Alcoholism - Physiological Causes

I have long believed that most alcoholism was not a psychological problem, but a physical one related to hypoglycemia. Some years ago I had occasion to test my theory on a friend of mine who had become an alcoholic. She had all the signs of a hypoglycemic, the most notable  being sugar cravings. (She was, by the way, very slender.) She told me she went on her biggest binges when she got out of rehab. I found out that in rehab they replace alcohol with lots of sugary foods. We set up a diet and a selection of supplements. It worked well. She stuck to it and, when last heard from her, she was still off the sauce.

It is years since I have concerned myself with the subject of alcoholism, so it was a surprise to me when I found an article on Google that linked alcoholism with hypoglycemia. Here is the site: http://www.healthrecovery.com/HRC_2006/CorrectingChemistry.htm

For those of you who are alcoholics, or who have family or friends who are, you would do well to read this article.

[ibizan]

There is no one definitive answer as to what causes alcoholism/drug addiction.....science/medicine has been and will continue to debate this for years to come.I have a strong family history and excessive drinking was role modeled for me at a very young age as normal.I do know one thing i never had that internal OFF switch when it came 2 alcohol...or drugs.......and at age 28 i accepted this and began my journey on the road to recovery.it is a fact that alcoholics/addicts like sugar and do seem to crave it in recovery......it was very intense for me in the first 2 years of recovery and has waned a tad... i still do enjoy my sweets...but in moderation now!

[Jacker]

Ahhhh, but which came first? The chicken or the egg?  Are we hypoglycemic because we drank too much, or do we drink too much because we are hypoglycemic?  

I know what you mean about the sugar, and I ate more of it in the early days of sobriety.  The cravings for extra sweets gradually subsided with more sober time.  

But to be honest, I used alcohol as an escape more than anything else. And I could never do that with a candy bar.  

[ticked]

Thanks for this information :)

[allmymarbles]

What first got me to thinking about the connection had to do with knowing the Irish immigrants in New York. When I was a child the three major groups of immigrants were Italian, Jewish and Irish and we all knew each other well. The Irish diet was heavy in potatoes and sugar (for a snack their mothers would give them a piece of white bread covered with granulated sugar). The Irish in those days had an extremely high rate of alcoholism.

I found some years ago that I was hypoglycemic and this explained an awful lot. I would get sugar binges. I learned this was an attempt to raise my sugar level, but that it did the opposite. Was this so different from drinking binges? Did alcoholics have the same condition? So I started observing. Then I cured my friend.

As to what came first, the chicken or the egg, I would say the chicken. Although none in my family are alcoholic, a sweet tooth is common. Perhaps we would have chosen drinking instead of sweets, if that had been part of our culture.

[ibizan]

There is no one definitive answer as to what causes alcoholism/drug addiction.....science/medicine has been and will continue to debate this for years to come.I have a strong family history and excessive drinking was role modeled for me at a very young age as normal.I do know one thing i never had that internal OFF switch when it came 2 alcohol...or drugs.......and at age 28 i accepted this and began my journey on the road to recovery.it is a fact that alcoholics/addicts like sugar and do seem to crave it in recovery......it was very intense for me in the first 2 years of recovery and has waned a tad... i still do enjoy my sweets...but in moderation now!

[allmymarbles]

If, in fact, sugar craving and alcoholism are rooted in a physical disfunction (hypoglycemia) can it be called an addiction? Is the need for insulin in a diabetic an addiction?

[ibizan]

this forum is for those who are trying to quit drinking and for those with a loved one who has a alcohol problem seeking support.It is not intended for those wanting to debate whether or not addiction has multi or singular causes.I know for myself believing it is an addiction that i can arrest has kept me sober/clean for going on 27 years 11-22.If its a debate you are seeking perhaps you would be better off to go to another website that does just that!

[narla]

There are no simplistic answers to addiction or alcoholism,I believe everyone is different,I drank to hide from life,I don't crave sugar and never have I actually prefer salty and savoury foods.
The point of this forum is to support and help each other in our struggle for continued sobriety.

Good Luck to everyone struggling and keep posting if you need that support.

Take Care Denise  

[Punkinhead75]

I am an alcoholic who is not now or ever has been hypoglycemic.  I did not crave sugar until I stopped drinking and that has slowly eased up the longer I have been without booze.  The physical "disfunction" that happens with me is when I drink one drink I don't stop.  Have a Good one!!!

[allmymarbles]

I think my post was appropriate. People on this forum want to stop drinking and it helps to understand what might be the cause. The studies mentioned in the article determined that the vast majority of alcoholics were hypoglycemic.

When a normal person eats, his blood sugar rises. With the hypoglycemic the opposite takes place - the blood sugar falls. The sugar "addict" or the alcohol "addict" then eats or drinks some more in an attempt to raise the blood sugar. But it drops further. It makes sense that some drinkers cannot stop at one drink. The body is trying to stabilize itself, but the system is out of whack.

There are ways to modify the condition. The obvious one is to stay away from drinking or sweets. In addition, several small meals are better than three large ones to keep blood sugar from plunging. For snacks protein is best because it takes longer to digest. My friend kept boiled shrimp in the refrigerator.

[allmymarbles]

You did not crave sugar until you stopped drinking....
When you drink one drink you don't stop....
.

[ibizan]

Your profile states that you are a non fiction writer w/several specialties.Most are health issues  of academic interest and not suffered by her.This is not a forum where others are to come on offerring us nutritional advice or sparking academic debates.Perhaps a medhelp moderator can be of assistance!

[Emily_MHModerator]

I think this has served it's purpose.  If the intent was to just inform people of a possible link, then that's accomplished.  People can read it and decide for themselves.

I think it's important to note that there is no cure for addiction, and that we shouldn't imply that treating hypoglycemia will cure addiction.

So this thread is closed.  No more posts, please.

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