If you suffer from low blood sugar after eating, you may have reactive hypoglycemia. Most common in obese young women, reactive hypoglycemia occurs in almost 30 percent of women under 45 years old, according to the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois. Fortunately, reactive hypoglycemia rarely requires medical treatment or any type of medication -- just a few simple dietary changes can help stabilize your glucose levels.
Causes of Reactive Hypoglycemia
The causes of reactive hypoglycemia are unclear. It may be a precursor to type 2 diabetes, although many people with reactive hypoglycemia never develop diabetes. It could be caused by a hormonal imbalance -- your body may produce too much epinephrine, which controls the symptoms of hypoglycemia. It might also be caused by a deficiency in glucagon production. One known cause of reactive hypoglycemia is gastric bypass surgery, which may cause food to pass too quickly into the small intestine. Certain heredity enzyme deficiencies, such as fructose intolerance, can also cause reactive hypoglycemia.
Preventing Reactive Hypoglycemia
You can prevent reactive hypoglycemia by eating often -- about every three hours. Try to eat small meals that combine high-fiber complex carbohydrates with lean protein and healthy unsaturated fat. The fiber, protein and fat will slow the conversion of the carbohydrates into glucose, and have little impact on your glucose level. Don't consume simple carbohydrates -- sugary snack foods, regular soda and starchy vegetables -- by themselves; it is best to limit refined flour and sugars as much as possible. You'll also want to avoid drinking alcohol, which your body quickly converts into sugar.
Treating Reactive Hypoglycemia
Even with careful planning, you may still experience the occasional bout of reactive hypoglycemia. One of the first warning signs may be hunger with a craving for something sweet. Don't give into the urge to eat a sugary snack -- those simple carbohydrates will quickly raise your blood sugar and signal your pancreas to release too much insulin. Too much insulin will cause a rebound of your hypoglycemia, with low blood sugar, starting the cycle all over again.
Symptoms of Reactive Hypoglycemia
Reactive hypoglycemia shares the same symptoms of diabetic hypoglycemia. Hunger usually strikes first, followed by mood swings, crankiness, anxiety, confusion, sleepiness, dizziness, sweating and possibly fainting. Although reactive hypoglycemia doesn't often require medical assistance, if you're prone to hypoglycemic episodes, use caution when driving or engaging in strenuous physical activities. Eat before exercising and keep healthy snacks in your car, office and bag.
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