Hypoglycemia
What does hypoglycemia mean?
According to scientific findings, hypoglycemia is among other things a symptom of diabetes mellitus. However, according to other, more scientifically controversial insights, hypoglycemia also occurs in non-diabetics.
They call it "postprandial hypoglycemia" in scientific literature. Other names for this term are (idiopathic) reactive hypoglycemia and functional hypoglycemia.
There are some symptoms that are associated with postprandial hypoglycemia, such as:
- Chronic tiredness
- Psychological complaints (mood swings, depression)
- Increased sweet tooth
- Palpitations
- Yawning
- Dizziness
- Loss of concentration
In what products can you find carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates is a collective name for starch and sugars. Think of:
- Milk sugar (lactose) in milk, buttermilk, yoghurt and custard.
- Fruit sugar (fructose) in fruits and fruit juices.
- Pure sugar (sucrose) in biscuits, cakes, sweets and soft drinks
- Carbs in bread, potatoes, pulses, grain products, pasta and rice.
The role of the dietitian
The dietitian can give you a personal dietary to reduce the symptoms after taking a food anamnesis. The advises are focused on: reduction of added sugars, a proper carbohydrate spread over the day, a well-balanced combination of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and dietary fiber in a meal and, if necessary, a restriction of caffeine. It’s important to look at the lifestyle too.
What can we help you with?
By giving a good explanation about hypoglycemia and the associated dietary advice, we can help reducing your symptoms. We do this by looking at the current spread of your nutrition and adapt this if necessary. In particular, the distribution of long-acting and short-acting carbohydrates is important and the combination in which it is consumed.