Reactive Hypoglycemia - Diet For Reactive Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia, also known as "low blood glucose level", is a state which can cause mental confusion, fatigue, dizziness or even fainting.

The presence of sufficient glucose in our blood stream is extremely important as it provides energy for us to function properly. When blood glucose begins to falls, the body will begin to break down glycogen and release glucose back into the bloodstream.

In certain cases (diabetes, medications, etc), this glycogen response is impaired, leading to hypoglycemia.

Two types of hypoglycemia can occur in people who do not have diabetes and reactive hypoglycemia is one of them. Reactive hypoglycemia is a condition where your pancreas produces insulin in excess of the food you have consumed. This insulin surge will cause your blood sugar to fall below normal level, resulting in hypoglycemia.

The signs and symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia are the same with all forms of hypoglycemia: dizziness, fatigue, mental confusion, hunger, heart palpitation, etc.

Reactive hypoglycemia does not require any form of medical treatment. However, you should make some adjustment to your diet. The type of food you eat will directly affect your pancreas reaction and consequently, your blood glucose level. Thus, a proper diet is crucial in keeping hypoglycemia at bay.

To begin with, high Glycemic Index (GI) food should be avoided as they are absorbed very quickly into the bloodstream. This rapid absorption will often trigger an overreaction from your pancreas, producing large amounts of insulin to combat the rising blood sugar level.

This overdose of insulin will cause your blood sugar level to plummet below normal level, bringing on symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, etc. Hence, you should avoid consuming high GI foods.

A few examples of high GI foods are corn flakes, white bread, white rice, sugar, etc. Generally, the more processed a food is, the higher its GI. The rationale here is that processed or refined foods are usually poor in fiber and vitamins as they are often lost in the production process. Fibre is essential because they slow down the digestion process, thereby releasing sugar more slowly into the blood stream.

When you suffer from hypoglycemia, you should pay extra attention in your diet. An improper diet is often the main cause of hypoglycemia as it forces the pancreas to produce excess insulin. Learn more about the cure for hypoglycemia through a proper change in diet now!