Postprandial dip

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In medicine and specifically endocrinology, postprandial dip is a term used to refer to mild hypoglycemia occurring after ingestion of a heavy meal.

The dip is caused by a drop in blood glucose resulting from the body's own normal insulin secretion, which in turn is a respone to the glucose load represented by the meal. It is often asymptomatic, but in some individuals it can produce drowsiness, leading to a postprandial nap.

While postprandial dip is usually physiological after a generous meal, a very sharp or sustained drop in blood glucose may be associated with a disorder of glucose metabolism.