By Ardi
Why blood glucose levels increase after meal? Did you know that more than 37.3 million Americans have diabetes, and 96 million have prediabetes? That’s more than half of the population! And if those numbers aren’t alarming enough, consider this: Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. It’s a serious disease that can lead to a host of complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness.
For people with diabetes, managing blood sugar levels is a key part of treatment. That’s because when blood sugar levels rise too high (a condition known as hyperglycemia), it can cause a host of problems, both in the short-term (like hypoglycemia) and in the long-term (such as organ damage).
But what causes blood sugar levels to rise after eating? And what can you do about it? In this article, we’ll explore these questions and provide some tips for managing postprandial hyperglycemia.
What is Postprandial Hyperglycemia?
Postprandial hyperglycemia, or post-meal blood sugar increase, is a common issue for people with diabetes. As the name suggests, it refers to an excessive rise in blood glucose after eating.
And while this may seem like a relatively minor issue, the effects of postprandial hyperglycemia can have serious consequences for people with diabetes. For example, it can lead to hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels, which in turn can cause fatigue, confusion, and other symptoms that interfere with daily life.
But why do blood sugar levels increase after eating? Let’s take a look at some of the key factors that contribute to postprandial hyperglycemia.
7 Reasons Why Blood Glucose Levels Increase After Meals
Here are seven reasons why your blood sugar levels might increase after you eat:
1. Eating a high-carbohydrate meal
The most obvious reason why your blood sugar levels might increase after a meal is if you’ve eaten a lot of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose in the body and, as such, they have the biggest impact on blood sugar levels. If you eat a meal that is high in carbs, your blood sugar levels will rise more than if you’d eaten a low-carb meal.
Some of the high carb foods include:
- Pasta: The average person eats about two servings of pasta a week. A single serving of pasta has about 43 grams of carbs, which can raise blood sugar levels by about 15 points.
- Bread: One slice of bread has about 15 grams of carbs, which can raise blood sugar levels by about 5 points.
- Potatoes: A large baked potato has about 30 grams of carbs, which can raise blood sugar levels by about 10 points.
2. Eating too much in one sitting
If you eat more food than your body needs, your blood sugar levels will increase. This is because your body has to digest and process all of the extra food you’ve consumed.
When you eat more than your body can use at one time, some of the extra food gets stored as fat. Your body can handle small amounts of extra food, but if you eat too much in one sitting it will have to work a lot harder to digest and use the excess energy.
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3. Eating high-calorie foods
As well as increasing blood sugar levels, eating large amounts of high-calorie foods can also increase your risk of weight gain and other health problems. This is because high-calorie foods contain a lot more energy than low-calorie foods, so they are harder for the body to process.
Eating too much in one sitting can cause blood sugar levels to increase, but this effect will also be exacerbated if you eat large amounts of high-calorie foods on a regular basis.
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4. Not eating enough during the day
If you don’t eat enough food during the day, your blood sugar levels will drop too low and you’ll feel tired and sluggish. This is because your body isn’t getting the energy it needs from food. To make up for this, your body will start to break down stored glycogen into glucose. This will cause your blood sugar levels to increase.
5. Not getting enough exercise
If you don’t get enough exercise, your body won’t burn off the excess glucose in your blood. This is because exercise helps to regulate blood sugar levels by making your muscles take up more glucose from the bloodstream. If you don’t get enough exercise, your body will have no choice but to rely on stored glycogen for fuel.
6. Not managing stress properly
If you suffer from stress or anxiety, this can adversely affect your blood sugar levels by causing them to rise too high. This is because chronic stress causes the body to secrete large amounts of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol helps to regulate blood sugar levels, but when it is released in large amounts it can cause them to rise too high.
7. Having certain medical conditions
There are a number of medical conditions that can cause postprandial hyperglycemia. These include diabetes, pancreatitis, and Cushing’s syndrome. If you’re concerned about your blood sugar levels, speak to your doctor or a medical professional for advice.
While any one of these factors can lead to postprandial hyperglycemia, there are also some measures you can take to prevent this from happening. These include:
- Limiting your consumption of carbohydrates and high-calorie foods.
- Eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day.
- Get plenty of exercises and manage your stress levels.
By following these tips, you can help to keep your blood sugar levels in check and prevent postprandial hyperglycemia.
Conclusion
The most common reason is that you’ve eaten a lot of carbohydrates, which are broken down into glucose in the body. Other reasons include eating too much in one sitting, eating high-calorie foods, not eating enough during the day, and not getting enough exercise. There are also some medical conditions that can cause postprandial hyperglycemia.
However, there are some measures you can take to prevent this from happening. These include limiting your consumption of carbohydrates and high-calorie foods, eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day, and getting plenty of exercises. By following these tips, you can help to keep your blood sugar levels under control and prevent postprandial hyperglycemia from occurring.
