Sweet, sugar-sweetened foods may be tasty and convenient snacks, especially when your only options are vending machines or convenience stores. However, you may find yourself feeling lightheaded and shaky soon after you eat them. You can reduce your risk for these effects through choosing healthier foods and determining any underlying health conditions that increase lightheadedness.
Effects
Honey, table sugar or sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup and fructose are examples of sugars which are calorie sources without essential nutrients. They have a high glycemic index, meaning the body is quick to digest and release them as blood sugar or glucose, according to the Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center. Sugars can make you feel energized because of this rapid spike in your blood sugar levels but your levels may soon fall, leaving you feeling lightheaded and shaky.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is the condition which occurs when your blood sugar levels are abnormally low, according to the Mayo Clinic. Along with feeling lightheaded and shaky, you may feel confused and anxious. Other symptoms may include hunger, a rapid heart rate and sweating. In healthy adults, hypoglycemia is most likely to occur when you have not eaten for a few hours. If you have diabetes or had gastric bypass surgery, hypoglycemia can occur after you eat sugary foods.
Alternative Snacks
You may avoid feeling lightheaded and shaky when avoiding sugary foods on an empty stomach. Soft drinks, candy or sweet baked goods may cause spikes and rapid falls in your blood sugar levels. Protein, dietary fiber and fat slow down digestion and prolong the increase in blood sugar levels you get after eating. Instead of sugary snacks, better choices may include vegetables, nuts, whole grains and dairy products.
Other Information
Small meals throughout the day may help you maintain steadier blood sugar levels and prevent feelings of lightheadedness and shakiness after eating sugar, according to the Mayo Clinic. Although sugar is not usually a healthy choice for individuals with diabetes, you may need to carry a sugar source, such as candy, sugar cubes or fruit juice, to raise your blood sugar levels in case you experience hypoglycemia. Some causes of lightheadedness are not treatable. To reduce your risk of injuries from feeling shaky, make your environment safer and remove hazards such as carpets that can make you can trip and fall.
