Idiopathic postprandial syndrome

Idiopathic postprandial syndrome is a medical term describing a collection of symptoms popularly attributed to hypoglycemia but without demonstrably low glucose levels. People with this condition suffer from recurrent episodes of altered mood and cognitive efficiency, often accompanied by weakness and adrenergic symptoms such as shakiness. The episodes typically occur a few hours after a meal, rather than after many hours of fasting. The principal treatments recommended are extra small meals or snacks and avoidance of excessive simple sugars.

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The term idiopathic postprandial syndrome was coined around 1980 in an attempt to reserve the term hypoglycemia for those conditions in which low glucose levels could be demonstrated.^[1] It was offered as a less confusing alternative to functional hypoglycemia and as a less pejorative alternative to "nonhypoglycemia" or "pseudohypoglycemia."

The syndrome resembles reactive hypoglycemia except that low glucoses are not found at the time of symptoms.

Adrenergic Postprandial Syndrome

There is some evidence of the existence of a so-called "Adrenergic Postprandial Syndrome" : the glycemia is normal, but the symptoms are caused through autonomic adrenergic counterregulation.^[2] Often, this syndrome is associated with emotional distress and anxious-behaviour of the patient.^[3][4]

References

1. ^ Charles MA, Hofeldt F, Shackelford A, et al (1981). "Comparison of oral glucose tolerance tests and mixed meals in patients with apparent idiopathic postabsorptive hypoglycemia: absence of hypoglycemia after meals". Diabetes 30 (6): 465-70. PMID 7227659.
2. ^ postprandiale Hypoglykämie. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
3. ^ Brun JF, Fedou C, Mercier J (2000). "Postprandial reactive hypoglycemia". Diabetes Metab. 26 (5): 337-51. PMID 11119013.
4. ^ Berlin I, Grimaldi A, Landault C, Cesselin F, Puech AJ (1994). "Suspected postprandial hypoglycemia is associated with beta-adrenergic hypersensitivity and emotional distress". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 79 (5): 1428-33. PMID 7962339.