 2

Do You Have Low Blood Sugar? 3

Dangers of Self-Diagnosis and Self-Treatment 7

How to Find A Physician? 8

Diagnosis10

Explanation of Hypoglycemia12

Diet18

Treatment18

Permitted Foods22

Forbidden Foods23

Drugs to Avoid24

Adrenocortical Extract (ACE)25

Other Parts of the Treatment25

History of a Boy with Symptoms of Hypoglycemia27

Literature

Books30

Pamphlets and, Articles31

Index outside back cover

© 1971. Karpat Publishing Co. Inc.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PAMPHLET

... is to promote intelligent cooperation of patients with physicians.

Patients will be able to notice and describe possible low blood sugar conditions and thus help their physicians in the correct diagnosis. They understand the meaning of restrictions before and during the glucose tolerance test and the purpose of other examinations. They will intelligently adhere to the prescribed diet because they understand the undesirable effect of the forbidden food items.

Physicians save time in explaining their procedure by advising patients to read this pamphlet. They need to answer individual questions only.

This time saving has an advantage to the patients; also, because it makes their visits shorter and less expensive At home they can study the instructions at leisure and will not forget them, because they have them in writing.

* * * * *

The content of this pamphlet is compiled from the medical literature listed on pages 30 to 32. Books are quoted by name of author, title and page number. Though the writers of these books agree in general, there is some disagreement among them regarding the causes, diagnosis and treatment. All the books contain some new and practical information. Try to read as many of them as you can. Ask your public library to acquire these books.

To the best of our knowledge and belief the information we give and any opinions or suggestions we offer are sound, but we give them as public service and disclaim responsibility for any action in reliance thereon. We do not represent ourselves as experts find no confidential trust or professional relationship may be inferred at any time.

It is definitely not the purpose of this pamphlet to encourage self-treatment. The risks involved in self-treatment are dearly stated on page 7. Any referrals to physicians do not constitute recommendation or endorsement. All doctor-patient relationships must be made personally and are independent of our activities.

A WIDE SPREAD – LITTLE UNDERSTOOD CONDITION

Experts think that low blood sugar condition (hypoglycemia) is five to ten times more frequent than diabetes in the U.S.A. Roberts and Hurdle estimate that 50 million Americans suffer from it. Nittler thinks the real number is much higher, and closer to 80% of the population. Almost all the alcoholics have this condition and about 40% of neurotics and psychotics can contribute part of their problems to low blood sugar.

Generally it is not dangerous, but mistreatment may be fatal when it accompanies diabetes (reactive hypoglycemia), or when a psychotic hypoglycemic patient is treated by insulin Coma. Irreparable brain damage may occur when a hypoglycemic patient is mistaken for an alcoholic and is put in jail without emergency treatment. Misdiagnosis may cause long years of expensive and unnecessary suffering in clinics and mental hospitals. Misdiagnosis included asthma, neurosis, imaginary sickness, epilepsy, psychosis, nervous skin disease, arthritis, hypertension, menopause, mental retardation, childbirth psychosis, diabetes, alcoholism, Meniere's syndrome, cerebral arteriosclerosis. In some cases hypoglycemia was properly diagnosed, but erroneously treated with sugar.

In spite of the fact that the low blood sugar condition was discovered in 1924 by Dr. Seale Harris, M.D. who 23 years later received the Distinguished Service Medal for his research from the American Medical Association, it is still hard to find a physician who has an updated knowledge in this field. Even doctors are suffering from low blood sugar without realizing their condition.

The reason for this lack of knowledge is that low blood sugar condition is not taught in sufficient detail during the medical training. Physicians have to acquire this knowledge privately. Their attention is called to it frequently by books written by their colleagues, for the general public. Many times a physician's interest is raised by some of his patients who have read more about it than his doctor.

For more than 40 years only one book was available for the public on hypoglycemia, but in the last six years about ten more books were published. Many articles are written in health magazines about low blood sugar. Reprints and pamphlets are available. This shows the increase of recent interest both of physicians and of patients.

There are three rapidly developing medical sciences today, and all of these are connected with the low blood sugar condition: endocrinology, biochemistry, and nutrition. When the discoveries of these fields became known to every physician they will be able to help their patients more effectively.

DO YOU HAVE LOW BLOOD SUGAR?

You can suspect low blood sugar:

If your parent suffered from diabetes or hypoglycemia.

If you are on a restricted diet because of reducing, or because of some illness.

If you are taking drugs continuously, like aspirin, barbiturates, or propanolol.

If you have peptic ulcer, or part of your stomach was removed by surgery.

If you have several of the following symptoms: These symptoms may be connected with many other diseases; therefore their presence is not a sure sign, only a possibility that you suffer from low blood sugar condition. It will help your physician if you write down your symptoms. Also record what you did or ate before the symptoms started, or before they stopped. How fast the change came? How long did it last? What is your general diet?

Mental symptoms:

At times my mind goes blank.

