Low Blood Sugar After Eating – Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, occurs when your blood sugar (glucose) drops below a healthy range. If your blood sugar is too low, it can be a dangerous condition that requires immediate treatment.
Hypoglycemia is most common in people with diabetes. Taking too many medications (especially sulfonylureas or insulin), skipping meals, not eating enough, or exercising more than usual can cause your blood sugar to drop if you have diabetes.
This article looks at hypoglycemia, its symptoms and treatment, as well as ways to prevent blood sugar from getting too low.
Blood sugar is also known as glucose. Glucose comes from food and is an important source of energy for your body. Carbohydrates, found in foods like rice, potatoes, bread, tortillas, grains, fruits, vegetables, and milk, are your body’s main source of glucose.
After you eat, glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream, where it is transported to the cells of the body. A hormone called insulin, produced in the pancreas, helps cells absorb glucose (sugar) in your blood. Your cells then use the glucose for energy.
If you eat more glucose than you need, your body stores the excess glucose in your liver and muscles, or turns it into fat to be used for energy later when needed.
If your cells do not receive glucose, your body cannot perform its normal functions. In the short term, people who do not take insulin-boosting drugs have enough glucose to maintain blood sugar levels, and the liver can produce glucose if needed.
However, if you take insulin medication, a short-term drop in blood glucose can cause problems. In this situation, immediate treatment of blood sugar is very important to prevent the development of more serious symptoms.
People who are unaware of hypoglycemia do not know that their blood sugar level is low. If you have this condition, your blood sugar may drop without you realizing it.
If you have diabetes and have mild to moderate symptoms of hypoglycemia, you should immediately eat or drink 15 grams of easily digestible carbohydrates.
Very low blood sugar is a medical emergency. If you or someone else with diabetes is experiencing severe symptoms, such as fainting, you should give a medicine called glucagon and seek emergency care immediately.
If you are at risk for low blood sugar, it is important to talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for glucagon.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person as it can cause choking. If you have diabetes, make sure your family and friends know not to do this if you pass out.
Low blood sugar can occur for several reasons. This is usually a side effect of diabetes treatment.
Diabetes affects your body’s ability to use insulin. Think of insulin as a key that unlocks cells, releasing glucose for energy.
If you have diabetes, different treatments help the cells in your body use the glucose in your blood. These include insulin injections and oral medications that increase insulin production.
If you take too much of this type of medicine, your blood sugar may drop too low. Sometimes when you plan to eat a large meal, your blood sugar may be low, but then you don’t eat enough.
Skipping meals, eating less than usual, or eating later than usual but taking medication at the usual time can also cause low blood sugar.
Drinking alcohol while taking this medicine, especially if it is a meal replacement, can cause your blood sugar to drop. As your body tries to get rid of alcohol, it becomes worse at managing your blood sugar levels.
Even if you don’t have diabetes, you can still have low blood sugar. However, hypoglycemia is less common in people without diabetes.
If you suspect that your blood sugar is low, you should check your blood sugar immediately. If you don’t have a blood glucose meter and are taking diabetes medications that increase insulin levels, talk to your doctor about getting one.
If you have frequent low blood sugar—for example, several times a week—see your doctor right away to find out why. Your doctor will begin your visit by asking about your medical history, asking questions about your eating habits, and learning more about the symptoms you are experiencing.
If you don’t have diabetes but suspect you may have hypoglycemia, talk to your doctor about your symptoms. Your doctor uses three criteria, sometimes called “Whipple’s triad,” to diagnose low blood sugar:
Your doctor may send you a blood glucose meter, a small hand-held blood test device, to monitor your blood sugar while you’re at home. They give you instructions on how to measure your blood sugar at certain times of the day, such as when you wake up and after a meal.
To check blood sugar, you need to prick your finger with a lancet (available in the blood glucose test kit). You put a small sample of blood from it on a strip attached to a blood glucose meter.
Before testing your blood sugar at home, it’s important to ask your doctor what a healthy blood sugar range is for you. Your doctor will determine this range based on the following factors:
If you don’t have a blood sugar monitor handy and you have signs or symptoms of low blood sugar with diabetes, your symptoms may be enough to diagnose low blood sugar.
Carbohydrates are important when your blood sugar is very low. If you have diabetes, try to keep carbohydrate snacks on hand.
The American Diabetes Association recommends that your snack contain at least 15 grams of carbohydrates. Some good snacks to have on hand include:
If it’s low, you can also take glucose tablets to raise your blood sugar quickly. They are available without a prescription. Before taking, you should check how many grams are in each pill. Aim for 15 to 20 grams of carbs.
Wait 15 minutes after eating or taking a glucose pill and check your blood sugar again. If your blood sugar does not rise, eat another 15 grams of carbohydrates or take another dose of glucose tablets. Repeat this until your blood sugar starts to rise.
If your blood sugar is still not responding, call your doctor or emergency room right away. If in doubt, treat.
Symptoms of low blood sugar usually get worse if left untreated. Make an appointment with your doctor if you have diabetes and often have low blood sugar, or if you have symptoms even if you don’t have diabetes.
It is normal for people with diabetes to have slightly low blood sugar. However, very low blood sugar can be life-threatening. If left untreated for a long time, they can cause seizures and damage to the nervous system. Immediate treatment is very important.
It’s important to recognize your symptoms and treat them quickly. For people at risk of low blood sugar, it is important to have a glucagon kit – a medicine that increases blood sugar levels. Talk to your doctor for more information.
You may want to talk to friends, family, exercise partners, and colleagues about how they can care for you if your blood sugar is too low.
It’s important for them to know the symptoms of low blood sugar and how to use a glucagon kit, as well as the importance of calling 911 if you pass out.
It is a good idea to wear a medical identification bracelet. This will help the emergency services get the right care for you if you need emergency medical care.
Treat low blood sugar as soon as possible. Avoid driving if you have low blood sugar, as this can increase the risk of an accident.
There are several ways to lower blood sugar. Below we will look at each of these prevention methods in detail.
Checking your blood sugar regularly can help keep it in the target range. If you have had episodes of low blood sugar in the past, you may want to check your blood sugar before driving or operating machinery.
If you know it will be more than 5 hours before your next full meal, or if your blood sugar is below 100 mg/dL, consider eating a snack before you leave the house.
It’s always a good idea to have high-carb snacks on hand in case your blood sugar drops when you’re out and about. As mentioned above, some good choices are hard candies, fresh or dried fruit, fruit juices, jelly beans, and gummy drops.
Exercise uses energy, so if you don’t eat enough beforehand, your blood sugar can drop quickly. Check your blood sugar 1-2 hours before exercise to make sure it’s within target range.
If you plan to exercise for an hour or more, eat extra carbs during your workout. Exercise gels, sports drinks, granola bars, and even chocolate bars provide your body with a quick burst of glucose during exercise.
Moderate to vigorous exercise can lower blood glucose levels for up to 24 hours
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