Idiopathic Postprandial Syndrome - Etymology and History of Diagnosis

Etymology and History of Diagnosis

The term idiopathic postprandial syndrome, which literally translates as a syndrome which occurs after eating (postprandial) and of unknown cause (idiopathic), was coined around 1980 in an attempt to reserve the term hypoglycemia for those conditions in which low glucose levels could be demonstrated. It was offered as a less confusing alternative to functional hypoglycemia and as a less pejorative alternative to "nonhypoglycemia" or "pseudohypoglycemia."

The syndrome resembles reactive hypoglycemia except that low glucoses are not found at the time of symptoms.