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Reactive Hypoglycemia Symptoms, Causes
and Treatment
Signs & Symptoms of Reactive Hypoglycemia
In reactive hypoglycemia, symptoms usually occur about four hours after a meal.
To diagnose reactive hypoglycemia, your doctor may ask you about signs and symptoms
of hypoglycemia. Your doctor will then attempt to check your blood glucose levels
while you are having symptoms and send the sample to a laboratory for analysis.
This is essential because a personal glucose monitor cannot be used to diagnose
reactive hypoglycemia. The doctor will then allow symptoms to subside and take a
blood glucose reading. A reading of less than 70mg/dl confirms a diagnosis of reactive
hypoglycemia.
Causes of Reactive Hypoglycemia
The causes of most cases of reactive hypoglycemia are still open to debate. Some
researchers suggest that certain people may be more sensitive to the body's normal
release of the hormone epinephrine, which causes many symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Others believe that deficiencies in glucagon secretion may lead to hypoglycemia.
A few causes of reactive hypoglycemia are certain, but they are uncommon. For instance
gastric (stomach) surgery can cause hypoglycemia because of the rapid passage of
food into the small intestine. Rare enzyme deficiencies diagnosed early in life,
such as hereditary fructose intolerance, may cause reactive hypoglycemia.
Treatment of Reactive Hypoglycemia
To relieve reactive hypoglycemia, some health care professionals recommend the following
steps:
- Eat small meals and snacks about every three hours
- Exercise regularly
- Eat a variety of foods, including meat, poultry, fish, starchy foods, rice, potatoes,
fruits, veggies, and dairy products
- Choose foods high in fiber
- Avoid or limit foods high in sugar, especially on an empty stomach
Your doctor can refer you to a registered dietitian for personalized meal planning
advice. Although some health professionals recommend a diet high in protein and
low in carbohydrates, studies have not proven the effectiveness of this kind of
diet for reactive hypoglycemia.
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