What You Should Know About Sugar Allergy Symptoms
Just like any other allergic reaction, if you are allergic to sugar you will want to become familiar with sugar allergy symptoms. When someone is allergic to sugar they may experience certain symptoms that could include inflammation in some area of the body.
It is commonly believed that people don’t actually have an allergy to sugar, but they could be intolerant of sugar. A sugar allergy is one of the most difficult to live with due to the fact that there is sugar in most foods, no matter if that sugar is a natural part of the food, or if it is added. In most cases a sugar allergy is actually intolerance to foods that contain refined sugar; when someone has this problem they are limited in the types of foods they can eat and this can be a very difficult situation to live with.
One medical problem that might be considered a sugar allergy is known as insulin resistance. When someone is insulin resistant they could display sugar allergy symptoms from mild to severe. With this condition someone becomes resistant to insulin if they consume too much sugar; the symptoms may include rapid weight gain, fatigue, and pain in the joints.
To determine if sugar allergy symptoms are the result of a true allergy to sugar or insulin resistance, you will want to stop eating sugar; if at that point the symptoms disappear you can eat a little sugar to see if they return. In some cases too much carbohydrates can cause these symptoms in insulin resistant individuals.
Another sugar allergy symptom is hyperactivity; if someone eats sugar and become very hyperactive, there is a chance that they are intolerant of sugar and their body is not processing it correctly. Intolerance to sugar might also cause depression in some people; the reason for this is that the body is not processing the sugar and it does eventually influence the natural chemical makeup of the brain.
An additional problem that is common when someone develops sugar allergy symptoms due to intolerance is diabetes. When the body is unable to process the sugar, it will remain in the blood and put strain on the pancreas, eventually causing it not to work at all. If this happens the person will develop diabetes.
If someone is displaying sugar allergy symptoms or evidence of insulin intolerance, it is best to visit a healthcare provider to be screened for diabetes. To deal with this condition you will want to eliminate as much sugar from your diet as possible and begin using sugar substitutes. It is also important that you reduce, but not eliminate other carbohydrates such as pastas, breads, etc. You do not want to eliminate these foods completely, but try to keep processed foods from your diet as much as possible.
In cases where there are true sugar allergy symptoms to indicate an allergic reaction to refined sugar, you will notice swelling, possibly in the hands and face. This can be dangerous because if the inflammation occurs in the throat it might obstruct breathing. If you should notice symptoms of inflammation you will need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, a trip to the emergency room may be in order, if the swelling does not seem to be life threatening, contact your doctor for advice.
The sooner you are evaluated for sugar allergy symptoms the better, both allergies and sugar intolerance can cause major health problems so it is important to begin treatment if you have this medical condition.