Since I gave birth this past summer to our second bundle of joy, I have really been enjoying my coffee each morning. I can't say I ever love my husband more than when he sneaks out of bed early on a Sunday morning, and I wake to the warm scent of freshly brewed coffee! It's such a cozy tradition to start the day. However, after that first cup in the morning, my body can't handle any more caffeine. If I feel very tired and opt for a second cup of Joe, I pay for it with the shakes and a sick stomach.
My whole life, I've battled with hypoglycemia, or a 'sugar low', as I call it. It is something that I've gotten quite used to and when I feel the symptoms hit me, I combat it with some orange juice or a handful of candies and then I merrily go about my business. This week, however, I had an 'episode' that I have never experienced before. It was scary for me and my family, because the usual measures didn't work as quickly as they usually do, and I had to lay down for about an hour after eating some fruit and candies and drinking what seemed like gallons of ice water. The next day, I visited my doctor. After a thorough physical exam proved my health is tip-top, we discussed what I did and what I consumed the day before. I had enjoyed a dark roast coffee that afternoon, my second of the day, and hadn't eaten between lunch and dinner. My doctor's response to that was very informative: Coffee triggers hypoglycemia. Because I had set myself up for a 'sugar low' by not eating properly that afternoon and then consuming coffee, my body was sent into a hypoglycemic 'episode'.
This sounded a bit mumbo-jumbo-esque to me, so when I got home, I did a bit of my own research to see if I could find more detailed information. The Livestrong website, which is a partnership of the Lance Armstrong Foundation and a site I often peruse, has an interesting article called Hypoglycemia & Caffeine. This article discusses that in some people suffering from hypoglycemia, caffeine can actually benefit them, while in others, it can be a detriment. I also found another website on Reactive Hypoglycemia that has some really great information.
I have never taken my 'sugar low' episodes seriously before, but now that I have children I know it is very important for me to be as healthy as possible, not only to set a good example but also to ensure that I am able to care for my babies to the best of my abilities. Hypoglycemia doesn't have to be a problem for me. Like many health 'issues', if you take care of yourself, it will never be one. I can and will still enjoy my morning coffee, but I won't depend on it - or a second cup - to fuel my day.
Read more about hypoglycemia here:
My whole life, I've battled with hypoglycemia, or a 'sugar low', as I call it. It is something that I've gotten quite used to and when I feel the symptoms hit me, I combat it with some orange juice or a handful of candies and then I merrily go about my business. This week, however, I had an 'episode' that I have never experienced before. It was scary for me and my family, because the usual measures didn't work as quickly as they usually do, and I had to lay down for about an hour after eating some fruit and candies and drinking what seemed like gallons of ice water. The next day, I visited my doctor. After a thorough physical exam proved my health is tip-top, we discussed what I did and what I consumed the day before. I had enjoyed a dark roast coffee that afternoon, my second of the day, and hadn't eaten between lunch and dinner. My doctor's response to that was very informative: Coffee triggers hypoglycemia. Because I had set myself up for a 'sugar low' by not eating properly that afternoon and then consuming coffee, my body was sent into a hypoglycemic 'episode'.
This sounded a bit mumbo-jumbo-esque to me, so when I got home, I did a bit of my own research to see if I could find more detailed information. The Livestrong website, which is a partnership of the Lance Armstrong Foundation and a site I often peruse, has an interesting article called Hypoglycemia & Caffeine. This article discusses that in some people suffering from hypoglycemia, caffeine can actually benefit them, while in others, it can be a detriment. I also found another website on Reactive Hypoglycemia that has some really great information.
I have never taken my 'sugar low' episodes seriously before, but now that I have children I know it is very important for me to be as healthy as possible, not only to set a good example but also to ensure that I am able to care for my babies to the best of my abilities. Hypoglycemia doesn't have to be a problem for me. Like many health 'issues', if you take care of yourself, it will never be one. I can and will still enjoy my morning coffee, but I won't depend on it - or a second cup - to fuel my day.
Read more about hypoglycemia here:
- Hypoglycemia - PubMed Health
- The Hypoglycemia Support Foundation
- Hypoglycemia - Mayo Clinic
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