I become easily confused.

I am forgetful.

Occasionally I have difficulty with concentration.

I am an underachiever now in school or in work.

Emotional symptoms:

I lose my temper easily.

I have difficulty in controlling my emotions.

I have excessive sexual desires.

(Male:) I am impotent. (Female:) I am frigid.

I neglect cleanliness and appearance.

I have difficulty in keeping my jobs.

I am very impatient.

I cannot get along with others easily.

Certain things irritate me very much.

I am depressed, blue.

I lost my interest in my work.

I am tired of living.

I am very nervous.

My life has become aimless.

I am anxious and afraid but I do not know why.

I have a feeling of impending danger.

I feel very tense.

I have groundless fears (phobias).

I have crying spells.

I feel very restless.

I have suicidal tendencies.

I easily become violent.

I have a desire to cause damage to others.

I want revenge on society.

Bodily symptoms:

Vision:

My vision occasionally becomes blurred or double.

Sunlight hurts my eyes.

I feel dizzy or black out, especially when I stand up suddenly.

I am dizzy, stagger, or weave, especially in the morning, or before meals.

I have fainting spells.

Tiredness:

I am very exhausted, especially in the morning.

I generally feel very tired and weak.

I am very weak both in the morning and mid-afternoon.

I feel best after a good meal.

I feel very stuffy or sleepy after eating sweets and other starchy food.

I am very sleepy during daytime.

I cannot sleep well during the night.

I wake up and cannot go back to sleep.

My sleep is deep but not refreshing.

I have cold sweat during night.

I have no muscular strength upon awakening.

I need the stimulation of alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, or drugs.

I feel well after eating candy, cakes, or drinking soft drinks.

Digestion:

Alcohol sweets and coffee makes me feel very bad. I cannot tolerate them.

I have constipation.

I have alternating constipation and diarrhea.

I have abdominal distress.

I suffer from motion sickness.

I lost my appetite entirely.

Occasionally I am ravenously hungry.

I am overweight.

I suffer from continuous indigestion.

I have frequent bloating.

A little alcohol makes me drunk.

I crave salt.

Pains:

I have terrible headaches.

Occasionally I feel a pain across my left shoulder in the direction of my collarbone, or in the back of my neck.

I suffer from heat exhaustion.

I have swelling in my hands and feet.

Skin:

My mouth is very dry.

I have a skin disease.

My hands and legs feel cold.

I sweat exceedingly.

My hands perspire when I am excited.

My skin is dry and scaly.

I perspire very little, except underarms, and the palms during stress.

My limbs feel numb.

I have a tingling feeling of my lips or fingers.

Sometimes I wake up in a sweat at night.

Other illnesses:

I have allergies, asthma.

My heart occasionally beats very fast.

Sometimes I tremble inside.

I catch a cold easily.

I am very susceptible to infectious diseases.

For mothers:

I have aching joints.

My muscles twitch occasionally.

Sometimes I have cramps.

I have occasional convulsions.

I was depressed after childbirth.

I had miscarriages, or premature births.

Diet:

I crave sweets and cakes, or pastry.

I do not drink much water.

I drink much coffee or tea everyday. About _____ cups.

I like Cola and other soft drinks, and drink _____ bottles daily.

I drink alcoholic beverages every day.

I generally consume ____ bottles of beer. ____ glasses of wine. ____ whiskey.

I eat very irregularly.

I generally skip breakfast.

I smoke ____ packs daily.

I am a chain-smoker.

Time of symptoms:

My symptoms are strongest in the morning before breakfast.

I feel these symptoms generally n few hours after eating.

I had the symptoms after exhausting physical exercise or work.

My symptoms followed intensive emotional upsets.

Note for mothers: If you are diabetic, or hypoglycemic, alert your doctor to this. Symptoms are more frequent in premature children. They show up in the first day in children of diabetic mothers, and in the first three days in children of hypoglycemic mothers. The symptoms may be tremor, difficulty in breathing, skin turning blue, gray skin, convulsion, coma, lethargy, irritability, refuses feeding, jerky movement of legs or arms. Quick help is important to prevent brain damage. The doctor can relieve these symptoms by glucose given intravenously, or in a bottle.

DANGERS OF SELF-DIAGNOSIS AND SELF-TREATMENT

The above signs may warn you about the possibility or hypoglycemia, but are not enough to diagnose yourself of hypoglycemia and start self-treatment. This can be dangerous, because some other disease may cause these symptoms, and if you neglect its discovery, and delay its treatment you may cause irreparable damage. Rarely tumors cause hypoglycemia symptoms. Tumors have to be removed by surgery even if they are not cancerous. [Not Always True]

Therefore, the reasonable thing when you suspect hypoglycemia is to look for a physician who can properly diagnose and treat you.

