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Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a condition that is characteristic of diabetes. Hypoglycemia can also be experienced by people who are not diabetics, then we are talking about reactive hypoglycemia.
Reactive hypoglycemia – symptoms
Reactive hypoglycemia manifested by low blood sugar levels, it occurs in people without diabetes within 3-5 hours after eating a meal. Hypoglycemia it manifests itself in a manner typical for low glucose concentration by marked hand tremors, convulsions, tingling, increased body sweating, dizziness, palpitations, fainting, hunger attacks. In case of hypoglycemia reactive idiopathic (occurring for no known reason), such may arise symptoms like: tachycardia, restlessness, nervousness, irritability, sweating and body tremors. symptoms these disappear with carbohydrate consumption, but blood glucose does not fall.
Reactive hypoglycemia – causes
O hypoglycemia postprandial is when the blood sugar level drops below 55-70 mg / dl within 4 hours after eating a meal. The condition most commonly occurs in people with diabetes who are taking insulin or anti-glycemic medications. It is much less common for a carbohydrate deficiency to occur in people without diabetes. One such case is reactive hypoglycemiaafter meals, especially those containing higher amounts of carbohydrates. Under physiological conditions, insulin is supposed to lower blood glucose to the optimal value, and when excess is released, it can lead to a drop in blood glucose. Excessive production of insulin after a meal is associated with insulin resistance, i.e. the lack of response of muscle cells and adipose tissue to insulin that transports glucose to them.
Hypoglycemia may appear in people with abnormal gastric emptying as a consequence neuropathy, that is, damage to the peripheral nerves. Appearance hypoglycemia after gastric resection and with some genetic errors, hypersensitivity to leucine and fructose intolerance. Such a form hypoglycemia affects young and thin people and people who lose weight very quickly. Until the uprising hypoglycemia Too long breaks between meals, not eating breakfast and starvation, alcohol consumption, and a diet high in carbohydrates and low in fat may contribute. Converting is dangerous hypoglycemia, as it can lead to coma hypoglycemic.
Reactive hypoglycemia – treatment
At reactive hypoglycaemia one must undergo appropriate therapy diet i physical activity. Eat your meals regularly, take your time and chew thoroughly. There should be 4-5 meals and the maximum time between meals should be 3-4 hours. In this way, we prevent a sudden drop in blood glucose levels. Remember that the most important meal is śniadaniebecause we are most prone to low sugar in the morning. Avoid eating foods rich in easily digestible carbohydrates, i.e. mono- and disaccharides. These include products such as: sugar, honey, sweets, cakes and cookies, confectionery, carbonated drinks, fruit juices, white flour, bread, pasta, products with glucose-fructose or corn syrup (excess fructose is completely converted into triglycerides in adipose tissue), as well as chocolate breakfast cereals and granola bars. You should refrain from frying food with fats, especially animal fats. Instead, choose stewing, steaming, baking in a sleeve, parchment or in glass heat-resistant or silicone dishes.
An alternative are products with a low glycemic index, which cause mild increases and a slight decrease in blood glucose, which prevents fluctuations in its concentration. They hold a low glycemic index vegetables such as pumpkin, turnips, cooked potatoes, pulses, whole grain and wholemeal breads and preparations, fruits such as grapefruit, orange, peach, and apple. Adding fiber to meals will reduce the insulin release into the blood, it is worth introducing fiber into the diet in the form of oat bran, rye or preparations based on apple pectin. You should also remember to hydrate the body with 2 liters of water a day.
Sport activity it is also important for control reactive hypoglycemiaj. Through effort, we help stabilize blood sugar levels. Workouts carried out in the morning, before breakfast, are the most effective. It is worth considering aerobics or – if we have the conditions for it – a swimming pool.