Q Whenever I eat lunch, in the afternoon I get so drowsy my eyes close, and I feel sluggish. Is this also a sign of insulin resistance?
A Severe drowsiness after meals commonly appears in the process of blood sugar rising sharply and then dropping, and it is one of the hallmark signs of insulin resistance. Cutting back on refined carbohydrates and adding protein and vegetables eases these surges and crashes.
Detailed Answer
When you eat mainly refined carbohydrates, blood sugar rises sharply and then drops sharply from excessive insulin secretion, and in this reactive hypoglycemia phase, extreme drowsiness and sluggishness set in. If this post-meal drowsiness repeats, it may be a sign that blood sugar control is not going smoothly. Reducing the amount of rice and noodles and eating enough protein and vegetables first often flattens the blood sugar curve and reduces afternoon drowsiness.
Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective
In Korean medicine, we view heavy drowsiness after meals as a state where dampness-phlegm is stagnant in the digestive system (spleen and stomach), so vital energy cannot rise. At Dongjedang, we focus on releasing the stagnant surplus and reviving the strength of digestion and metabolism. When metabolism comes alive, blood sugar swings less even with the same meal, aiming for a flow in which post-meal drowsiness and sluggishness decrease.
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