The Slow Way To Successfully Get On The HG Diet
Gloria J. Hutson, January 15, 2002

The Hypoglycemic Strict and Liberal diets have been developed by Dr. Paul St. Amand for his hypoglycemic patients. Approximately 40% of FMS/CFS people suffer from this pre-diabetic condition in which the pancreas releases too much insulin in response to sugar in the bloodstream. 

After so many years of this, the body can lose it's ability to use insulin and Type II diabetes occurs.  If the Type II diabetes is not controlled through diet and Glucophage, it can eventually lead to the total collapse of the pancreas where the pancreas stops producing insulin completely. The diet is similar to Dr. Atkins diet but with more variety in what one can eat.

You don't have to count carbs or watch portions (except for the foods that do have limits). If the strict diet is followed exactly with no cheats, most people lose between 3 to 4 lbs a week. The liberal diet is very good at maintaining weight loss even if you allow yourself some cheats. 

I recommend that people start this diet slowly taking as long as 4 weeks to begin the strict diet as sugar addiction withdrawal symptoms are a serious problem for some people. By taking things slowly, you will be able to put less stress on the body as it tries to do without sugar and without carbs. 

Week 1 
Give up all caffeine. If you are use to having a lot of caffeine in a day, start with 3 cups of coffee or soda for the first 2 days, then 2cups of coffee or soda for 2 days and finally 1 cup of coffee for 2 days. By day 7 you will be caffeine free without noticing caffeine withdrawal symptoms. You may have as many decaff beverages as you prefer during the day and I recommend you begin using artificially sweetened drinks to acclimate yourself to artificial sweetener.  Diet Rite products and Swiss Miss Sugar Free hot chocolate are made from Splenda if you have a problem with aspartame. Splenda (also known as sucralose) is made as a by-product of real sugar. 

Week 2 
Give up ALL sugars (page 117 under Forbidden Foods).

You will be amazed at all the foods we consume that do have sugar in one form or another. However, you can eat bread, potatoes, rice, beans and pasta during this week.  In fact I recommend you eat these items a bit more often, substituting them for the sweets you were previously use to having daily. These foods turn rather quickly into glucose but do not provide the insulin rush that pure sugar does. What you are really going to be doing during this week is to get off sugar which is an addiction yet trick your body into thinking it is getting a lot of carbs which it can convert easily into energy. There are internet websites you can go to get dessert recipes made with Splenda such as custards, cheesecakes, and macaroons. Just do a search for low carb recipes. If you find yourself craving something sweet, grab one of the high carb foods. Even a few slices of bread will stem that craving for you.  Click here for a  website which has 2 very good cookbooks available for download.

.Also see the low-carb cooking page on this web site for several links to other web sites, books and mailing lists.  

If you are doing this diet because you are HG, you will still be experiencing HG symptoms as the avoid foods will cause a reaction.

Week 3 
Begin doing the liberal diet (which includes all the strict diet foods) choosing a bit more food from that side of the diet at meal times or snacks. By doing so, this week should end your sugar addiction without going into severe withdrawal. Towards the end of this week, your body should begin to change your metabolism from burning carbs to burning protein/fat for fuel. You will feel quite tired for few days as this occurs. You can also get shaky and weak if you forget to eat.  It is recommended that you eat a small amount of protein every 2hours as it takes longer for the body to turn protein/fat into glucose then it does to turn carbohydrates into glucose.  

Week 4
Drop to the strict diet for loss of weight. You should have no problems with craving sugar by this time. Your body may still be in the process of changing your metabolism so be sure to eat frequently. When this process is finally done, you should be noticing more energy with little cravings for high carb foods. Eat as often and as much of the foods on the strict diet (watching the ones with limits of course) as you want. This is not a calorie diet where you must watch your intake of foods.  Portions only matter on the foods clearly marked with a limit (this is due to their carb count). The foods on the strict diet are designed to stop insulin from being stimulated and entering the bloodstream. Without insulin, the body cannot store fat. The fat you consume will either be burned as fuel or be sluffed off through the urine. The diet is designed to keep your carb count below 30 grams a day and if followed exactly will result in good weight loss without hunger pains or cravings for sweets. If you would like something sweet, make a sugar free dessert.  Some people do crave chocolate but it should be avoided until you know you are clearly losing weight. Dr. St. Amand has recommended that people with HG refrain from chocolate until they have faithfully followed the diet for 8 weeks.  If you are not HG, you can have a little if it is artificially sweetened after you determine you are losing weight.  Chocolate does have some carbs.

Dr. Atkin's protein bars have some chocolate and make a great "sweet" snack but also quite expensive.  Hot chocolate made with heavy whipping cream, cocoa and Splenda is very good too. The substitute for milk in recipes is 1/3 cup of whipping cream to 2/3 cups of water or 50/50 if you want a richer taste.  I hope this will inspire you to do the diet if you are HG or to try it for weight loss. It's an excellent diet for both and a very healthy way to eat for the rest of your life.

Gloria Hutson 

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