Could glucose help you quit? From xxxsarahxxx on 5/6/2004 12:28:46 PM Scientists are currently carrying out an important clinical trial in the UK to test out the theory that glocuose can help you quit. Blood Sugar: If we don't eat at regular intervals during the day then our blood sugar level drops. Missing breakfast means that by mid or late morning your blood sugar levels may be low and the normal tiredness and a strong craving for carbohydrate (food!) Smokers who have decided to quit may find that if they don't eat breakfast on the morning of their quit day, they'll feel very our of sorts after a few hours, their energy levels will plummet and they'll experience strong nicotine and hunger cravings at the same time. This is a dangerous "double-whammy" that knocks many quitters sideways and may account for some of the many relapses that occur on the first day of a quit attempt. Until the smoker learns to tell the difference between nicotine and hunger cravings again, they'll be extra vulnerable and so it's a good idea to eat regularl, at short intervals, and to keep your blood sugar levels high. Craving & Hunger: According to the theory, one reason why glucose may help smokers stop has to do with the fact that urges to smoke (cravings) and hunger pangs are produced by similar body mechanisms. The two desiers are strong and, over the years of smoking they may become almost interchangeable: if smokers feel hungry then having a cigarette will suppress their need for nicotine, at least temporarily. Over the years some smokers may actually lose the ability to tell the difference between hunger and nicotine pangs. Many admit that they rarely eat breakfast in the morning, preferring to jack up their blood nicotine levles with a few cigarettes when they get up and, on the whole, smokers are less in tune with their bodies dietary needs than they are with their need for nicotine. How Might Glucose Help?: Glucose is just about the easiest substance in the world for the body to absorb and convert to energy. After eating a glucose tablet it only takes a few minutes for your blood sugar levels to rise significantly and chewing them at regular intervals during the day will keep it from dropping too sharply. This means that although you may still experience nicotine cravings, you shouldn't have to deal with the combined effect of urges to smoke and eat! Weight Issue: Weight is a big issue for many stoppers but you might be suprized to learn that there are only about 10 calories in a standard glucose tablet. This is just a little something that I picked up at my Dr's surgery this morning before walking out with NRT's... Yes day 1 for me today. I just couldn't wait any longer to quit. I hope this helps:) xxxsarahxxx