What is Reactive Hypoglycemia?

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) occurs most often while fasting. Reactive hypoglycemia most commonly occurs after a meal usually 2 to 5 hours after eating. The cause of this is not yet clear.

Researchers believe that certain people are overly sensitive to the normal release of a hormone called epinephrine, which can cause many of the symptoms of hypoglycemia. People with reactive hypoglycemia need to manage their diet similarly to those with diabetes to avoid symptoms. Some of the symptoms of low blood sugar include: sweating, shakiness, elevated heart rate, hunger, nervousness, sweating as well as confusion and blurred vision.

Timing is everything when it comes to managing this condition. The timing of meals and snacks can often be all that’s required to manage symptoms. Eating small and frequent meals, five or six times a day is the best way to avoid the symptoms as it spreads out the amount of carbohydrates in your blood stream. Skipping meals or not eating can make managing the blood sugar much more difficult and can trigger a crash.

The second component to managing hypoglycemia is balancing meals and snacks nutritionally. Having a protein mixed with carbohydrates and fat is the combination that works best to balance blood sugars out. It just happens to also be the best way to manage your diet to achieve healthy eating.

The basic breakdown of the mixed meal:

Carbohydrates - The best option is a high fibre, complex carbs such as whole grain breads, cereals, pasta, brown rice, beans, lentils, fruits and vegetables. Limit the amount of simple and refined sugars as this can be absorbed into the bloodstream within 15 minutes causing a crash. Don't forget the carbs even though it may seem that they cause the problem, they are essential components for regulating blood sugar.

Fats – Fat is one of the main foods that will slow digestion, which causes a slow release of sugar into the bloodstream. Choose a healthy fat for the health benefit such as canola, olive, soybean or flaxseed oil. Nuts, seeds and avocados are also good choices of fat.
Proteins – Eating lean protein at each meal will help further to stabilize blood sugars. The best options include fish, poultry, beans, lentils, eggs, tofu, soymilk, low fat dairy products and peanut butter.

Following a carefully managed diet may help to minimize or eliminate the symptoms of hypoglycemia. If you feel that you experience any of the symptoms of hypoglycemia or reactionary hypoglycemia make sure to check with your Doctor as everyone has different blood sugar and insulin responses.