Reactive hypoglycemia

Three major types of hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia may be divided into three groups 1) insulin-induced, 2) postprandial (sometimes called reactive hypoglycemia), and 3) fasting hypoglycemia. 

In eight patients with type 2 diabetes and seven matched non-diabetics, subcutaneous glucagon-like pep-tide-1 and intravenous glucose caused reactive hypoglycemia in five controls but not in the patients (10). Glucagon was suppressed. 

A rise in C reactive protein has been observed during spontaneous attacks of hypoglycemia in diabetics and after experimental hypoglycemia in healthy controls (58). 

Galloway PJ, Thomson GA, Fisher BM, Semple CG. Insulin-induced hypoglycemia induces a rise in C-reactive protein. Diabetes Care 2000 23(6) 861-2. 

Brun JF, Fedou C, Mercier J. Postprandial reactive hypoglycemia. Diabetes Metab 2000 26 337-51,... 

Hofeldt FD. Reactive hypoglycemia. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 1989 18 185-201. 

Lefebvre PJ, Andreani D, Marks V. Statement on post-prandial or reactive hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia, Serono Symposium Raven Press, 1987 79. 

The exact cause of reactive hypoglycemia is difficult to determine, but most researchers believe that the main cause is a shortage of glucagon, resulting in an inability to raise blood glucose levels when necessary. Others speculate that the cause is a hypersensitive response to the release of the normal physiological hormone called epinephrine, a reaction that is the opposite of epinephrine s normal effect on blood sugar, which is to raise it. Still others consider excessive insulin production to be the culprit. 

The discomfort of reactive hypoglycemia can appear within 1 to 3 hours of eating... 

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