Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 2/2/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello, thank you for your time, i have been drinking on and off for 20+ years, some times moderately other times 6/8 units a day. I had a liver scan 10 yrs ago and all was fine, i have had liver function blood test last year which was ok (but i believe that does not mean a thing)? I decided its time to stop and have not drank for 4 weeks, at first it affected me but i seem over the effects now. I do however have like what seem hypoglycmic feelings on occasions feeling weak around meal times. I want to get well can you suggest a hypoglcymic diet, and what i can do for a fatty liver?  or point me in the right direction? i think it maybe to late for me, but i can only start to try and put things right, and not give up hope. Thank you once again for any advice or pointers kind regards sallyx

ANSWER: Hi sally,

Most people addicted to alcohol do so because they are hypoglycemic, which means they have problem producing feel good neurotransmitters. Without these feel good brain chemicals the brain  will trigger the release of adrenaline and other stress hormones, which drives the person to alcohol as  self-medication against stress.

So the major treatment approach is to adopt the hypoglycemic diet.

Why Alcoholics Drink? at
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/WAD.html

Alcoholism (Addiction) is a Treatable Disease at:
http://curezone.com/upload/PDF/Articles/jurplesman/alcoholism_treatable.pdf

Drug Addiction is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/drug_addictions_nutritional_disorder.htm

The first step in treatment is going on a hypoglycemic diet ( See our web site). If problems persist, it is best to consult a Nutritional Doctor, Clinical Nutritionist or a Nutritional Psychotherapist for further diagnosis and treatment.

Also read:
http://www.herbs2000.com/disorders/liver_probl.htm


_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist.
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Many many thanks for your rapid response and excellent links you provided me with. I just wanted to say that i am 52yrs old and i have suffered with this weak bodied shaky feeling since i was a young girl, before i even knew what alcohol was. I have always had to grab something sweet quickly chocolate, cake, bisciuts,sweet drink, and relax till i feel better. When i was about 10yrs old my Mum took me to the Doctors, and he said always make sure that i have access to a bag of barley sugars and start sucking them as i feel this coming on????? i have always thought it was just the way i am, and i just had to live with it. Could i ask you if it is dangerous? and also does this mean i am likely to become diabetic? and finally if i am told this feeling i have is a  cravings for alcohol/ withdrawal symptoms how come i had it when i was a young girl? Any advice would be very much appreciated, thank you once again for your expertise help kind regards Sally x

Answer
Hi Sally.,

Well, some people may have a genetic component towards hypoglycemia/diabetes, but seeing from your history that you have been taking sugary foods to counter your shakings since childhood, it looks like that you sugar problems may have been caused by over-consumption of sugary foods throughout your life.

Most doctors are not aware that hypoglycemia is the forerunner of diabetes, nor do they know how to test for this. The test for hypoglycemia which is different from testing for diabetes, are explained at our web site. See INDEX.

I suggest that you have yourself tested for diabetes. If negative you can assume that you are hypoglycemic and that you should be on the hypoglycemic diet. This should resolve your problems in time.

If you have sugar-craving problems take GLYCERINE. Look up INDEX.

I hope I have been of some help.

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist.
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman