Low Blood Sugar, Anyone?

I've had quite a few problems, thus the reason I'm not on here very much, but I think I've solved one of them. I've been having problems with my blood sugar dropping to low. I'll be fine one minute and then the next I feel like I've been hit with a Mac truck. I get the chills and sweaty. My lower abdomin cramps up (kinda like sever menstrual cramps) and I just feel like I'm gonna die. My mom suggested that it's my blood sugar and when it happens to drink some coke to get it back up fast and then eat some cheese or peanut butter. Has anyone had this happen and if so what did you do to make it go away? I can eat pretty much anything (including sugar, ugggg) so I pretty open. I'm just looking for some suggestions. Especially when we are out of the house somewhere. Maybe something I can tuck in my purse that will help. Thanks a ton, Heather

Did you have sugar problems before your surgery, or has this just happened since? Are you testing to see if it really is low sugar? This may be something you need to talk to your doctor about. Since my surgery my sugar was dropping low and in just a few weeks after surgery my PCP took me off my diabetes meds. Now I stay in the 70's and am fine. I still have to test everyday and keep a log, but am doing better. Sometimes just getting something with a few carbs in will help. I used glucose tablets (chewable non-prescription). Careful of dumping, though. Patti

Heather, Unless you have had your blood sugar tested, or if you were diabetic pre-op you have your own glucometer to do so, you can't just take a guess that the cause is low blood sugar. Please see your internist. Off the cuff you describe what I know as dumping symptoms, yet you say you can eat sugar. Perhaps you can't. You need to get this checked out in case you actually are having low blood sugar because you could pass out behind the wheel when driving. Be proactive and get to the real cause of these symptoms before you have more serious reprocusions. Please do it today. Cathy Open RNY 7/26/04 (-43 pounds) Still Type 2 diabetic post op but hoping for normalization any time now.

I agree with Cathy! Sounds just like dumping. Please see your doctor about this. I was having problems with feeling lightheaded and tried getting in a protein drink first thing in the morning and it worked. But it may be something simple like that. Please take care of yourself and ask someone in your docs office. Also, make sure you are getting in your protein, water and vitamins. Keep us posted with your findings. Take care, Tami

I've had problems with hypoglycemia in the past just never as sever as this has been. My mother's a nurse and my sister's a doctor both are hypoglycemic. None of my episodes have been following any kind of food. Usually in the morning before I've eating or drank anything and a few times when we've been out doing stuff. I've told both the surgeon I've been seeing and my PCM and both agree that it's probably just my blood sugar. All my labs check out fine. Sugar does not make me dump but I was looking for another way to fix this without drinking coke or sugared up OJ. I was addicted to sugar preop (most hypoglycemic's are) and don't want to fall back in that habit. My Dr. says it will most likely level it's self off once my body adjusts to everything that's going on but until then I was looking for suggestions on what other's do since our diets are so restrictive. I probably wasn't as clear as I should have been on my first post due to the fact that I was in the middle of one of the episodes. Heather

Hi Heather...What I was taught is the key to treating hypoglycemia is to avoid sugar and carbs and eat high protein. A friend of mine who has this has to limit herself to 20 grams of carbs a day or she has episodes. Try eating a high protein mini-meal every two to three hours, spreading your dietary intake throughout the day as well as a high protein snack at bedtime. She carries cheese sticks, protein bars etc in her purse so that she always has something handy. Good luck getting this under control...its such a yucky feeling when your BS drops. CJ

I'm having problems similiar to yours, Heather. I'll be in the grocery store and get so weak I have to go to the car and eat something. The problem is if this happens it makes me tired all day. I'm still losing weight fast and that is probably the problem. I eat every 3 hrs. and eat as much as I can hold which isn't much and every day I try to eat a little more. I figure if I was on a diet and ate this amount of calories I'd feel terrible too. It's give and take.

Heather: I had surgery 4 days before you and have struggled with hypoglecima since then....In part because I struggle to eat on a regular basis... What I did first was get a full battery of blood tests run - just to rule out anything else...After everything came back - the doctor said I was right (Gee - imagine that...) and that I was having hypoglecimia. Now - I have not touched ANY foods with over 2 grams of sugar since surgery...What I do - first thing in morning - after I shower - is make a protein shake with orange juice, protein powder and ice. That seems to have enough to get my over the shakes, chills, etc. The doctor also said to keep fruit on hand....And that I need to pay close attention to how I feel... Good luck....I am hoping that this too shall pass!!! Anne