Reactive Hypoglycemia Diet - Treatment Based on Avoidance and Cutting Back

Reactive Hypoglycemia Diet, is in essence a diet that consists of eating up to 5-6 small meals throughout the day, and each meal shouldn't be spaced more than 3 hours apart. This makes certain that your sugar levels remain stable and don't drop drastically.



But hold on a minute, what is Hypoglycemia and Reactive Hypoglycemia? Hypoglycemia alias low glucose level, is a condition where an individuals blood glucose drops beneath normal level. Glucose is a significant source of vitality for humans and without it, the body can't operate properly. Therefore, when blood sugar levels fall below normal level, hypoglycemia symptoms will set in.



Symptoms of hypoglycemia include fatigue, hunger, mental confusion, dizziness, sweating, and so on. Exceedingly low blood glucose level could even result in seizure, coma and even death.



Reactive hypoglycemia is a specific case of hypoglycemia that happens to non-diabetic people. Reactive hypoglycemia is also about depleted blood sugar level, but the symptoms are activated 2-3 hours after food. The reason being due to the pancreas discharging insulin well beyond the digestion period of the meal. This surplus insulin is the chief culprit for making low blood glucose in a person with reactive hypoglycemia.



Treatment for reactive hypoglycemia ought be based on two main aims. Avoid "overloading" the pancreas and cutting back insulin output. To accomplish this objective, sufferers are typically advised to abide by a particular diet plan and avoid food consisting mainly of simple carbohydrates.



Carbohydrates are split in to two types, simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are foods that are easy to convert into glucose, in order to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This speedy absorption of glucose will stimulate a sudden spike in blood sugar and this frequently is the prime cause of reactive hypoglycemia.



Therefore, avoid food with simple carbohydrates. Some examples would be: white rice, white bread, sweets, chocolates, ice cream, cakes, and so on. In general, extremely processed foods are also foods that are high in carbohydrates.



Complex carbohydrates, as opposed to simple carbohydrates, are harder to digest and breakdown. So, the transition and absorption of glucose is also slowed up. Because of these reasons, complex carbohydrates are particularly advantageous to reactive hypoglycemia. A a few examples of food high in complex carbohydrates are - brown rice, whole grain bread, oatmeal, vegetables, etc.

Reactive Hypoglycemia: How To Beat It!

If you have Reactive Hypoglycemia, you know the frustrations that can come along with the problem. Especially if you were recently diagnosed.



I remember when I first started having problems, I had no clue what was going on, and neither did the doctors! All I knew was that my life had drastically changed for the worst and I wanted my old life back. I wanted to be working out hard again, doing martial arts, feeling stable and most importantly, knowing what I could eat!



By the way, since I just mentioned doctors, let me just go ahead and say that I am not a doctor. So there is your disclaimer. However, I am someone with Reactive Hypoglycemia, or Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome in my case. Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome is basically Reactive Hypoglycemia and all of it's nasty symptoms without "low glucose levels" as defined by the medical community. The good news is, I have gotten my condition under control; and I did not do it with the help of a doctor or any medication! I did it simply with diet...and I learned this diet after lots of research, keeping food journals, talking with nutritionists, personal trainers, bodybuilders (Yep! Bodybuilders too!) and experimentation...on myself! (Yikes!)



You probably already know by now about what causes Reactive Hypoglycemia, but if not, let me go ahead and tell you what's going on. Now, brace yourself, my little definition here might not be spelled out as eloquently as your doctor's! Basically though, when you eat carbohydrates, your body produces way too much insulin at about 1 to say 3 hours after eating (It can vary). So what happens is that your blood sugar (glucose levels) drop and you have the condition known as, "hypoglycemia", or low glucose levels/low blood sugar. This is what causes you to be dizzy, weak, have "the shakes", etc.



Now, the root cause of Reactive Hypoglycemia is that your blood sugar gets spiked by sugar that you eat, and then your body is flooded with insulin...too much. So, the key is to eat foods that are low on the glycemic index, or in other words will not spike your blood sugar.



Eating foods that won't spike your blood sugar, or foods that are low on the glycemic index involves cutting out all simple sugars, simple carbohydrates, some of your fruits, starchy carbohydrates, refined foods and sodas. Also, you may want to limit your alcohol and caffeine as they can lower your blood sugar.



