If your blood sugar drops after eating, you may have reactive hypoglycemia, a condition unrelated to diabetes, which may be caused by the hormone epinephrine or a glucagon deficiency. Fortunately, regular exercise and changes to your diet should treat and prevent reactive hypoglycemia without medication. Your doctor will have to diagnose reactive hypoglycemia without using the standard glucose tolerance test -- which can actually trigger symptoms.
Understanding Reactive Hypoglycemia
Reactive hypoglycemia, also known as postprandial hypoglycemia, is a low blood sugar level within four hours after eating. This condition isn't caused by diabetes, nor does it necessarily lead to diabetes, although there is some evidence that reactive hypoglycemia is a precursor to type 2 diabetes, notes NetDoctor. According to the University of Illinois' McKinley Health Center, as many as 3 out of every 10 women under the age of 45 years old may experience reactive hypoglycemia. The symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia are the same as diabetic hypoglycemia: hunger, confusion, dizziness, anxiety, mood swings, headache and fatigue.
Avoiding Reactive Hypoglycemia
Although regular physical activity is important, your diet is your best tool to treat reactive hypoglycemia. Eat every 2 to 3 hours to avoid reactive hypoglycemia, also called postprandial hypoglycemia. It shouldn't always be a big meal, you're just trying to keep a consistent glucose level, stabilizing blood sugar. Avoid simple sugars, such as soda, cake and candy that can make your hypoglycemia worse. Limit your alcohol and caffeine consumption and make sure to eat one hour before exercising. You may need a sports drink while working-out to keep you glucose levels up.
Choosing Foods
It's important to eat a complex carbohydrate, such as whole grain bread, potatoes, legumes or brown rice, combined with fat and protein. Your goal is to choose carbohydrates that will raise your blood sugar slowly -- your body needs glucose for energy -- but it needs to be absorbed over a longer period of time. Never eat just carbohydrates by themselves. Fat, protein and fiber all help slow your digestion and will keep glucose levels stable.
Examples of Good Food Choices
Look to combine high-fiber whole grains with lean protein and unsaturated fats. Multigrain bread with peanut butter and apple slices, a whole grain bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon, a baked potato with chili and cheese, a salad that includes protein from legumes, chicken, turkey, eggs or cheese, a tuna salad sandwich, pita, carrot sticks and hummus or yogurt with fruit and nuts are all good choices. If you're eating every 2 to 3 hours, you won't be eating a lot of food at each sitting.
