If you have recently been diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia or an idiopathic syndrome after a meal, you probably look like me when I was first diagnosed. I was confused, exhausted and had no idea what to do, because the doctors actually did nothing for me or did not help me! But do not worry, there is hope, and you can return to the good life!
When I was first diagnosed with idiopathic postprandial syndrome, only after a few hours of researching my symptoms and introducing idiopathic postprandial syndrome to doctors, I struggled with all kinds of symptoms for several weeks! It was scary and pathetic, if not more! I knew that there was a connection with what I was eating and with my symptoms!
I made frequent trips to the emergency room just to say, "You're fine." My symptoms included tachycardia (fast heart rate), panic attacks, tremor, lightheadedness, freezing cold hands and feet, and complete confusion! However, since I did not have low-glucose levels, as determined by the medical community, I was not diagnosed with reactive hypoglycemia.
Doctors checked everything on me! My heart, my brain, my pituitary, thyroid ... you call it, it was tested. I would literally go to the ER once, they will let me go next, and then recognize me later in the day. Then, after leaving the hospital for six days, they simply said to me: "You are free." A?
Yes! I was free! Free to go home and go through all the hell I went through before? I do not think so! This time I was going to do otherwise. I was going to dive in and find out what foods I could and could not eat, when to eat and how to beat this thing! I already suspected that my problem was related to reactive hypoglycemia or idiopathic postprandial syndrome based on the research I did online (the diagnosis finally gave ... somehow somehow).
Since I did not have a clearly low glucose level, several people at the doc office gave me a soft diagnosis of Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome. (I think they were confused!) Basically, I have all the same symptoms of Reactive Hypoglycemia, without actually having low glucose levels. So, knowing this, I would think that my endocrinologist would give me some help in my diet. Ha! Not really!
So, I was back in the net, reading research and diets and trying to put everything together. Little did I know that the journey was almost over! I had to completely redo my diet and practice clinical trials on myself! Constantly trying to find the right amount of foods to eat, what foods to eat and when to eat them. Personally, I found that a diet high in fiber, protein, some fats and very few carbohydrates worked for me, but it was very accurate. As I developed, I had to take this into account in my diet and provide the proper nutrition needed to support my workout.
The diet consists of food every 2 - 2.5 hours. My daily diet would be something like this: breakfast, a tiny quarter-cup of oatmeal in the morning with butter and a tablespoon of coconut oil, 3 egg whites and a portion of cottage cheese. After 2 hours, whey protein shake with peanut butter straw. 2 hours later for lunch, 6 ounces of steak, a quarter of sweet potato with butter and cheese stick. A 2-hour drive from the hotel’s afternoon snack, the Atkins Bar. Then, if I practiced (1 hour workout to lift weights), I would take 2 glucose tablets right before my workout and 2 during a workout. After my workout, I would immediately have sugar-free whey protein shake and 1 to 1.5 hours after my shake. I would have a steak and spinach salad with a little blueberry and feta cheese. To cope with all this during the day, I would usually have another whey protein.
Today, I will largely return to normal life, although I have small episodes here and there, and I constantly learn new things about my condition and how to treat it with a diet. If you want to get better and get recommendations for reactive hypoglycemia or idiopathic syndrome after a meal, it begins with a diet! Make the choice to eat better! Be decisive and hope that you will soon return to the best!
