Need for Insulin

I need some advice from people that may have used insulin before bariatric surgery. I'm wanting to know how long after surgery you still needed insulin, and was there a time when your blood sugars went a bit "out of whack" post surgery...a time when they went back up somewhat after discontinuing insulin. I was VERY insulin resistent before surgery...was taking 170 units of Lantus per day, plus Humalog, Symlin, and two oral medications. Since surgery I am off everything but the Lantus (Yay Yay Yay) . I wonder how long I will have to use it. I had discontinued it for a time, but got sugar readings back up above 150 which is too high, and which, oddly, makes me hungry. Its a strange syndrome. Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks for everything Sharon

Sharon, I wasn't on insulin pre-op and was waiting to see if someone else would chime in with an answer for you. Now that I am, maybe they will...lol. Anyway, it's going to take awhile for your body to adjust. You are at the stage right now where you are rapidly losing weight...and your body has to catch up to that idea. Each person's body is going to be different as to how it reacts. Also remember, there are alot of skinny people on insulin as well. The commercials has it down pretty good. Part of it is the BBQ ribs, but part of it could also be your Aunt Barbie. Given that heredity plays a large part of how our bodies react to things, you may end up on some form of insulin the rest of your life (I know, not the answer you were hoping to hear). Only time can tell. How much time? Shoot, only your body knows for sure and it ain't talking. Just keep a good journal of your readings & how many units you need. Your body will tell you & your doctor when/if it's time to reduce/eliminate your dosages. Congrats on being able to get rid of some of your scripts!! Sherri

i was not on insulin but i was on pills, which i had to quit and i have not taken one since surgery...now the couple of days following surgery i did have to have shots of insulin they said this happens alot after a surgery....now sometimes i think i get low sugar and i have to eat.....but i was told not so heck if i know....

Sharon My story is similar to you pre-surgery. I was taking Humalog 4 times a day (normally between 80-100 units, plus 150 units of Lantus at bed time. On top of that the Dr had me on three different oral diabetis medications. After surgery which for me was 15 months ago, I had to watch my blood sugars very close because of the reduction in food intake. With a couple of months I was off all the oral medications, off the humalog. I still take 30 units of Lantus at bedtime and that is it. My PCP thinks I may have to stay on the Lantus. Every once and awhile if my blood sugar in the morning is down below 75 I will drop back to 25 units of Lantus. I have read some information that tends to indicate that once you have been on insulin for a few years it may not be possible to get off it totally. I was a type II Insulin Dependent for 14 years and it may be that my pancreas will not produce enough to get by without a a little help. I just happy to only having to take one shot of 30 units or less at bedtime. Hopefully I have helped you, If not drop me a note anytime . Dan

Dan, thanks for the insight, and thanks to all *****sponded. I was on two oral medications pre-surgery and humalog, lantus and symlin, (another injectable hormone, but not insulin). They still had me on humalog sometime after surgery but I bottomed out one night (blood sugar was 44) and that was really kind of frightening, because I was alone, and because I couldn't eat any sugar to bring it back up without worsening the whole problem! Since then, no more humalog, but still at 40 units per night of Lantus. I'm so grateful to be off most of my meds that I suppose I can live with one injection per day if I have to....It was nice to hear from someone who was/is dealing with the same issues. On 40 of Lantus, by BS is usually between 85-90 in the morning. Without it (and I did try to go without it) I was getting readings of 172 during the day.....its strange to think I was somehow functioning on sugars of 250 fasting for so long before surgery. I feel much more clear-headed and a lot less tired. Thanks again everybody! Sharon