Why is blood sugar lower one hour after a meal than before the meal?

Diabetic patients have elevated blood sugar levels, especially after eating. However, some patients find that their blood sugar levels are sometimes lower than before meals one hour after a meal. Why is this?

Excessive insulin secretion and delayed peak

Under normal circumstances, blood sugar levels rise after a meal, reaching a peak in about 30 to 60 minutes before falling. Plasma insulin levels also rise to a peak in 30 to 60 minutes, 5 to 10 times the baseline value, then fall and return to the baseline level in 3 to 4 hours. Therefore, although blood sugar levels rise after a meal in a normal person, they fluctuate within a certain range. Type 2 diabetes patients may have excessive insulin secretion (hyperinsulinemia) and delayed peak levels. Insulin remains at a relatively high concentration and cannot return to the baseline level, resulting in low blood sugar levels or even hypoglycemia after a meal.

Insufficient eating and excessive post-meal exercise

Diet and exercise are two important basic measures for diabetes treatment. Strict diet control and proper exercise are beneficial for weight loss, improving hyperglycemia and reducing hypoglycemic drugs. However, the diet plan should be strictly and long-term, and exercise should be regular. If the diet is insufficient or the intensity of post-meal exercise is too high, the patient may also have low blood sugar after meals, or even hypoglycemia.

Drugs

Excessive dosage of hypoglycemic drugs, mismatch with diet, or simultaneous use of other drugs that enhance the hypoglycemic effect of hypoglycemic drugs may also lead to a significant decrease in postprandial blood sugar.

Expert advice: If your blood sugar level 2 hours after a meal is lower than your blood sugar level before a meal, you can increase the frequency of monitoring, such as testing your blood sugar level 1 hour and 3 hours after a meal, and record the data to find the pattern of blood sugar changes. Then, consult a doctor to analyze and find out the cause, and adjust your diet, exercise and medication if necessary.