But for quick first aid you should know how to avert prolonged blackouts that may cause irreparable brain damage. Signs of coming attack: clamminess, dilation of the Pupils, which is connected with increased sensitivity to light, faster pulse, shakiness, jitters. These may be followed with fainting after which confusion and disorientation may appear. To avert these or other symptoms you may eat candy, a rich dessert, or drink cola, or other sweetened fluids. But never consider these a treatment, because if you do not do something else, the symptoms will come back soon. It is much better to prevent the symptoms by eating some protein food about an hour before the symptoms usually appear, and follow the diet prescribed for low blood sugar patients, even before you can see a doctor for thorough examination.

HOW TO FIND A PHYSICIAN

First see your own physician. Find out if he knows enough about hypoglycemia and its treatments. Tell him your symptoms. If he refuses even to consider low blood sugar as a possibility, or if he recommends you to eat more sweets, or if he does not want you to have a five or six hour long glucose tolerance test, then you know you have to look for another doctor.

If your physician openly admits that he does not know enough about hypoglycemia, but is willing to learn about it, tell him to write to the Adrenal Metabolic Research Society of the Hypoglycemia Foundation (P. O. Box 25. Fleetwood. Mount Vernon. N. Y. 10552, or call 914-664-6450) and ask for their treatment guide: "Hypoadrenocorticism: an Endocrinologic Approach to the Etiology and Treatment of Functional Hypoglycemia" which is supplied free for physicians. Or he may recommend some of his colleagues who are experts in this question.

If you cannot find an interested and sufficiently informed physician write or call the same Society for the address of the nearest physician who is connected with them.

Patients connected with the Hypoglycemia Foundation formed Health Frontiers Foundation chapters in several states. For their addresses write to the main office: 277 West End Ave. New York. N. Y. 10023. These groups have regular meetings and publish a newsletter for members with very practical information.

Recently Hypoglycemic Anonymous groups, too, were formed. Main office: P.O. Box 1173. Palos Verdes Estates. Ca. 90274.

Alcoholics Anonymous and AI-Anon Groups start to realize the importance of this question and doctors connected with these groups are getting interested in low blood sugar treatment. Consult your local phone book for their main offices.

Schizophrenics Anonymous groups (main office: Box 913. Saskatoon. Sask., Canada) and American Schizophrenia Association chapters (main office: 56 West 45 St. Suite 805. New York. N. Y. 10036, Tel. 212-972-0705) have sufficient knowledge of hypoglycemia and are connected with physicians who can help you in regulating your low blood sugar condition.

As hypoglycemia is closely connected in most Cases with nutrition, health food stores and groups interested in nutrition may be able to help you to find a physician. The main offices: Natural Food Associates, P. O. Box 210. Atlanta. Texas 75551. National Health Federation, 211 West Colorado Blvd. Monrovia. Ca. 91016 can tell you the addresses of local chapters and their meeting times. Go there for information.

You may form a health group in your locality with other interested people and discuss this and other important health questions in your weekly or monthly meetings. This way you can help others to find doctors.

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If your physician is willing to treat you, tell him before you undergo the tests that you would like to have a copy of the detailed results of your glucose tolerance test and other tests for future reference. You will need these in case you have to undergo surgery, or become pregnant, or have to change doctors. You need the exact numbers of each blood lest results, not just a general statement that the test was negative or positive.

If you have hypoglycemia your doctor may give you adrenocortical extract (ACE) injections before, during, or after surgery, or childbirth. After surgery he will use a different amount of glucose or levulose solution. He will examine your child right after his birth or possible hypoglycemic condition and treat him accordingly to avoid brain damage.

If your physician does not promise you a copy of the test results, look for another doctor who understands the importance of this request.

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosing low blood sugar may look simple, but can be really difficult.

Some physicians use a questionnaire for listing the symptoms and dietary habits. It may have 300 questions that you can fill it out at home at your leisure. The doctor will ask for your family's health history and your own personal health history. He has to know your emotional life, too. He will perform a complete medical examination, to see that there are no other causes behind your symptoms. If you feel some of the symptoms during your visit, he may make a quick spot test using only one drop of blood and a special tape that gives an approximate estimate of your blood sugar level. This cannot take the place of the long lest, but is very useful for the evaluation of the present situation and to find out that your symptoms are connected with low or high blood sugar.

A five or six hour glucose tolerance test may be performed in the morning or during the afternoon. The usual diet should be followed for five to seven days before the test. Some physicians advise their patients to eat an extra amount of sweets, but this is considered a mistake by other doctors, because it can activate the symptoms and distort the tests. Tranquilizers and mega-vitamin dosages should be discontinued about a week before the test because they change the test results. No fasting is required for the afternoon test. The morning test requires 12 hours total fasting. No food or drinks should be taken, no smoking, or drugs are permitted.

At the beginning of the glucose tolerance test you will receive glucose to drink. Your blood will be examined for sugar content at the beginning of the test, after the first and second half an hour, and afterwards every hour. Blood from the fingertips is enough for the examinations and seems to be more reliable than from the veins.