Sugar crash

A sugar crash or glucose crash is a concept in American folk medicine and refers to a feeling of tiredness which can occur after eating a large quantity of sugary foods.

After intake of food loaded with glucose, the glucose is reabsorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, increasing the blood plasma glucose, which in turn increases the production of insulin. Increase in insulin in the blood plasma reduces the glucose level in blood. The glucose consumption of the skeletal muscles will increase as well. Over all, the insulin production and the muscle demand will reduce the blood glucose level dramatically, leading to the symptoms of a sugar crash.