Do you feel dizzy after eating?

[Oldvatr]

I do nowadays. It seems to be quite common especially as we get older. It is also possibly related to a low sugar count such as when using a Low Carb or Low Calorie diet to control BGL.
https://www.healthline.com/health/dizziness-after-eating#causes

I am on special heart medication that acts as a blood pressure reducer, and this has made things worse in this respect.

I chose this subforum since low blood sugar is a target for most of us here, so it is diabetes related.

I suspect it is also portion control related.

Bit worrying that it can lead to ministrokes.

 

[EllieM]

I am on special heart medication that acts as a blood pressure reducer, and this has made things worse in this respect.

Have you tested your blood pressure while it is happening? If it's low you could maybe reduce your bp meds (after medical consultation of course).

 

[Oldvatr]

BP at the time was 130 / 70 so low but not too low. Exactly what the doctor ordered. So not the usual fainting feeling as when standing up or getting out of the bath, neither of which plague me when not postprandial. Seems specific to after mealtime. I cannot contact my heart team to discuss since dept is not open to routine care. Their answerphone is broken or full.

 

[Lamont D]

Hi mate, I've just come across this as I used to get these symptoms before I was diagnosed, and recently through falling off the wagon last summer due to mental health issues.
Knowing the symptoms of when your blood glucose levels is a part of hypo awareness.
Don't forget this was wrote in 2018.
But what triggered my interest was the relationship between bodily shaking, postprndial hypoglycaemia (RH) and what a neurologist was the reason why I was shaking when my blood levels were normal. If you mention uncontrolled shaking or tremors, it can be related to nerve conditions such as essential tremor disorder, Parkinson's, and other related conditions.
The barriers of ignorance are still lurking on the internet and dressed up as white coat idiots, that they even say they don't understand why, how, cause and that lifestyle changes could work or vegan. Or avoid foods that make you dizzy!
Why isn't carbs the main trigger? I found this out in 2013. My specialist informed a pharmaceutical company and an article and scientific paper, to mention that over a certain amount of carbs trigger excess insulin,
If the so called quacks, haven't got a clue why hypos happen, (it's the insulin!) in non diabetics?
Words fail me!

Keep safe. Read below It's the carbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

 

[In Response]

@Oldvatr, I forget if you are UK based. If you are, how about getting a free trial Libre so you can see what your blood sugar levels are when you have eaten and feel dizzy.

 

[Outlier]

It might be worth having a chat with a pharmacist, as they are a bit more accessible than Drs at the moment. Your heart drugs might be significant here. They are sometimes incompatible with diabetes meds - I found this when a BP lowering drug dropped me to dangerous levels but the condition resolved when I stopped taking that drug (under guidance of course).

 

[Oldvatr]

Pretty certain I am not RH since I have not hypo'ed for a couple of years now, and my bgl during dizzy spell of the OP are not low at all. My hypo's before were caused by excessive doses of sulfonyl medication (at max strength and keto diet), so ok since downloading to minimum dose, and going moderate carb not keto.

The other thing is that my bgl is usually less than 2 mmol/l raised at 2 hrs, but back to baseline at 4 hrs so following a 'normal' ish pattern. The dizzy feeling lasts about 20 minutes after eating and is temporary. It feels like a head thingy, and fits with the article I posted. However, it is of note that the dizzy spell coincides with the time that one might expect the first phase of Insulin response.

@Oldvatr, I forget if you are UK based. If you are, how about getting a free trial Libre so you can see what your blood sugar levels are when you have eaten and feel dizzy.

Pretty sure it is not sugar level related. I don't think the Libre would react in time since it seems to be quite short term anyway.

I was just interested since it is being reported as 'common' so is it something others here get too? Maybe I should have set it up as a survey

 

[Dr Snoddy]

An older friend was getting the same problem after his very high carbohydrate breakfast, generally porridge and two slices of toast with jam or honey. His own monitor showed a rapid drop in blood pressure. His doctor confirmed postprandial hypotension and advised him to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that he was consuming. Reluctantly he has done so and is no longer getting this problem. This would tend to suggest a first phase insulin response. His only medication is a very low dose of a calcium channel blocker as he does suffer from stress-induced hypertension.

