Falling asleep after eating

[Jamima]

I know that post prandial sleepiness affects diabetics (ex partner was diabetic) and I know there’s a connection between low thyroid/cortisol and insulin resistance, and am now concerned that I also fall asleep after my main meal. It’s not drowsiness, I just can’t keep my eyes open. What is the connection between thyroid/adrenals and insulin? Just trying to understand more.

[humanbean]

Personal anecdote :

I have recently (re-)started a low carb diet. Whenever I do this and manage to keep it up for a few weeks my "post-prandial somnolence" as doctors call it has markedly reduced.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postp...

When I eat a lot of carbs I can end up sometimes feeling anaesthetised after a meal.

[Jamima in reply to humanbean]

Thank you, I’m pretty low carb anyway, but I’ll reduce a bit more.

[radd]

Jamima,

Eating foods containing tryptophan (turkey, chicken, milk, etc) are well known to make you feel sleepy, and on top of the postprandial somnolence you might have some insulin resistance. Low thyroid hormone, particularly T3 impacts how sensitive our cells are to insulin and problems are common on the forum.

Insulin resistance is when the glucose formed by high carby or sugary foods causes excess insulin production that eventually our cells no longer respond to due to receptor desensitising by frequency. When insulin levels are high, we are unable to burn fat cells as a fuel source so remain tired/hungry, and when high blood sugars then plummet we eat more carbs/sugars that leads to further insulin release.

The adrenal glands secrete cortisol, whose levels may become compromised with long term inadequate amounts of thyroid hormone (own or medicated). However, we need a certain amount of cortisol to tell the liver to make more glucose when levels drop , say during the night. When there is not enough cortisol to raise blood sugar levels into normal range we suffer from hypoglycaemia generally shown by that repeated waking at 3am.

There is also another connection regarding thyroid receptors needing a certain level of glucose for good T3 uptake. Everything is interconnected and why adeqaute amounts of thyroid hormone are so important in keeping both cortisol and blood sugar issues in check .

You could get a home blood glucose testing kit to see what is going on. Use it before and after eating, or ask your GP to arrange a fasting insulin/blood sugar test and HgbA1c.

Also, you could try smaller more frequent meals with protein at each. The aim is to keep blood sugars level whilst allowing insulin levels to fall so the fat cells become unlocked by hormone-sensitive lipase and we start burning fat for fuel and sensitising the body to insulin again.

There's a book called 'Fat Around The Middle' by Marilyn Glenville that explains the above in detail. It is not a thyroid based book but addresses cortisol issues. For a brief resume she also has this web page to give further understanding of what I have said above. marilynglenville.com/womens...

[Jamima in reply to radd]

Thank you Radd.

[Jamima in reply to radd]

Rads would you mind pm-ing me with the name of your private endo. Many thanks.

[shaws Administrator]

Maybe its just a signal from your body that it needs to rest awhile.