What is reactive hypoglycemia?

Hi, I just read a post where they talked about reactive hypoglycemia. What are the symtoms. When I eat more than 6 grams of sugar I get a rapid heart beat and feel like my body is being sucked to the floor. This happens within 15 -20 minutes after I eat and lasts about 30 minutes to an hour. I thought this was dumping but have read so many posts about dumpimg lasting a lot longer. Thanks, Kaye

Kaye, reactive hypoclycemia is sometimes called "late dumping". What you are experiening shortly after eating sugar is in fact called dumping. Reactive hypoclycemia is when your sugar drops low, usually due to eating a high carb and/or high sugar meal/snack or can in fact be caused by skipping meals. Eating at set times each day will keep the episodes at bay for many. RH usually happens within an hour or two of eating a high carb meal, therefore the name "late dumping". I have had some instances of RH and can tell when an episode is coming on. Eating a protein with a carb will bring the sugar back up and keep it at a good number for a while. I have peanut butter crackers in my purse at all time, along with some in my car and at work and home. You can Google Reactive Hypoglycemia, lots of info available on the net. Dana

hi Kaye! You have the exact same dumping symptoms that I experience! The only thing that generally makes me feel better is to lay down for about 30 minutes. I just wish my sugar tolerance was as low as yours - unfortunately, it takes a lot more sugar than 6 grams for me to dump..... and that's not an impressive thing to admit!!! Hugs! Kristi

Under normal physiologic conditions, the stomach and pylorus (the opening of the stomach into the small intestine) control the rate at which the gastric contents leave the stomach. That is, the stomach, pancreas and liver work together to prepare nutrients (or sugar) before they reach the small intestine for absorption. The stomach serves as a reservoir that releases food downstream only at a controlled rate, avoiding sudden large influxes of sugar. The released food is also mixed with stomach acid, bile, and pancreatic juice to control the chemical makeup of the food that goes downstream and avoid the "dumping syndrome." Dumping syndrome occurs with the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass patient only and is divided into early and late phases. Early dumping syndrome happens when the lower end of the small intestine (jejunum) fills too quickly with undigested food from the stomach. Patients can develop abdominal bloating, pain, vomiting, and vasomotor symptoms (flushing, sweating, rapid heart rate, light headedness). Other patients may have diarrhea. Since with the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass the majority of the stomach is not being used and a new, small pouch that directly connects to the small intestine is created, there may be dumping. Early dumping syndrome is due to the now-rapid gastric emptying causing bowel distension plus movement of fluid from the blood to the intestine to dilute the intestinal contents. These symptoms usually occur 30 to 60 minutes after eating. Late dumping is related to the blood sugar level. The small bowel is very effective in absorbing sugar, so that the rapid absorption of a relatively small amount of sugar can cause the glucose level in the blood to rise rapidly. The pancreas responds to this glucose challenge by increasing the insulin output. Unfortunately, the sugar that started the whole cycle was such a small amount that it does not sustain the increase in blood glucose, which tends to fall back down at about the time the insulin surge starts. These factors combine to produce hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which causes the individual to feel weak, sleepy and profoundly fatigued. Restricting simple carbohydrates (rice, pasta, potatoes and other sweet tasting foods), eating more protein and not drinking liquids during a meal can reduce the symptoms of dumping. Further, avoid foods that are very hot or very cold, which can also trigger symptoms. Obviously, surgeons consider dumping syndrome to be a beneficial effect of Gastric Bypass surgery. It provides a quick and reliable negative feedback to eating the “wrong” foods. In practice, most patients do not experience full-blown symptoms of dumping more that once or twice. Most simply say that they have lost their taste for sweets. Be aware that late dumping is the mechanism by which sugar intake can create low blood sugar, and it is also a way for patients to get into a vicious cycle of eating. If the patient takes in sugar or a food that is closely related to sugar (simple carbohydrates like rice, pasta, potatoes) they will experience some degree of hypoglycemia in the hour or two after eating. The hypoglycemia stimulates appetite and the patient will want to eat again.