Some carbohydrates digest quickly and raise blood sugar rapidly. Sugar and pasta are high glycemic foods that provide instant energy followed by sleepiness. Normal insulin secretions should not leave you feeling severely fatigued unless your blood sugar drops below normal. Warning signs associated with fatigue may include hypoglycemia or type 1 diabetes. Consult your physician for a blood test that can indicate high levels of sugar in your blood and urine.
The Glycemic Index
The glycemic index is a measurement of how fast carbohydrates turn to glucose in your body. Low-glycemic-index carbohydrates are foods that digest and absorb slowly. High-glycemic-index carbohydrates digest and absorb quickly, raising blood sugar levels suddenly. A simple carbohydrate such as sugar and complex carbohydrate such as pasta are high-glycemic foods that absorb into your body quickly and raise your blood glucose. Consuming high-glycemic foods provides instant energy; however, once the sugar or pasta is metabolized, your pancreas releases insulin and your blood sugar drops, making you feel tired. Other high-glycemic foods include white potatoes, white rice, watermelon, ripe bananas and pineapple.
Insulin and Glucagon
Consuming large amounts of carbohydrates may make you feel sleepy. Sugar or pasta elevates blood glucose. As blood glucose rises, your body responds by creating insulin, a hormone that removes the glucose from your blood, making you feel sleepy. Once your blood glucose returns to normal, your body creates glucagon, a hormone that triggers the release of glycogen, or stored glucose from your liver. Glycogen prevents your blood glucose from dropping so low that you faint.
Insulin and glucagon regulate and balance your blood glucose. Normal insulin and glucagon production should not cause severe fatigue; however, if your blood glucose drops too low, you may feel very tired and lightheaded.
Hypoglycemia
Blood glucose should return to normal after sugar or pasta is consumed. However, if blood glucose drops below normal, symptoms of hypoglycemia may occur. Symptoms include weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness and fatigue. Hypoglycemia occurs when your body uses up glucose too quickly, when it is released into the bloodstream too slowly or when too much insulin is released into your bloodstream.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes may appear suddenly. It is an autoimmune disease that results when the body fails to create insulin. The autoimmune process destroys cells that produce insulin from the pancreas. When glucose does not enter the cells, it builds up in the blood. Signs of type 1 diabetes include weakness, fatigue, irritability, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, extreme hunger, weight loss, unusual thirst and frequent urination.
According to the University of Maryland Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, the cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. However, it is thought that viruses may cause type 1 diabetes in those predisposed to the disease. Your physician can verify the onset of diabetes by testing blood and urine for high levels of sugar.
