This edition is a result of new and improved concepts developed from talking with thousands of low blood sugar sufferers who have bought our books over the years. We wish to extend our appreciation to all those who have shared with us how their lives have improved by following the Krimmel Program in the handbook.
No longer do hypoglycemics have to be held hostage because they can't find out what is causing their problems. Through reading and studying they are discovering that what they put into their bodies can cause their lives to be disrupted and erratic or calm and controllable. The word has gotten out that the proper food is often much more beneficial to our bodies than medications. Even women with premenstrual syndrome often have trouble with hypoglycemia, states Dr. Ronald Norris, M.D., faculty member of Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass.
Throughout history, headaches, depression, alcoholism and sleep problems have been considered as being caused by something other than a body chemistry imbalance. Until recent years the alcoholic was considered to have a character flaw. Today's research is finding that the 11 million alcoholics, the 36 million depressed persons, the over 100 million suffering with headaches and the 50 odd million with sleep problems are often suffering with a body chemistry problem, which can be improved and sometimes even corrected by taking in the proper foods and their bodies being cared for with tender loving care (exercise, rest and relaxation, and fun and laughter).
Only recently is low blood sugar being recognized as the shadow behind many commonly known problems-many experts working with alcoholics believe the majority, if not all, alcoholics have low blood sugar; a great number of patients with mental conditions have improved immensely after being diagnosed and treated for low blood sugar; several institutions which work with juvenile offenders have tested them for low blood sugar and found a high percentage have the condition.
Aggressive behavior is another area where hypoglycemia shows up. Probably the most dramatic example of this is represented in the studies by Ralph Bolton, an ethnographer. He studied the Qolla, an Andean subculture near Peru, who have a culture with considerable violence and aggression. This is the direct opposite of what their moral code demands, which is charity, compassion and cooperation with all men. So why are they aggressive and violent? Mr. Bolton found a high rate, 55%, of the men he tested had hypoglycemia. Eleven of the 13 most aggressive men in the group had hypoglycemia. Dare we chance to think that hypoglycemia may be a contributing factor to the high incidence of crime and social problems in the United States?
The primary reason this book has been written is that I am a hypoglycemic (Low Blood Sugar sufferer) and my wife and I are anxious to share the many insights we have gained from living with the condition over the years. Although there are fine books written about hypoglycemia, to our knowledge this is the first to be written by a hypoglycemic. Our book is not so much about hypoglycemia as it is about the everyday nitty-gritty of living with the condition. We tell you the things you should and can do to end your suffering.
The insights we discuss in this book have been developed over years of personal experience. We have tested and retested the methods, not only on me but on other people we have helped to understand and regulate their own hypoglycemia.
On a scale of 1-10 for hypoglycemia severity, with 10 being the most severe, I would rate myself a 8-9. Before my hypoglycemia was regulated I regularly experienced approximately 40 of the common symptoms of the condition. Now that I am regulated by following the program we have worked out and outlined in this book, I would rate myself a 1 because of the infrequent occurrence of a few of the listed symptoms. Most times these few symptoms occur, it is because I am only human and eat something that tastes good to my tongue but isn't good for my body chemistry. It's the old battle of pain and pleasure that all hypoglycemics eventually have to face and deal with. At least now I know why I have the various symptoms and how to deal with them. Having these insights has given me the opportunity to enjoy a very beautiful life. We hope the insights will afford you a better life too.
The program outlined in this book is an optimum lifestyle for not only hypoglycemics, but for everyone who desires a healthy and productive life. Naturally it's called the Krimmel Program.
Had it not been for books on hypoglycemia we would still be wandering and staggering through the orthodox medical maze, looking for an answer to the many symptoms I was displaying. Only through the books did I learn what was really wrong with me. Now that I have a free mind and a healthy spirit, my wife and I are able to make our contribution to the social fabric which helped us.
Because of the many people we met who told us about their low blood sugar condition and difficulties in getting suitable information, we decided to put our ideas on paper so we could help people more effectively. So here it is, your personal handbook, the means by which you can readily establish whether or not you are hypoglycemic and the specifics of what to do and what not to do. If you find yourself using the material in our book on a day to day basis, then we have done our job well. We made a special effort to use a level of language that would be complementary to the subject and at the same time be folksy and easily understood by the lay individual. It is very important that your family and friends read this book so they will be able to understand hypoglycemia and how it affects all of you. Then they can be supportive and helpful.
God bless, and we love you too. Ed & Pat Krimmel
