Reactive hypoglycemia is also called postprandial hypoglycemia and occurs when blood sugar levels drop about four hours after eating. Diabetics and healthy subjects alike can suffer from it. It is still not entirely clear what triggers this disorder, but several causes include stomach surgery, an enzyme deficiency, sensitivity to the hormone epinephrine or a reduced secretion of glucagon, the substance that increases the concentration of sugar in the blood.. If you think you have this condition, you need to go to your doctor to get a clear diagnosis. Later, know that many patients are able to successfully manage the problem with adequate nutrition and lifestyle changes.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Recognizing Reactive Hypoglycemia
Step 1. Pay attention to how you feel after meals
Many people notice changes in their energy levels and mood when they have an episode of reactive hypoglycemia. You may experience the following symptoms:
- Hunger;
- Weakness;
- Physical instability;
- Drowsiness;
- Sweating;
- Dizziness
- Anxiety;
- Confusion;
- Reduced awareness.
Step 2. Seek medical attention if you or a loved one has a severe episode of hypoglycemia
Contact your doctor if you have this condition even if you are not diabetic or if you have diabetes but your sugar levels are not within normal range after eating something sweet. Call an ambulance if you or another person has the symptoms described here:
- Loss of consciousness;
- Typical signs of drunkenness (even without drinking), such as aphasia and loss of coordination
- Convulsions;
- Blurred vision.
Step 3. Contact your health care facility to have your blood sugar checked
If you are concerned that you have reactive hypoglycemia, you need to make an appointment with your doctor to have your symptoms analyzed and have a blood test. The doctor will be able to confirm the diagnosis:
- By measuring the concentration of sugar in the blood during the onset of symptoms. If you have this disorder, your sugar levels should be low during the episode.
- Giving you something to eat or drink during a hypo and then measuring your blood sugar levels. If they are within normal limits and the symptoms stop, it means that you have this type of hypoglycemia.
Part 2 of 3: Making Diet Changes
Step 1. Eat several small meals
Eating small amounts of food, but more frequently, helps keep your blood sugar stable. People with this disorder should eat small meals every 3 hours. This means dividing the three classic occasions of eating during the day into six or more reduced meals.
- Bring a healthy and practical snack with you when you are away from home. This way, if your blood sugar plummets, you can easily get the nutrients you need by eating your snack and thus bring your sugar levels back to normal.
- Convenient snacks to keep with you at all times include fresh fruit and vegetables such as bananas, apples, carrots, green peppers or cucumbers. Some alternatives are small wholemeal sandwiches or crackers with peanut butter.
Step 2. Eat a healthy diet with complex proteins and carbohydrates
Consult your doctor and / or nutritionist to set up an effective and specific meal plan for both your ailment and your lifestyle. Usually, these two food groups are digested more slowly and provide constant energy to the body, compared to carbohydrates and simple sugars. The latter, in fact, tend to generate rapid glycemic peaks which then collapse equally abruptly.
- Lean meats, such as chicken and poultry, lean dairy products, eggs, tofu, and beans are excellent sources of protein.
- Complex carbohydrates are found in whole-grain bread, pasta, rice and oats.
- When it comes to fats, choose healthy ones that are also digested more slowly and help balance your blood sugar. Nuts, seeds, avocado, olives and olive oil are perfect examples.
- Exclude carbohydrates and simple sugars from your diet. These are found in cookies, sweets and pastries that are made with white flour and refined sugar. Don't eat sugary foods on an empty stomach.
- Distribute your carbohydrate consumption on a regular, daily basis. By doing this, the body does not produce too much insulin, which could later cause a drop in blood sugar.
Step 3. Reduce your intake of caffeinated beverages
This substance causes the body to produce adrenaline and can cause symptoms similar to hypoglycemia. Among the foods and drinks you should avoid consider:
- Coffee;
- Green and black tea;
- Caffeinated drinks;
- Chocolate.
Step 4. Be careful with alcohol
If you are used to drinking them, avoid drinking them at least when you are on an empty stomach and do not mix them with sugary drinks, otherwise you could cause blood sugar spikes and subsequent collapses.
- The Mayo Clinic recommends that women limit alcoholic beverages to one drink per day and men not to exceed two units.
- One drink is equivalent to a can of beer, 150ml of wine or 45ml of spirits.
Part 3 of 3: Changing the Lifestyle
Step 1. Exercise regularly
Staying physically active allows the body to consume more glucose and therefore reduce the chances of producing too much insulin. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist to develop a customized training plan for your needs.
Again, the Mayo Clinic advises adults to exercise 75-150 minutes per week. You can choose to do the activity you like best, such as cycling, hiking, running or playing a sport
Step 2. Pay attention to the reduced alertness caused by hypoglycemia
Know that some people experience drastic drops in awareness and reaction times when they have a hypo. To avoid these problems, you should always carry a snack with you and check your blood sugar before engaging in any potentially dangerous activity, such as:
- To drive;
- Operating heavy machinery;
- Working with chemicals;
- Taking important exams in school.
Step 3. Be open and available to the people around you
If you tend to suffer from severe episodes of hypoglycemia or this condition impairs school or work activities, you should discuss your problem with the people around you. This way they could be supportive and recognize when you are about to experience a reactive hypoglycemic episode. You can:
- Wear a bracelet with medical information for cases where you pass out
- Talk to family and friends about the disorder so they can support and help you
- Explain to colleagues what to do to manage the disorder;
- Talk to the nurse and teachers at school.
- Join a support group if illness makes it difficult for you to carry out and carry out all your daily tasks. You can ask your doctor to point you to a group near you or you can search the internet to find a forum on this topic.
Step 4. See your doctor if your diet plan and lifestyle changes don't bring results
If you have severe episodes of reactive hypoglycemia or are unable to keep the problem under control, you need to talk to your doctor to make sure there are no underlying conditions, such as:
- Other forms of hypoglycemia;
- Diabetes;
- Side effects of drugs;
- Hormonal or enzyme deficiencies;
- Tumors.
