What Causes Blood Sugar Levels To Eventually Drop Several Hours After We Eat?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Postprandial spikes are

temporary high blood sugars

that occur soon after eating. It is normal for the blood sugar to rise a small amount after eating, even in people who do not have diabetes.

Why does my sugar keep dropping after eating?

If sugar comes from the food you eat, why would blood sugar be low after eating? It may be

due to a phenomenon called reactive hypoglycemia

. This refers to low levels of blood glucose that “react” to high levels. According to Mayo Clinic, it can occur within 4 hours of eating a meal.

Why does my blood sugar drop 3 hours after eating?

Reactive hypoglycemia is low blood sugar that occurs a few hours after eating a meal. It happens

when a person has too much insulin in their blood at the wrong time

. Insulin is the hormone that enables sugar to enter cells from the bloodstream. Within cells, sugar serves as the primary source of energy.

How long after eating does blood sugar start to drop?

Answer From M. Regina Castro, M.D. Reactive hypoglycemia (postprandial hypoglycemia) refers to low blood sugar that occurs after a meal — usually

within four hours after eating

.

Do sugar levels return to normal 3 hours after eating?

Blood sugar level rises every time you eat

Your blood sugar level rises

immediately after

eating a meal or snack (Figure 2). In a healthy person, insulin then starts working, and the blood sugar level returns to the pre-meal level 2 hours after eating.

What is a normal blood sugar 2 hours after eating?

What Are Normal Blood Sugar Levels? They’re less than 100 mg/dL after not eating (fasting) for at least 8 hours. And they’re

less than 140 mg/dL 2 hours after eating

.

How do you know if you have reactive hypoglycemia?

Diagnosis. Reactive hypoglycemia can be diagnosed by

measuring the amount of glucose in a person’s blood

while they’re having symptoms that develop after eating as well as by observing whether or not those symptoms resolve once glucose levels return to normal.

What is too low blood sugar 2 hours after eating?

A normal blood glucose level for adults, without diabetes, who haven’t eaten for at least eight hours (fasting) is less than 100 mg/dL. A normal blood glucose level for adults, without diabetes, two hours after eating is

90 to 110 mg/dL

.

What mimics low blood sugar?

The symptoms of

insulin autoimmune syndrome

are similar to those of other disorders that cause low blood sugar . These symptoms include sweating, fainting, lightheadedness, weakness, and fatigue.

How do I keep my blood sugar stable?

  1. Go nuts. Nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and pistachios contain healthy fat that slows the body’s absorption of sugar. …
  2. Eat whole grains. …
  3. Veg out. …
  4. Spice up with cinnamon. …
  5. Be versatile with vinegar. …
  6. Don’t skip meals. …
  7. Don’t drink on an empty stomach. …
  8. Plan ahead.

Should I test my blood sugar 1 or 2 hours after eating?

Testing too soon after you’ve had a meal or a snack will give you results that are probably too high. The solution for better diabetes control: Test fasting blood sugar, and test every time before you eat.

Wait two hours after eating

to get the best reading.

What is normal blood sugar by age?

Chart of Normal Blood Sugar Levels in Children Age Wise Age Blood Sugar levels after Fasting Blood Sugar Levels After 1 to 2 Hours of Eating 6 to 12 years >80 to 180 mg/dL Up to 140 mg/dL
13 to 19 years


>70 to 150 mg/dL

Up to 140 mg/dL

What is a normal blood sugar 1 hour after eating?

Time of check Blood sugar level Fasting or before breakfast 60–90 mg/dl Before meals 60–90 mg/dl 1 hour after meal

100–120 mg/dl

What should your blood sugar be 4 hours after eating?

Fasting blood sugar (in the morning, before eating): under 100 mg/dL. 1 hour after a meal: 90 to 130 mg/dL. 2 hours after a meal: 90 to 110 mg/dL. 5 or more hours after eating:

70 to 90 mg/dL

.

When is blood sugar at its highest?

The highest peak blood sugar levels generally occur

1 hour after a meal if carbs were eaten

. At 2 hours, protein begins to break down into blood sugar so one may begin to see some food effect. Test both before and after your snack and see what differences in readings you may notice.

Is 7.2 Blood sugar high after eating?

A normal pre-prandial (before meal) blood glucose level will be between 4 and 7 mmol/l. After eating (post-prandial) levels should be

below 9 mmol/l when tested 2 hours after a meal

. When going to bed for the night, levels should be no more than 8 mmol/l.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.