Home Remedies and Herbs for Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)

Hypoglycemia is a medical condition brought on by abnormally low blood sugar or glucose levels. Sugar is the body’s main source of energy and should be maintained in a healthy level of approximately 70 to 110 milligrams per deciliter or 3.6 to 6.1 millimoles per liter. It can also be known as insulin shock or insulin reaction. ^1,2
 
In normal digestion, foods are broken down into carbohydrates that isolate several different sugar molecules. One of these sugar molecules is glucose which is absorbed into the bloodstream right after eating. However, glucose can’t enter tissues without the help of the hormone insulin which is produced by the pancreas. ²
 
When blood glucose levels rise, it can result in hyperglycemia. This is an abnormally high and dangerous blood sugar level. Insulin secretion balances and corrects high blood sugar, however, an overproduction can tip the balance and make blood glucose too low, which is hypoglycemia. ^2,3
 
Severe hypoglycemia can result in a weakness of the muscles, lack of cognitive awareness, injury, coma or even death. Fortunately, hypoglycemia is easy to control by checking blood sugar levels and adjusting the diet. ^4,5

What Causes Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)?
 
One of the main hypoglycemia causes is diabetes. Low blood glucose levels are common in people with diabetes and can result from the disease itself and/or the medications taken to control diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas can’t produce sufficient insulin to control blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body’s cells are not properly responding to insulin. 2,4
 
Other hypoglycemia causes include: 

• Lack of carbohydrates — where there is insufficient food intake that is rich in carbohydrate and the body cannot extract enough glucose for the blood.
• Lack of proper meals — going for prolonged periods without eating at all.
• Poor diet planning — consuming insufficient foods to produce glucose.
• Over exertion of physical activity — over exercising and burning off more blood sugar than is being replaced.
• Overuse of alcohol — excessive drinking and the body cannot regulate glucose.
• General sickness — where the immune system is overloaded and blood sugar is not regulated.

Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) Symptoms
 
Low blood sugar headache is a prominent hypoglycemia symptom. Other usual and very noticeable hypoglycemia symptoms can include:

• Fatigue
• Hunger
• Shakiness
• Anxiety
• Sweating
• Pale skin
• Heart palpitations
• Confusion
• Blurred vision
• Loss of consciousness

Natural Remedies and Herbs for Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)
 
Proper diet and regular eating are two of the main regulators for hypoglycemia. There are some effective hypoglycemia cures and home remedies are:

• Dandelion - Dandelion root is an excellent calcium source. The leaves can also be made into a tea. Both sustain liver and pancreas production and can balance blood sugar levels and reduce potential low blood sugar headaches.
• Chromium Picolinate - Chromium assists the body in breaking down carbohydrates and assists in preventing hypoglycemia symptoms. Chromium picolinate is available in natural sources like liver, cheese, brewer’s yeast and wheat germ.
• Parsley Leaves - Parsley is known as a pancreas and liver natural supplement. Because of this it acts as a hypoglycemia natural cure and reduces potential low blood sugar headaches.
• Garlic - Raw garlic is one of the best hypoglycemia natural remedies because it quickly raises blood sugar levels. One clove can quickly restore low blood sugar levels and improve hypoglycemia symptoms.
• Wild Yam - Wild yam works on the liver and pancreas to control blood sugar levels. This hypoglycemia natural cure is best taken as a capsule supplement.
• Bilberry - Leaves and fruit from the bilberry plant are a known natural treatment for diabetes and therefore acts as a hypoglycemia natural cure as well. Bilberry reduces blood sugar after a high glucose level which controls hypoglycemia symptoms.

References

1. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/preventing-diabetes-problems/low-blood-glucose-hypoglycemia
2. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypoglycemia/basics/definition/con-20021103
3. https://medlineplus.gov/hypoglycemia.html
4. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/hypoglycemia-low-blood.html?referrer=https://www.google.ca/
5. https://draxe.com/hypoglycemia-symptoms/