Examples of foods that you need to avoid are candy, white potatoes, pasta, rice, cereal and watermelon. The diet that you need and pretty much must have in order to beat Reactive Hypoglycemia is one high in fat (Yes! Fat!), protein, fiber and low in complex carbohydrates. Also be sure to take yourself a very good multivitamin and omega fish oil complex.



So why fat? Well the order of what your body burns for an energy source goes like this, carbohydrates, fat, then protein. So if you cut out the carbohydrates, you will need to get your energy from the next energy source in line, fat!



As you do eat your small amounts of complex carbohydrates like raw oatmeal and small amounts of sweet potatoes with the skin (fiber), you want to make sure that you eat them with butter and/or coconut oil. This will slow your body's absorption down so that your sugar does not spike.



So what other foods can you eat? Eggs, bacon, peanut butter, almonds, dry roasted peanuts, small amounts of berries, heavy cream, cheeses, sugar free Jello, coconut oil and spinach to name a few.



Adjusting from a high carbohydrate diet to a very low carbohydrate diet can be quite a change. Making the change initially can and will make you tired, but your body will adjust and your body will start burning fat as an energy source. You will notice that you lean up, don't feel bloated and feel better overall.



Again, I am not a doctor, so always consult with your physician before starting a new diet. I do believe however that what I have learned through my experience is good information and can help you if you suffer from Reactive Hypoglycemia or Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome.



You may want to do a little more research on the low carbohydrate diet or visit my website before starting your diet. If you are physically active and/or exercise a lot, these are things to consider before starting a low carbohydrate diet. Stay focused and be patient, you will be feeling better shortly!

Reactive Hypoglycemia and Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome: Diagnosis and Getting Back to Normal

If you have recently been diagnosed with Reactive Hypoglycemia, or Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome, you are probably like me when I was first diagnosed. I was confused, exhausted, and didn't have a clue as to what to do because the doctors virtually did nothing for me or to help me! However, don't worry, there is hope and you can get back to a good life!



When I was first diagnosed with Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome, only after hours of researching my symptoms and suggesting Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome to the doctors, I had been struggling with all kinds of symptoms for weeks! It was scary and miserable to say the least! I knew there was a connection with what I was eating and my symptoms!



I was making frequent trips to the emergency room only to be told, "You are fine." My symptoms included tachycardia (rapid resting heart rates), panic attacks, tremors, light-headedness, freezing cold hands and feet and total confusion! However, because I didn't have "low glucose" levels as defined by the medical community, I was not diagnosed with Reactive Hypoglycemia.



Doctors checked everything on me! My heart, my brain, my pituitary, my thyroid... you name it, it was checked. I would literally go in to the ER one day, they would release me the next, and then admit me later the same day. Then, after being in and out of their hospital for six long days, they simply told me, "You are free to go." Huh?



Yea! I was free to go! Free to go back home, and to go through all of the hell I went through before? Don't think so! This time I was going to do things differently. I was going to dive in and find out just what foods I could and could not eat, when to eat and how to beat this thing! I already had a suspicion that my problem was Reactive Hypoglycemia or Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome based on research I had done online (The diagnosis finally given... well somewhat anyway.)



Since I didn't have the demonstrably low glucose levels, a few folks at the doc's office gave me the soft diagnosis of Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome. (I think they were embarrassed!) Basically, I have all the same symptoms of Reactive Hypoglycemia without actually having low glucose levels. So, knowing this, I would have thought that my endocrinologist would give me some help with my diet. Ha! Not hardly!



So, there I was, back on the net, reading studies and diets and trying to put it all together myself. Little did I know the journey was not nearly over! I had to completely redo my diet and practically run clinical trials on myself! Constantly trying to find the right amounts of foods to eat, what kinds of foods to eat and when to eat them. Personally I found that a diet high in fiber, protein, some fat and very little carbohydrates worked for me, but it was very precise. Since I worked out, I had to account for that in my diet and provide the proper nutrition needed to support my workout.



