A couple of years ago, my doctor told me that I have a problem with low blood sugar, something known as hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is such a big word that I equated it with a big problem. But learning about hypoglycemia helped me to understand a lot about why my body does the things it does. Some things that had happened to me had never made sense until I was diagnosed. I can get a lot of headaches which can turn into migraines (which is like your worst-nightmare headache only you also feel nauseous and can’t stand lights or noise at all). Keeping my blood sugar more stable has reduced my headaches a lot. One time I almost fainted when I hadn’t had enough to eat. The room started spinning out of control, but someone thankfully saved me before I passed out. If I’m really hungry, I can get really irritable and cranky and obsessed with eating something NOW! I also can get dizzy and weak and just tired-feeling.

Even though I am hypoglycemic, I haven’t had to take any medicine or shots, and my life is still normal. I’m not a doctor, but dealing with blood sugar has taught me a few things. Here are a few tips if you have hypoglycemia.

If you are prone to low blood sugar, you probably notice how sugar can affect you. If you forget to eat or you don’t get enough to eat regularly, then your blood sugar drops. If you eat too much sugar at a time (especially sweet things like candy or soda), then your blood sugar rises too much only to plummet to the depths again.

Eat small meals and snacks at regular times throughout the day. Try balancing a good protein (milk, cheese, peanut butter, meat) with a good carbohydrate (whole grain bread, fruit). Some carbohydrates get absorbed by your body very quickly (such as, candy and products with “sugar” as an ingredient), whereas, other carbohydrates (again, whole grain bread) are absorbed slower and keep you stable longer. I find this good to know. Sometimes when I’m feeling low, I’ll try to get sugar as quickly as I can, and I’ll drink a cup of orange juice. But to keep me from dropping again, I’ll need to eat some protein and whole grains.

Before bedtime, eat some yogurt or drink some milk. I find that this helps me wake up feeling better than when I go to bed on an empty stomach. I also eat breakfast almost as soon as I wake up, and this practice helps to start my day out right.

Keep a snack with you when you leave the house. You never know when you could need an extra boost.

Listen to your body. If you’re hungry, eat something. Don’t wait.

Stay away from dessert. This is advice to myself. I have quite the sweet tooth. When I do have dessert or soda, I try to have them at the same time as a meal, or right after.

Talk with your doctor about hypoglycemia. He or she will help explain the causes and effects of hypoglycemia.