Hypoglycaemia is one of many theories on the causes of morning sickness. In clinical practice hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar is more than a contributory factor, many of the women I consult with are suffering hidden hypoglycaemia even before they become pregnant. Pregnant women often suffer from hypoglycemia as a result of the placenta draining energy from the mother which has a nauseating effect due to much of the expectant mothers energy being consumed by the developing embryo.
Pregnancy takes over a woman's body and the effect can be seen all around an otherwise seemingly healthy body. Once you start growing another life inside of you all your weaknesses will show up. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), is often a symptom of inadequate energy (calorie). This could be due to simply not eating enough to support the activity going on inside of you, a lack of good quality food (i.e not enough nutrition quality despite quantity being high enough) or even quality being too good (i.e your weakened system can't digest all the natural whole foods you want to eat).
Hypoglycemia's characteristic dizziness, lightheadedness, shakiness or fatigue may be as a result of the hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy. These can also interfere with the way your body uses insulin, another hormone. When your blood sugar drops, you're likely to feel dizzy or light-headed.
Hypoglycemia requires dietary changes, increasing the number of calories you eat and having a small meal or snack about every two hours will typically resolve your symptoms. However, I'm not a GP so I must advise you to work closely with your care provider or family doctor.
Pregnancy takes over a woman's body and the effect can be seen all around an otherwise seemingly healthy body. Once you start growing another life inside of you all your weaknesses will show up. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), is often a symptom of inadequate energy (calorie). This could be due to simply not eating enough to support the activity going on inside of you, a lack of good quality food (i.e not enough nutrition quality despite quantity being high enough) or even quality being too good (i.e your weakened system can't digest all the natural whole foods you want to eat).
Hypoglycemia's characteristic dizziness, lightheadedness, shakiness or fatigue may be as a result of the hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy. These can also interfere with the way your body uses insulin, another hormone. When your blood sugar drops, you're likely to feel dizzy or light-headed.
- Brain and other nervous tissue require glucose as a sole energy source and even in long-term fasting require significant amounts of glucose.
- Red blood cells, since they do not contain mitochondria (power plants of cells), they can only obtain energy by anaerobic glycolysis (break down of sugars without the presence of oxygen).
- Skeletal muscle at rest uses predominantly lipid (fat) as the energy source, but in heavy exercise also draws upon muscle glycogen and blood glucose. Because brain and red blood cells depend almost exclusively upon glucose as their source of energy, it is essential that it always be available.
Hypoglycemia requires dietary changes, increasing the number of calories you eat and having a small meal or snack about every two hours will typically resolve your symptoms. However, I'm not a GP so I must advise you to work closely with your care provider or family doctor.
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