It is common for people starting the GAPS Introduction diet to experience a blood sugar drop resulting in hypoglycemia. When carbohydrates have been a large part of the diet the body needs to adjust from a carbohydrate burning metabolism to a fat burning metabolism. Many people coming to the GAPS program are sugar and carb addicted so when they begin the GAPS introduction diet they may begin to experience symptoms of low blood sugar.

What are symptoms of low blood sugar?
• Shakiness
• Anxiety
• Sweating, chills, and clamminess
• Irritability or impatience
• Confusion
• Rapid/fast heartbeat
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Hunger and nausea
• Sleepiness
• Blurred/impaired vision
• Tingling or numbness in the lips or tongue
• Headaches
• Weakness or fatigue
• Anger, stubbornness, or sadness
• Lack of coordination
• Nightmares or crying out during sleep
• Seizures
• Unconsciousness

Tips to Balance Blood Sugar on GAPS Intro?
The following options will assist the management of hypoglycemia during the GAPS introduction early stages.

Coconut oil/honey mixture - mix 1 cup of softened unrefined coconut oil with 2 tablespoons of raw honey. Store this in a glass jar and consume a spoonful every 20 minutes, or as needed.

Fresh pressed apple juice - offer them half a cup of juice at the first sign of low blood sugar and take small sips at a time. You may also freeze the juice into ice cubes and these can be sucked on as needed. It’s ideal to include a spoon of fat, like coconut oil or ghee, along with this to slow down the sugar absorption.

Meat Stock – meat stock also contains glycine which increases the effect of insulin, the main hormone involved in regulating our blood sugar levels. This ensures our cells use the glucose efficiently as fuel rather than converting and storing it as fat. Chicken meat stock is gentler on the stomach and contains less histamines compared to bone broth which is cooked for longer.