The diet consisted of eating every 2 to 2.5 hours. My daily diet would be something like this: Breakfast, a tiny quarter cup of oatmeal in the morning with butter and a tablespoon of coconut oil, 3 egg whites and a serving of cottage cheese. 2 hours later a whey protein shake with a scoop of peanut butter. 2 hours later for lunch, 6 ounces of steak, a quarter of a sweet potato with butter and a cheese stick. 2 hours from that for an afternoon snack, an Atkins bar. Then, if I was working out (1 hour weight lifting workout), I would take 2 glucose tablets right before my workout and 2 during my workout. After my workout I would immediately have a sugar free, whey protein shake, and 1 to 1.5 hours from my shake I would have a steak and spinach salad with a few blueberries and feta cheese. To top it all off for the day, I would usually have yet another whey protein shake.



Today I am pretty much back to normal, although I do have small episodes here and there and am constantly learning new things about my condition and how to treat it with diet. If you are looking to get better and get a handle on Reactive Hypoglycemia or Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome, it starts with diet! Make the choice to eat better! Be determined and have hope that you will be back to feeling better soon!

Reactive Hypoglycemia Symptoms and Treatment

Hypoglycemia, also known as low glucose level, is a condition where a person's blood glucose drops below normal level. Glucose is an important source of energy for humans and without it, the body cannot function properly. Hence, when blood glucose level falls below normal level, hypoglycemia symptoms will kick in.



A few known symptoms of hypoglycemia include fatigue, hunger, mental confusion, dizziness, sweating, etc. Extremely low blood glucose level can even lead to seizure, coma and even death.



Reactive hypoglycemia is a special type of hypoglycemia that occurs in non-diabetic people. Reactive hypoglycemia is also about low blood sugar level, but the symptoms are triggered 2-3 hours after food. The reason is due to the pancreas releasing insulin well past the digestion period of the meal. This excess insulin is the main culprit for causing low blood glucose in people with reactive hypoglycemia.



Hence, treatment for reactive hypoglycemia should be based on two core objectives: Avoid "overloading" the pancreas and reducing insulin production. To achieve the above objective, sufferers are usually advised to follow a special diet plan and avoid food comprising mainly of simple carbohydrates.



There are two types of carbohydrates, simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are foods that are easily converted into glucose, ready to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This rapid absorption of glucose will cause a sharp spike in blood glucose and this often the main cause of reactive hypoglycemia. Thus, avoid intake of food with simple carbohydrates. A few examples would be: white rice, white bread, candy, chocolates, ice cream, cakes, etc. Generally, highly processed foods are also foods that are high in simple carbohydrates.



Complex carbohydrates, unlike simple carbohydrates, are more difficult to digest and breakdown. Thus, the conversion and absorption of glucose is also slowed down. For these reasons, complex carbohydrates are especially beneficial to reactive hypoglycemia. A few examples of food high in complex carbohydrates would be: brown rice, whole grain bread, oatmeal, vegetables, etc.

Treatment For Reactive Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) usually occurs most of the time while fasting or when a person has interrupted his or her regular eating schedule. Ideally, a person should eat regularly enough that the blood sugar levels have very little fluctuation all day long. However, reactive hypoglycemia is low blood sugar that occurs usually one to two hours after eating a meal. Often, the cause of reactive hypoglycemia isn't clear.



It would appear that some people may be overly sensitive to normal release of the hormone epinephrine, which causes many of the symptoms of hypoglycemia. Another possibility is that people with reactive hypoglycemia may have a deficiency of glucagon which is a hormone that normally offers protection from low blood sugar. Still yet another possible cause may be the result of excessive pancreatic production of insulin.



Symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia may include:



-Shakiness
-Clumsiness
-Dizziness
-Weakness
-Sweating
-Hunger
-Anxiety
-Pounding heartbeat
-Confusion



What can I do for it?



Avoid simple carbohydrates. These are foods that break down quickly



Avoid sugar including soft drinks or foods that have added sugar. Avoid caffeine.



Eat smaller amounts more often through the day. The idea here is to avoid big meals which may trigger big spikes in blood sugar levels and big reactive spikes triggered by the big meal.



Think of your body as a car engine. If your car is on the verge of running out of gas, picture what happens if you pour a quart gasoline into it just as it's sputtering on fumes. Now it suddenly revs up and runs until it uses up the quart of gasoline and begins to sputter and clank. You quickly pour in another quart of gasoline and start the cycle over again. Now picture this same engine running smoothly with a steady supply of fuel.



