Experiments have now confirmed what the hypoglycemic
person experiences. Low blood sugar triggers hunger — especially carbo
craving. In addition, the brain is starved for its preferred fuel:
glucose. At rest, the brain consumes one-third of the body's total
glucose requirement. The brain is a hungry, rapidly metabolizing organ,
and fuel shortages in it create problems with concentration, memory,
and mood. A recent study showed that individuals with low blood sugar
scored poorly on tasks requiring memory, concentration, and reasoning.
But perhaps most important, low blood sugar triggers an outpouring
of counterregulatory hormones (catecholamines) from the adrenals. These
hormones oppose the action of insulin and push blood sugar levels back
up. Unfortunately for the hypoglycemic person, these "rescue" hormones
are the very same ones that produce the adrenaline rush of a
fight-or-flight reaction. The results are symptoms like palpitations,
sweaty palms, nervousness, tremor, and sometimes even severe panic
attacks.
