What Is Hypoglycemia? – Low Blood Sugar/Hypoglycemia Basics – Dr.Berg [59f854]
Post Time: 2025-07-29
Alcohol consumption can wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels, leading to a range of symptoms from mild discomfort to severe health complications. When we think about the effects of alcohol on our bodies, many of us consider its impact on our liver or stomach lining. However, few people realize that it also has significant implications for their blood sugar control.
Rethinking Blood Sugar and Alcohol: The Uncomfortable Truth
The relationship between blood sugar levels and alcohol consumption is complex. When you drink too much alcohol, your body's natural ability to regulate its internal environment gets disrupted. One of the primary ways this happens is through a sudden increase in glucose (blood sugar) levels. This spike can be caused by several factors:
- Insulin resistance: Regularly consuming high amounts of refined carbohydrates and sugars disrupts insulin production, leading your body to become less sensitive.
- Hormonal fluctuations: Alcohol affects various hormonal balances within the body, influencing how it manages blood sugar.
Alcohol-Induced Blood Sugar Swings: A Hidden Danger
When you consume alcohol on an empty stomach or after a meal with high glycemic index foods (like white rice), your blood glucose levels may rise quickly. As this happens, many people might feel initially energized due to the release of stored glucose into their bloodstream.
However, within 2-4 hours post-drinking:
- Your body's natural insulin production starts to slow down.
- Blood sugar can begin dropping sharply (known as hypoglycemia).
- Symptoms like shakiness, dizziness, and mood swings become common.
Understanding Low Blood Sugar After Drinking: Recognizing the Signs
Here are some telltale signs that you might be experiencing low blood sugar post-alcohol consumption:
- Increased hunger: Your body starts craving more food than usual.
- Drowsiness or fatigue: You feel lethargic and struggle to stay focused.
- Shakiness or tremors: Mild hand shaking is a common symptom of hypoglycemia.
Stabilizing Blood Sugar After Drinking: Strategies for Recovery
To mitigate these issues, consider incorporating the following habits into your lifestyle:
- Eat small meals regularly: Keep your blood sugar levels stable by eating more frequently.
- Incorporate low-carb snacks: Focus on protein-rich or fat-based foods that won't cause a sharp spike in glucose.
Reevaluating Your Lifestyle: Putting the Brakes on Blood Sugar Swings
Reducing alcohol consumption, increasing physical activity, and maintaining a balanced diet are all essential for stabilizing your blood sugar levels.
If you have hypoglycemia, here are a few basics you need to know. Timestamps 0:04 What is hypoglycemia? 0:34 What causes low blood sugar? 0:42 Symptoms of hypoglycemia 1:29 The worst thing you can do if you have hypoglycemia 2:32 Sources of hidden carbs 3:18 What you can do In this video, I’m going to cover the basics of hypoglycemia. What is hypoglycemia? Hypoglycemia is a low blood sugar condition. It can happen due to an overreaction of insulin (insulin is responsible for controlling the blood sugar levels in the body). When insulin is spiked too much or too fast in the body, it can drop the sugar too low. What causes hypoglycemia? A few of the main causes behind hypoglycemia are sugar and refined carbohydrates. Hypoglycemia symptoms: • Headaches • Stomach noise • Brain fog • Irritability • Craving sweets • Anxiety • Depression • Moodiness • Paranoia • printable blood sugar level chart Fatigue • Fear In most cases, the worst thing you can do if you have hypoglycemia is consume sugar. A few foods that can have hidden sources of carbs and sugars are juices, fruits, grains, starches, plain yogurt, and wine. A few things you can do if you have hypoglycemia: • Berberine (an ancient Chinese herb) • Nutritional yeast • High potassium foods (7-10 cups of vegetables per day) • Exercise • Protein breakfast Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio: Dr. Berg, age 57, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan, and is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals. He no a1c level chart to what blood sugar is normal longer practices, but focuses on health education through social borderline blood sugar media. Follow Me On Social Media: Facebook: Instagram: Anchor: TikTok: ABOUT DR. BERG: Disclaimer: Dr. Eric Berg received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Berg is a licensed chiropractor in Virginia, California, and Louisiana, but he no longer practices chiropractic in any state and does not see patients so he can focus on educating people as a full time activity, yet he maintains an active license. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, and prescription or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Berg and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. #keto #ketodiet #weightloss #ketosis Thanks for watching! I hope this video helps you better understand hypoglycemia and what you can do if you have hypoglycemia.