Nichole Richie’s recent diagnosis of
"hypoglycemia" isn’t surprising to those of us health experts familiar with signs of the low-blood sugar condition.
The actress/TV personality — who suffered from much-publicized fainting
spells, as well as moments of weakness, wooziness and dizziness, while on the
set of the reality show, “The Simple Life” — recently learned that she has
hypoglycemia and is “taking steps to manage it,” according to her
representative.
The symptoms that Nicole Richie reportedly experienced —
faintness, lightheadedness, weak spells, dizziness, and difficulty walking or
speaking clearly — are among many tell-tale symptoms of hypoglycemia, which is
also known as low blood sugar.
In fact, Nicole Richie is among some 74 million to 174 million
Americans with hypoglycemia, who are often mystified as to why they’re enduring
such ailments as vertigo, mental confusion, depression, exhaustion, Jekyll-Hyde
mood swings, anger outbursts and fatigue.
Sadly,
hypoglycemia is one of the least understood and most maligned health conditions
— even by members of the mainstream medical community.
Most people don’t know
that their symptoms are manifesting because their blood glucose drops abnormally
low, and often eating too much sugar, becoming very stressed, skipping meals or
over-exercising triggered those ailments.
Nicole Richie must be so relieved to get answers that finally
explain her dizziness, weak spells and faintness. I just hope that her
doctor also advised her to avoid sugar, soda, sweet desserts and
refined carbohydrates. (That was the smart, life-saving advice my doctor gave me in
1998, when he diagnosed my reactive hypoglycemia.)
But you don’t have you suffer unnecessarily from hypoglycemia. You can prevent such mystifying
low-blood sugar symptoms such as fainting, weak spells and vertigo by:
•
Eating moderate portions of high-quality foods every three to four hours (or
about five to six times a day).
• Completely cutting out sugar and
refined carbs such as white bread, most crackers, white rice and white
pasta.
• Getting ample protein, slow-acting carbohydrates (such as
vegetables and low-sugar fruits) and healthy fats.
• Never skipping
meals, especially breakfast.
• Exercising regularly, if possible. (Light
snacks before and aftewards may also be helpful.)
• Working with a
qualified nutritionist or health care professional.
Here are Nicole Richie fans and other people 9 of many warning signs of
hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. (These symptoms also could mean that you’re in
sugar shock or have a sugar addiction.)
1. Feeling unexplained faintness,
dizziness or weak spells (such as those experienced by Nicole Richie).
2. Experiencing such baffling symptoms as staggering, lack of
coordination, abnormal weight (loss or gain) and mental confusion or “brain fog”
(which Nicole Richie also reportedly suffered).
3. Suddenly becoming
wiped out and spacey. (Usually, people with hypoglycemia or low blood sugar
wrongly grab quick, sugary snacks or drinks, which only make matters worse.)
4. Flipping from wired to tired, at a moment’s notice.
5. Getting
abnormal, almost insatiable cravings for candy, soda and other sweets or
fast-acting, refined carbs such as chips, white flour bread or white rice.
6. Suffering from ferocious headaches, the shakes or heart palpitations.
7. Displaying unpredictable cranky behavior, temper outbursts or crying
spells.
8. Having excessive fatigue—so much so that extra sleep even
doesn’t seem to help much.
9.
Hearing unconvinced loved ones or doctors falsely assuming that your
symptoms are “all in your head.” (I wonder if Nicole Richie went
through this frustrating experience, as do many hypoglycemia sufferers.)
Nicole Richie — as well as millions of people with
hypoglycemia, pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes and sugar addiction — can make
important lifestyle and dietary changes that could bring level moods, better
concentration, more consistent energy, improved relationships, and maybe even
increased libido.
By the way, my book SUGAR SHOCK! includes a chapter, entitled, “It Might
Not Be `All in Your Head’: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Know Or Believe About
Hypoglycemia.”
You can read an excerpt of the chapter, which I’ve dubbed, "Hypoglycemia: A Hidden
Hell."
Read more about Bennett’ reaction to Nicole
Richie’s diagnosis here.