Your body works much better with a steady supply of fuel supplied by frequent meals all day long. Less frequent meals , even though they may be bigger, allow enough time in between fueling that the fuel (blood sugar) runs out and your engine begins to sputter. This is the case in a normal metabolic system. Now if you have reactive hypoglycemia, not only do you experience the dip when your tank runs empty, you also experience an abnormally big dip right after refueling in reaction to the fueling. Your metabolism literally runs like a roll-a-coaster. Smaller, more frequent meals, eliminate the empty tank dips and minimize the reactive dips.

Reactive Hypoglycemia - What It Is, How to Feel Better

Often people who have reactive hypoglycemia aren't even aware of it. They notice that "something" is wrong, but might not be able to get a diagnosis, if they go to a doctor about it at all. Hypoglycemia is difficult to prove, unless your blood sugar can be tested at the time you have symptoms, which is difficult if you don't have a meter around. Unless you or someone in your family is diabetic, you probably DON'T have a meter around. So how do you know if you're hypoglycemic?



Here are some symptoms:



-acute hunger, possibly even a painfully empty feeling in your stomach



-feeling very tired or weak suddenly



-shakiness or jitters



-feeling dizzy or faint



-slurring or speaking slowly



-an anxious feeling, maybe even crying



-feeling very hot suddenly



-if sleeping, bad dreams or confusion upon waking



Of course, you should talk to your doctor about this. But some are hesitant to commit to a diagnosis because you won't often have concrete evidence. However, you can help yourself feel better by taking a few simple measures.



-Figure out when you usually have problems. With reactive hypoglycemia, it's usually a few hours after a high-carb breakfast, but you might have lows in the afternoon or at night. Try eating more proteins and less sugars/carbs at the meal just before the time of day you usually feel bad. (Doughnuts and pancakes are delicious, but you might need to find a different time of day to enjoy them, in moderation.) And drink more water whenever you can.



-Buy a roll of glucose tablets from a pharmacy or grocery store. They taste like fruit-flavored candy, but get into your bloodstream faster, helping you feel better very quickly. Learn to recognize YOUR symptoms, and pop one in your mouth as soon as you feel "low." Follow up with a small protein/carb balanced meal, like a peanut butter sandwich, within half an hour.



-Exercise often, and make sure you've eaten a BALANCED meal beforehand. Again, keep glucose with you. Exercise WITH someone or exercise where you can get help if you need it. Don't go off alone.



-If you drink, do so only in moderation. Most women shouldn't have more than a drink a day. Two is okay for most men.



-If you're diabetic or have other medical conditions, always follow the advice of a health care provider.



-Don't stress about it, but do discuss it with your doctor. Reactive hypoglycemia, if handled carefully, rarely leads to or indicates other problems.

Educating Yourself About Reactive Hypoglycemia

Reactive hypoglycemia is typically referred to as "low blood sugar." Reactive hypoglycemia frequently occurs in diabetics, but it can also occur in those who do not have diabetes.



How Does Low Blood Sugar Happen?



A person's blood sugar usually drops when they're fasting. Their body doesn't have enough food or fuel to keep them going and so their blood sugar drops. However, there are some people who experience low blood sugar several hours after each meal. This is considered reactive hypoglycemia.



Some scientists and health experts believe reactive hypoglycemia occurs because a person's body has a glucagon deficiency. Glucagon is a hormone that generally protects a person from having low blood sugar. For whatever reason, people who experience reactive hypoglycemia have bodies that don't block this from happening. Others suggest this problem is caused by oversensitivity to epinephrine, tumors or excessive insulin production.



How Do You Know When You Have Reactive Hypoglycemia?



Researchers have had a hard time figuring out how reactive hypoglycemia occurs. They also have a hard time diagnosing reactive hypoglycemia. This is because once a person's blood sugar returns to normal, there's no way for doctors to tell that the person's blood sugar was ever at an abnormal level.



Many of the symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia are similar to symptoms of other diseases. For example, dizziness, sleeplessness, anxiety, sweating and hunger are characteristic of all types of different ailments. They are also symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia. Other symptoms include confusion, weakness, hunger, shakiness and nervousness.



