Fatigue after eating can indicate serious causes

Tired after eating - sometimes a blood sugar derailment

Most people know this: a passing fatigue after eating. In the vernacular, this phenomenon is also called "schnitzel coma". In most cases, fatigue after eating is completely harmless. But sometimes more can be behind it. In particular, diabetics need to be alert if they are particularly tired and unfocused after eating.

Fatigue after eating mostly harmless and explainable

Our digestion costs the body energy. More blood gets into the digestive organs, the stomach and intestines take the body's valuable parts of the food, the stomach muscles and the intestinal wall transport the stomach porridge. We do not have an unlimited amount of blood in the body, and the blood that is now flowing into the digestive system is missing in other parts of the body - including the brain. This gets less oxygen now, and we get tired. Everything is so harmless. But sometimes a fatigue after eating can also hide a serious reason.

Attention, it could be type 2 diabetes

Those who suffer from diabetes, should be particularly sensitive. In fact, it could be that the blood sugar levels rise excessively after eating. This has lasting consequences for the health. Very few patients with diabetes type 2 measure their blood sugar levels after eating, reports Johanna Sandner, diabetes counselor and head of the Nutrition and Diabetes Team, University of Mainz. For this reason, elevated or even very high values ​​remain hidden for a long time. Because such blood sugar peaks are not noticeable when measuring in the checks at the family doctor.

Consequences for the health

If the high blood sugar is not treated after eating, it has long-term devastating consequences for the health. According to the diabetes counselor, cardiovascular disease gets worse, the blood vessels in the eye are damaged, and older diabetics have problems with their perception and memory.

"In order to keep an eye on blood sugar levels between visits to the doctor, people with type 2 diabetes should regularly check their own blood sugar levels after eating," Sandner recommends. The doctor then decides whether the therapy will be adjusted accordingly.

Often it is advisable, for example, to take so-called meal insulins that mimic a natural insulin secretion after a meal. They ensure that the sugar in the blood reaches the tissue cells more quickly.

Measure blood sugar two hours after eating

So, if you get tired quickly after eating, feel overly flabby and unfocused, you should measure your blood sugar levels two hours after eating and discuss any abnormalities with the attending physician, who then adjusts the treatment accordingly.

It is also possible that those affected do not know about their diabetes. Again, a check-up with the doctor is required in order to rule out a metabolic disorder. (Sb)