Reactive Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia usually occurs while fasting, but reactive hypoglycemia is different. This is a medical condition that occurs after a meal, usually one or three hours after eating. Not only this, but reactive hypoglycemia can also occur in people who do not suffer from diabetes.

What are the causes of reactive hypoglycemia?

The causes of reactive hypoglycemia are surrounded by a lot of controversy with some researchers suggesting that certain people maybe overly sensitive to the normal release of the hormone epinephrine that is said to carry many of the symptoms of hypoglycemia. Of course there are others who believe that deficiencies in a glucagons (a hormone that normally protects against low blood sugar) maybe the cause.

There are a few cases in which reactive hypoglycemia results because of the excessive production of insulin by the pancreas that happens because of a tumor or high numbers of insulin-producing cells. A stomach surgery or the deficiency of certain enzymes that may interfere balance between nutrient absorption and insulin secretion may also be the cause of reactive hypoglycemia.

What are the symptoms associated with reactive hypoglycemia?

Some of the symptoms are:

• Perspiration
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Hunger
• Nervousness
• Irritation
• Confusion
• Feeling of anxiousness
• Flushing
• An increase in appetite
• A feeling of weakness
• Tiredness
• Sleepiness

How is reactive hypoglycemia diagnosed?

A blood sugar level of less than 70mg/dL along with the symptoms will confirm the diagnosis for reactive hypoglycemia.

To diagnose reactive hypoglycemia, your doctor may follow this routine:

• Ask you about the symptoms and signs.
• Test your blood sugar while you are feeling the symptoms.
• Check if the symptoms get back to normal after your blood sugar returns to 70 or above (that is, after drinking or eating).

What is the treatment for low blood sugar or reactive hypoglycemia?

Here are the steps that some health care professionals recommend to relieve reactive hypoglycemia:

• Regularize your exercise routine.
• Eat snacks and small meals every 3 hours.
• Include a variety of foods in your diet like fish, meat, poultry or non-meat sources of protein, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products and whole-grain bread.
• Avoid or limit foods that are rich in sugar (especially on an empty stomach).
• Avoid the intake of caffeine, alcohol and foods that are rich in starch such as potatoes, corn, white rice and popcorn.

If the above mentioned diet does not provide relief then there are medications that are useful in this situation. A physician administers them!