Many foods can increase your blood sugar levels, but no food can make your blood sugar levels drop right after the meal. However, some foods are digested so quickly, such as white bread, for example, that they can cause your body to produce too much insulin, which can result in a quick drop in your blood sugar levels within 4 hours after your meals. Keeping a food journal along with your blood sugar levels can help you figure out if bread is associated with your blood sugar lows.
Bread and Carbohydrates
Bread contain carbohydrates, about 15 g per slice although the exact amount can vary, depending on the type of bread and the thickness of its slices. After eating foods that contain carbohydrates your blood sugar levels naturally raise. If you eat four slices of bread, or about 60 g of carbohydrates, your blood sugar levels will increase higher than if you eat two slices, or about 30 g of carbohydrates.
Reactive Hypoglycemia
Reactive hypoglycemia is a term used to describe a type of hypoglycemia -- or low blood sugar -- that occurs in people without diabetes. If you have reactive hypoglycemia, your blood sugar levels can suddenly drop within a few hours after eating, especially if your meals contain a large amount of high glycemic carbohydrates. High glycemic carbohydrates quickly elevate your blood sugar levels, which can then crash within a couple of hours. White and whole wheat bread as well as bagels contain high glycemic carbohydrates. Whole grain bread has a moderate glycemic index.
Diabetic Hypoglycemia
If you have diabetes, eating bread will cause your blood sugar levels to rise. If you take medications or inject insulin to control your diabetes, it will help bring your blood sugar levels back down in the target range. Physical activity can also lower your blood sugar levels. However, if you take too much medications or insulin or exercise more than usual, your blood sugar levels could drop even after eating bread. Consult your doctor or diabetes educator for help better managing your blood sugar levels with diabetes.
Prevent Low Blood Sugar
To prevent a quick drop in your blood sugar levels, which could cause symptoms of dizziness, fatigue, hunger, irritability, nervousness and shakiness, try keeping your blood sugar levels more even between meals. Instead of eating regular bread, opt for low glycemic bread, such as sourdough bread, sprouted bread and bread made from 100 percent stone-ground whole grain flour. These breads will help keep your blood sugar levels more stable. Add a serving of protein or fat, such as nut butter, cheese or chicken and mayonnaise, to your serving of bread to further stabilize your blood sugar levels.
