What is the difference between reactive hypoglycemia and diabetes

In severe cases, hypoglycemia can lead to seizures , neurological problems that may mimic a stroke , or even loss of consciousness. For this reason, you may not realize that your blood sugar levels have dropped, which can make you more susceptible to severe symptoms of hypoglycemia, including confusion, loss of consciousness, or seizures.

If you think that you may have hypoglycemia unawareness, talk with your doctor to determine the best course of treatment. This may include checking your blood sugar levels more frequently, adjusting your medications, or working with a certified diabetes educator to learn to recognize the warning signs of hypoglycemia.

Having low blood sugar levels can increase your risk of many conditions, including heart disease. In fact, research shows that severe hypoglycemia could be linked to a higher risk of heart disease and death in people with type 2 diabetes. If left untreated, hypoglycemia can have several serious side effects. Severe complications of hypoglycemia include :. Simple changes to your diet and eating schedule can resolve hypoglycemia and prevent future episodes.

Follow these tips to prevent hypoglycemia:. Eating consistently and following a healthy, well-rounded diet are also crucial. Your doctor or dietitian can help you determine how many carbohydrates you should eat at each meal to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Take any medications for diabetes as directed by your doctor. Discuss any changes to your diet or exercise routine with your doctor, as they may need to adjust the dosage or timing of your medications. Wearing a medical ID bracelet with basic information about your medical history can also be beneficial in case of an emergency.

Ideally, meals and snacks should contain a balance of carbs, protein, and heart-healthy fats to help support healthy blood sugar levels. You may also want to keep a few healthy snacks on hand in case you start feeling side effects such as hunger, sweating, or shakiness. Fresh fruit, trail mix, and crackers with peanut butter are a few quick and easy snack ideas for low blood sugar levels. If you regularly experience low blood sugar levels, talk with your doctor to see whether underlying factors could play a role.

Hypoglycemia is a serious condition that can occur when your blood sugar levels drop too low. If left untreated, hypoglycemia can cause serious side effects and long-term health consequences. However, there are plenty of ways to prevent hypoglycemia, including eating regularly, following a healthy diet, monitoring your blood sugar levels carefully, taking medications as directed by your doctor, and, in some cases, surgery.

Have hypoglycemia? Try these diet tips to help keep your blood sugar level stable. Learn more about the…. Published May Brutsaert EF.

Merck Manual Professional Version. Updated January, American Diabetes Association. Hypoglycemia low blood sugar. Postprandial hypoglycemia: Complication of peptic ulcer surgery. Am J Med. Service FJ, Vella A. Hypoglycemia in adults without diabetes mellitus: Diagnostic approach.

Updated September 19, Postprandial reactive hypoglycemia. Updated June 11, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Hypoglycemia: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications. How Hypoglycemia Is Diagnosed. Too much insulin intake can cause lower levels of glucose in the blood. Low blood glucose hypoglycemia. Accessed March 15, Goldman L, et al.

Hypoglycemia and pancreatic islet cell disorders. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed March 18, Kandel D, et al. Mechanisms of action of a carbohydrate-reduced, high-protein diet in reducing the risk of postprandial hypoglycemia after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In press. Haider A, et al. Postprandial hypoglycemia: Complication of peptic ulcer surgery. The American Journal of Medicine. See also Medication-free hypertension control A1C test After a flood, are food and medicines safe to use?

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Can whole-grain foods lower blood pressure? In response, the pancreas secretes the hormone insulin, which helps glucose pass from the blood into cells in the muscles, liver, and brain. To function properly, these cells need glucose for fuel. There are different types of hypoglycemia. One type occurs in people who have diabetes, and doctors classify this as diabetic hypoglycemia. It happens when the insulin injections or antidiabetic medication that a person takes removes too much sugar from the bloodstream.

Reactive hypoglycemia is a rare form of the condition, which doctors classify as nondiabetic hypoglycemia. This often occurs approximately 2—4 hours after a meal. Symptoms subside quickly after eating or drinking carbohydrates.

Researchers have not yet fully identified the specific causes of reactive hypoglycemia. However, the condition stems from having too much insulin in the bloodstream at the wrong time. People with reactive hypoglycemia may experience some or all of the following symptoms 2—4 hours after a meal:.

Most people who have reactive hypoglycemia do not require treatment. Rather, doctors recommend dietary changes to manage the symptoms.

That said, if a person needs immediate treatment, doctors advise eating or drinking something that contains 15 grams of carbohydrates.