So I am sitting at my desk munching on a handful of Skittles (Skittles, bite sized candy, taste the rainbow of fruit flavor) and drinking a Pepsi (how's that for product placement?) because it is a few hours after lunch and my blood sugar has decreased to the point where I feel like I will fall asleep at my desk when I read something on a website about hypoglycemia which makes me blink my eyes in consternation.

This website, which contains information about the diagnosis and treatment of hypoglycemia has this to say about the proper care and feeding of a hypoglycemic person.
There are three (3) substances you must avoid:

1. Sugars of all types - sucrose, dextrose, honey, etc.
2. Starchy foods - pasta, rice, beans, breads, potatoes, etc.
3. Stimulants - caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, etc.

Okay, I know that I'm not a doctor or anything, but I'm hypoglycemic and i live on every single one of those substances mentioned. I drink way too much Pepsi (or other sodas when I can't get my hands on the real thing) for my own good, I love rice, potatoes, pasta, bread, and all sorts of starchy things and will sometimes eat them instead of a protein because they are easy to cook and I actually like them. (and they're cheap, let's not forget. I survived a very lean time while I was going through the divorce on plain pasta and white rice.) Sugar? Forget it. I am a horrible sugar addict. I have this incredible weakness for Sweet Tarts, Pixie Stix or any other almost pure sugar candy. The worst is probably the Sour Apple Candy Straws on which I munch with such delight because not only are they made with sugar (and horse hooves) but they've got lots and lots of sugar on them. Yum! And the funny thing is, most hypoglycemic people I know are like that too. My old roomie, Justin ate like half a box of popsicles every night . . . but that's another story.

Now, I'm not disputing the fact that perhaps by regulating my diet so that my blood sugar stays at an even level throughout the day, I could avoid episodes like the time I almost passed out on the bus, had to call Chris to come pick me up and then he had to carry me up the stairs. However, when I forget to eat for a while, and I start getting antsy or lightheaded, I can usually grab a sugary drink or some candy or something (unless I have glucose pills, in which case I take those) and that helps the immediate problem and I can go off and search for food at a little more leisure. Protein and complex carbohydrates aside, if I get to the point where I need food NOW or I'm going to be sick or pass out or something, I feel much better if I eat something sugary that boosts my blood sugar immediately and then go off in search of something more substatial and healthier for me. I mean, if I get to that point, usually just looking at a piece of chicken other "real" food item makes me want to be sick immediately and I won't want to eat anyway.

So the point of all that is (Wow, Celine, you actually have a point?) that I don't care what anyone has to say about it. Unless I am warned of some impending doom, I will continue to deal with my own blood sugar levels in the way that work for me, even if it means occasionally turning to people I'm with and saying, "Food. Now." and hurrying off to get some. I'm a lot better than I used to be, I try to eat regularly, remember that I need to eat more protein but I can't kick my sugar habit, or my Pepsi habit, and I've never, ever heard of anyone having a starch habit. I'm happy and I'm relatively healthy (albeit a little bit ahem, curvier, than I'd like) so tonight for dinner, I think I'll have a Pixie Stix sandwich and wash it all down with a couple of sodas while I surf the internet and find more people to disagree with.