 

[Oldvatr]

This may not be connected, but I was surprised by my French cousins, who insisterd that we all drank a glass of water before we ate the meal. I thought it was family tradition, but it seems that they may be aware of this side effect of eating. Ths NHS advises drinking water during the meal to avoid or reduce this symptom.

It is also probably the reason why soup used to be the first course of a meal. I have tended to avoid soups now because of the added sugar annd carbs, but it may indicate another way of dealing with it.

 

[Dr Snoddy]

Perhaps it is explained by an increase in the blood flow to the intestines after a rapidly digested and absorbed meal and a consequent diversion of blood supply away from the brain and the limbs.

 

[zand]

Yes I feel dizzy after eating sometimes too.

 

[Oldvatr]

It is the carbs, it seems
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2021.663635/full
Again, it may be first Insulin response at work.

 

[lucylocket61]

BP at the time was 130 / 70 so low but not too low. Exactly what the doctor ordered. So not the usual fainting feeling as when standing up or getting out of the bath, neither of which plague me when not postprandial. Seems specific to after mealtime. I cannot contact my heart team to discuss since dept is not open to routine care. Their answerphone is broken or full.

Could chewing be triggering an ear issue? My son gets this if his ear needs syringing.

 

[Oldvatr]

The Mesentery is a mystery that lurks and pounces after a meal
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10095388/

 

[EllieM]

Again, it may be first Insulin response at work.

So maybe a survey would be useful? Presumably the T1s and T3cs wouldn't be affected???

 

[Oldvatr]

Could chewing be triggering an ear issue? My son gets this if his ear needs syringing.

Problems with the inner ear can lead to dizzyness, and I used to suffer this when younger. Chewing, and also yawning, can lead to pressure changes in the ear via the sinus which is a set of tubes that connect the nose and ear. Ear wax buildup can be more than simple deafness.

Not sure it is connected to what I am currently experiencing though, but a good yawn will help clear an ear problem, as can blowing your nose while holding it blocked after a swim can restore hearing.

 

[Lamont D]

Perhaps it is explained by an increase in the blood flow to the intestines after a rapidly digested and absorbed meal and a consequent diversion of blood supply away from the brain and the limbs.

the dizziness is related to either BP or BG.
I would go on to say that because blood to the brain is necessary as a premier response as is the insulin response is to gain the optimum energy levels we require. Other than that blood doesn't need to be redirected, when there is no blood in a limb it will go numb or pins and needles.
but that would mean we would have to eat or drink all the time to keep glucose levels sufficient to keep our brain fully functional. Which of course we don't. The amount of glucose derived from digestion for the brain is very minimal otherwise we couldn't fast or be in starvation mode.

 

[Lamont D]

It is the carbs, it seems
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2021.663635/full
Again, it may be first Insulin response at work.

As someone whose initial or first phase insulin response is comprimised.
the mere act of eating any carbs has been made redundant.
being in ketosis is a necessity rather than an option.
The stupid thing is I can fast for days, and nothing happens, but give me a small potato or a piece of bread or a small bowl of porridge and.my blood glucose levels are up and down on a rollercoaster ride. And if I really crash low, it could put me in a coma or worse. For some reason my liver does not respond.
And it is any carbs, in enough amounts, made my life, my hypo hell!
Why are they still in denial that a whole epidemic of diabetes related conditions are caused by something that is described as a nutritional necessity, fibre, vitamins, and so on.
Well I have managed it so far.

 

[AndBreathe]

@Oldvatr - Have you ever worn the 24-hour BP weapon of torture (You can likely tell I have!)? I wonder if that might help, in case your BP is momentarily very frisky?

Does your hospital clinic have a specialist pharmacist? I know some clinics (not necessarily cardiac) do. If so, that could be a worthwhile discussion?

Finally, I'll revert to mantra. Have you considered doing a really tight record of eats, drinks, BG scores, BPs and symptoms, just in case there's a factor you're not noticing in your day-to-day observations.

I hope you manage to work something out.