Preventing Reactive Hypoglycemia



If you think you might have reactive hypoglycemia, there are a few lifestyle changes you can make to prevent reoccurring reactive hypoglycemia bouts. For example, to keep yourself from crashing, eat several small meals a day. This will prevent your body from experiencing a blood sugar drop after a large meal. These meals should be eaten no more than three hours a part.



Another way to prevent reactive hypoglycemia is by limiting the number of sugary foods that enter your system. Too much sugar can throw of your body's balance and launch you into a reactive hypoglycemia spell. High sugar foods do not just include candy, ice cream and other traditional sweets. Many breads, soups and sauces also include sugar. So, if you suffer from reactive hypoglycemia, eat minimal amounts of these foods.

Reactive Hypoglycemia Causes, Symptoms and Diet

Reactive hypoglycemia is also known as postprandial hypoglycemia. It is a medical term that describes episodes of symptomatic hypoglycemia, and it takes 2 to 4 hours to occur after you take high carbohydrate meal or oral glucose load. It believes that it represents the result of excessive insulin release. The carbohydrate meal is behind this phenomenal change. This process, derived from the meal goes through the digestion and glucose disposal. The definitions of Reactive hypoglycemia are controversial. The term, Reactive hypoglycemia meeting the Whipple criteria corresponds to symptoms that can measure low glucose and higher glucose dose and it relieves. Idiopathic postprandial syndrome is similar and not documented for abnormally low glucose levels.



Causes



Fifteen percent people, having had stomach surgery belongs to Alimentary Hypoglycemia, a consequence of dumping syndrome. Hormonal hypoglycemia lacking hormone is hypothyroidism. Helicobacter pylori induces gastritis, and the cause behind is the bacteria that impels reactive hypoglycemia. Late Hypoglycemia relates to occult diabetes that delays release of early insulin from pancreatic B cells. It results in initial exaggeration of hyperglycemia during a glucose tolerance test. Idiopathic Reactive Hypoglycemia is a term that is not existing, as because researchers know the causes of Reactive Hypoglycemia. A hyperglucidic breakfast or ambulatory glucose test is the current standard.



Therefore, hypoglycemia can occur as a side effect of some diabetes medications. It includes insulin or oral diabetes medications. Pills increase insulin production. These can be Chlorpropamide (Diabinese), Glimepiride (Amaryl), Glipizide (Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL), Glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase), Nateglinide (Starlix), Repaglinide (Prandin), Sitagliptin (Januvia), Tolazamide and Tolbutamide. There are certain combination pills cause of Hypoglycemia that include glipizide + metformin (Metaglip), glyburide + metformin (Glucovance), pioglitazone + glimepiride (Duetact), rosiglitazone + glimepiride (Avandaryl), and sitagliptin + metformin (Janumet).



Symptoms



The symptoms vary according to the hydration level and sensitivity to the rate or declining magnitude of blood glucose concentration of the individual. The symptoms of hypoglycemia, induced by food can be coma, heart palpitation or fibrillation, fatigue, dizziness, light-headedness, sweating, headaches, depression, nervousness, irritability, tremors, flushing, craving sweets, increased appetite, rhinitis(runny nose), epileptic-type response to rapidly flashing bright lights, nausea, vomiting, panic attack, and numbness or coldness in the extremities.



Diet of Reactive Hypoglycemia



The sample menu of breakfast can be half cup orange juice, third-fourth cup cornflakes, 1 slice whole wheat toast, 1 tsp margarine, 1 cup of skim milk, and coffee, creamer or sugar as substitute. Launch can be 2 oz lean hamburger, 1 hamburger bun, lettuce or tomato slice, half cup cooked carrot, salad, 1 tbsp Italian dressing, 1 fresh apple, sugar free gelatin, and 1 cup skim milk. The dinner can be 2 oz baked chicken breast, half medium-baked potatoes, half cup green beans, half cup sliced strawberries, 1 roll dinner, 1 tsp margarine, and diet soda. The breakfast snack can be orange 1 med, launch snack includes 1 cup skim milk, 3 Graham crackers and supper snack can be one-third cranberry juice, 1 tbsp peanut butter and 6 saltine crackers.