??? for Diabetics...

I have no knowledge on Diabetes but I just wanted to say HOLY MOLY!!  CONGRATS!!!  Gotta love WLS!!!!

I was diagnosed T2 in 1999 too!!!  Prior to surgery I was pumping insulin, but since the day of surgery my PCP took me off of it.  I just recently started taking a very small dosage of oral med as my morning numbers were always around the 140 mark.  Now they are in the 70-80 range.  I've had some extremely low numbers in the last couple of years (can we say 23?) mixed with all the highs - which is why I went on a pump.  But it is SOOOOO nice to be insulin free now :)

Did you also get really hot and sweaty along with the shakes?  That's what usually happens to me.  And I almost always know I'm going low when I start seeing spots of white light when I close my eyes.  Now that my numbers are lower, my body is adjusting to that "feeling" and I don't get the shakes or whatnot in the 60s. You might need to adjust your carb/insulin ratio now that you've lost so much weight.  Try decreasing your Humalog a little bit and keep checking your blood sugars both before and after meals. With any luck - your PCP will take you off insulin altogether :)

No hot & sweaty here - I'm so flippin' COLD lately, I'd almost welcome that!  But no.. I haven't really had issues with low blood sugars.  The 87 I had was during my sleep study, and they had to get me some juice to get rid of the shakes.  I'd LOVE to be able to hang up the insulin!!  Hopefully my PCP will call yet today before I leave work and have some changes in mind.  I just pray that someday I'll be like Callie and have the Diabetes removed from my medical records!  I don't suppose it's actually REMOVED, but to go on record as saying I no longer have it?  THAT would be a HUGE BLESSING!!!

My endocrinologist did actually remove the diagnosis off my chart. I actually had the RNY on the advice of my endocrinologist, Dr. Doeden.  He says that he feels that the RNY is a cure for type II Diabetes, because the numbers tend to improve immediately....even before any significant weight loss. I love my weight loss.......but knowing that I don't have my diabetes anymore is the best part of my WLS. Diabetes can do so much damage to the human body.

Hi Darla, I am a type one for 32 yrs on a insulin pump, i sat next to you at Coffee on Saturday, i think you will be off the meds soon, just make sure to be careful when you eat or snack not to take to much if any insulin for now, and yes, test 1-2 hours after you eat, this information will be very helpful to your PCP.  I was on about 75 units and now am on about 25 or so.  Great A1C # !!!!!   mine was 7.7 last time, i am working on getting it back in the 6's.  The lows can be scary, juice works good for me.  

take care of yourself!  Keep us posted on the meds.

Kimmie D 

Hi Darla. I haven't had surgery yet, but both my gp and my endo have recommended it.  I was diagnosed with type 2 in 1998.  I've managed to stay off insulin and have it somewhat under control with meds.  My endo just added a second med and I'm having some trouble getting used to it.  I know I NEED to eat, or my bs goes too low -- for me.  A couple days ago I had my lowest at 58.  A year ago, I could tell I was low at between 85-100.  Even though 85-100 is normal, my body is so used to high blood sugars, it reacts terribly to "normal."  I get shakey, a little disoriented and clammy. Anyway, I fully expect to be off all my meds: diabetes, high bp and high cholesterol, after surgery.  My endo is young and so cute.  He stumbled a bit when he wanted to call the surgery a "cure" for type 2, but I think that's the general opinion.  As close to a "cure" as you can get, anyway. Well, talk to your doc.  I'm guessing he/she will greatly adjust your meds, probably taking you off everything, even if that's a starting point to see what happens with your "new" body. Good Luck! Kathy

Your insulin story sounds a lot like mine. I was taking 125 units of lantus and over 50 of humalog before surgery. I am now taking 25 lantus and about 5-10 of humalog. I am having some low sugars, but none severe since I was in the hospital after surgery. I think I may always take some insulin but the amounts will be much less than before.

I didn't get a chance to update before I left work for PNC yesterday -  My doc told me to cut my Lantus down to 12 units a night (from 92 pre-op?  YEE HAW!!!)  And he told me to skip Humalog for now, but as many of you suggested, to test before and 2 hours after eating.  If I still seem to need a bit, to reduce my sliding scale to 2 units per carb serving.  I had been on 4 units per carb serving.  And he did suggest that I just might be insulin free before my 1 year surgiversary!  Holy buckets, would THAT BE AWESOME!!!! Thanks, everybody.  You helped calm me down when I was mildly freaked out!