How long does it take

How long did it take for your blood sugar levels to normalize after surgery.  I had RNY on August 7th.  When I left the hospital I was okay, but now my bs is back to 10.8 (Canadian - which I believe is about 194 American).  I'm in tears this morning.  The whole reason for going through this was to put the diabetes into remission.  Am I being impatient?  Will it happen eventually?  How long does it take?
Thanks,
L.

I don't know the answer to your question, but I would like to know.  I had my surgery on 7-23, and for the first couple of weeks my fasting blood sugars were 90's and 100's (American, sorry I can't translate into Canadian for you!).  Yesterday they were 154 and I am too depressed to take it today.  I only talked myself into this deal because of the diabetes and I am so afraid I will be one of the few it doesn't work for!  My thinking is that, if nothing else, as soon as the weight comes off, that should help with the diabetes.  I'll let you know how I do if you keep me up on your end, okay?
Diana

Hi Diana.  We're in the same boat.  Before going through surgery, I was on Metformin, Actos, Amaryl (and that was after trying every other diabetic drug, including insulin).  When I left the hospital I was on no meds at all.  Mind you, that had given me insulin in the hospital.  When I first took my blood sugar and realized it was 9.6 (172.8) I burst into tears and didn't take it again for a couple of days.  Then that morning I was 10.9 (196.2) and I contacted the surgeon.  He told me to take 500 mg of Metformin per day and not to get discouraged because it sometimes takes a while.  I am trying to stay positive and think that if the weight comes off, the sugars should level off.  Here's hoping.
L.

Pre surgery mine was 11 (209), a week after leaving hospital (and all the glucose drips!) it was down to 8 (152), second week home down to 7, now its steady fasting at 5.5 (105) and my first HbA1c was 4.3.

Its mostly the DS, but also possibly because I'm having to eat low carb - have you tried that and seen if it makes a difference (I can never remember the RNY rules and what you're allowed to eat, sorry). Even pre-op the Atkins diet would lower my bs, and it might help while your body's hopefully adjusting

Sal

Wow - you're doing really well.  Hopefully I'll be there someday.

RNY rules calls for sugar free, fat free everything, basically.  The first week, it was just the atkins shakes.  Now I'm allowed to have about a tablespoon of fat free cottage cheese, as well as my 3 ounces of atkins shakes.  So, we know it's not the carbs.  Hopefully my body will adjust soon.  The doc said not to get discouraged.  I'm trying to be positive, but it's really hard since this is why I had WLS in the first place.

Thanks for responding. 
L.

Don't get too discouraged, L. It can sometimes take a while, and that depends on several factors - how long you were diabetic before surgery, how well-controlled your diabetes was before surgery, your own physiology, and quite frankly, the luck of the draw. You are still very early out. Take your meds as prescribed and keep alert for signs of hypoglycemia as you lose weight, since your dosage requirement will in all likelihood reduce dramatically (and hopefully be eliminated) within the next few months.

(For everyone: the conversion factor between U.S. and European/Canadian blood glucose measurements is 18 - multiply European/Canadian by 18, divide U.S. by 18.)

Are you type I, type II? My dau. is both, and tho sooooo much better, still has to be very careful about carbs and insulin doses.

I didn't realize you could be both.  I thought either your pancreas was working or it was not (in which case you would be type I)
I have decided not to panic yet and just keep working at trying to be healthy.  Hopefully, I will get where I want to be and be med-free.
Thanks,
L.

While you willimprove you may never be med free.  It depends on alot of factors.  How long have you been diabetic, are you type I or type II?

For me it was a giant improvement but I still have to take insulin (both lantus and humalog) and metformine every day.

But instead of 120 U a day of insulin I take 20 and I don't have to take Actos anymore.

So it wil get better.  Your diet and excersise will play a big part.  But RNY is no magic pill.  It's just a tool you can use to get healthier.

Best of luck and work hard. It will improve.

Thanks Ronna.  I think I'll print this and put it on my wall.
Most Canadian doctors believe that when you are diagnosed at the age of 25, you're an adult and therefore type II.  So, I am type II who was taking 120 units of insulin (both long and rapid) in 5 shots daily; 1 prandase, 5 metformin; 1 actos, 1 amaryl and 2 lipitor for prevention.  I guess I've seen a big improvement because I am now taking 2 metformin plus vitamins.  This morning I was down to 9.9 (178) which is the lowest I have ever been (well, except for hypoglycemic incidents).  I'm happy to be seeing a change here, because usually, as the doc gives me more meds, I go down for a week or two and start inching back up until I hit 12 (216).  So my hope has started.
L.