Reactive hypoglycemia - Low blood Sugar after having a meal

Hypoglycemia, Diabetes Type 1, or Low Blood Sugar are different names for same medical condition. Reactive hypoglycemia is a rare medical condition where a person have low blood sugar within one to three hours after having a meal. Reactive hypoglycemia is an indication of a person becoming diabetic or Insulin resistance. If you feel low in energy just after few hours after having a meal then you may be suffering from this condition. But before making any conclusion you must read this article.

How is it possible to have low blood sugar after having a meal ?

When we eat something our body breaks the food into glucose which is further supplied into the blood to provide energy to all cells. When blood sugar level rises our body releases insulin hormone to control that blood sugar and set it to an optimum level. In case of Reactive hypoglycemia our body releases more Insulin than required which decreases the blood sugar below the required minimum level. It is an indication of person getting diabetic.

Symptoms of Reactive Hypoglycemia

• Hunger
• Sleepiness
• Light-headedness
• Weakness
• Shakiness
• Anxiety
• Sweating

These symptoms are common in some other medical conditions as well. But if you are feeling these symptoms within one to three hours after having a meal then you should get your blood sugar tested for both fasting and after having a meal.

How to save yourself from Reactive Hypoglycemia ?

If it is confirmed from your test results that you have Reactive Hypoglycemia then you must take some steps to save yourself from diabetes. So of the major steps to be taken are

• Reduce your weight: If you are overweight then reducing your weight by adopting a healthy lifestyle will help help you.
• Exercise regularly: Exercising regularly boosts our metabolism and increases our immune system. It also helps in reducing weight and burning excess calories.
• Sound Sleep: A sound sleep of around 7 hours is must for a healthy person.
• Balanced Diet: This last step is not the least but it is the key to be fit again. You should avoid foods with high glycemic index. High Glycemic index foods are those food items which can increase your blood sugar rapidly. These food items are usually rich in carbohydrates which can be directly converted into glucose by our digestive system. Instead your should eat those food items which are rich in fiber.

What kind of food is best if you have Reactive Hypoglycemia ?

As told earlier that you should totally avoid foods with high glycemic index. You should eat a diet rich in fiber, protein and an adequate amount of fat. Fiber, protein and fat slows down the digestive process and less amount of glucose is supplied into the blood supply for a longer duration. It does not let the blood sugar rise suddenly and limited amount of insulin is released into blood.

Apart from the above suggestions it is best to consult a specialist and get a proper diet plan to fight Reactive Hypoglycemia. Always remember that it is a symptom of diabetes and healthy lifestyle can keep you away from this.