Type 1 Diabetes with a Pump and RNY

I am tyring to find out about RNY with an Insulin Pump (type 1 diabetic) and how low blood sugars are handled. Currently have a leaking Lap Band and need a Revision. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Sorry to hear about your leaking band.

Since you're considering revision, I'd urge you to look at the duodenal switch as well as the RNY. For me, one of the big selling features, as it were, of the DS was that there is no dumping. You can down glucose tabs or drink juice or whatever you need to treat with, and it's not a big deal. Well, treating lows does impact your carb count for the day, but nothing more serious than that. With an RNY, there's a 30 to 40% chance you could dump on the sugar necessary to treat. From what I hear, dumping is very unpleasant, and similar in feeling to a really, really bad low blood sugar. That fact really turned me off the RNY, since as a Type 1 I'm always going to be at risk of low blood sugar.

I also wear an insulin pump. I have been able to lower my basal rate to about a third of what it was before surgery. My bolus ratios have also improved quite a bit. I used to use a 5:1 carb to insulin ratio, now I'm at 15:1 or even less.

Please feel free to PM me if you have questions about Type 1 and the DS. For more general research about the DS, check out www.dsfacts.com or www.duodenalswitch.com.

I've been a Type I diabetic for 15 years, on a pump for the last 9.
I had RNY on 11/4/09. I have gone down 84 lbs all ready. Low blood sugars are a big issue. I am lucky though and have no problem with glucose tablets, or juice. I have even had to resort to a sugar soda once. I have yet to dump at all on anything. Except for what I need to treat a low blood sugar, I really steer away from anything I think might make me dump.
I just wanted to weigh in with my experience so far. Good luck to you.

Thanks for the information. Sounds like you have had much success! You have been so lucky to avoid dumping. Continued success on your journey!

I'm 7mos post op, and been on the pump for 12 years. When I was newly post op I changed my target sugar range to be higher than I am now. SSay 150 vs 100, that helped me avoid the the lows considerably when iw as first out, and really not able to handle anything to eat much.


i was using 130-140 TDD pre RNY and now I use about 40-to 45 TDD - type 1 diabetic for almost 25 years (one month from today)
I do use the glucose tabs, sometimes the liquid glucose bottles if really low (was 56 the other day) Also milk gets into the system fast, and works great to bring up low blood sugars and sometimes for an added boost will add some NSA carnation instant breakfast. A little more protein and a little more carb to raise sugars as needed.

I have not dumped on sugar - and you do what you have to.

Leakage at the connection from the stomach and small intestine, causing an infection called peritonitis. This is an example of RNY risk, you should consult your doctor about it. Revision may be possible.

Are you posting just for the sake of seeing your posts show up? I don't know if you post on other forums, but here on the diabetes forum, many of your posts are not only untimely (digging up threads from months or a year or more ago) or unhelpful in that they don't really pertain to the original topic.

I am a Type 1 Daibetic since the age of 12. (Currently 34) I have been on a pump for the last 9 years. I am having RNY in 2 months and at the last visit to my NUT she gave me a sample of a glucose gel called "Gluco Burst" its a fast acting glucose gel for hypo reactions. She said taht because it is only 15 grams of sugar, she finds that it is easier on her diabetic BS patients than drinking some juice or candy. Also becasue it's a gel it absorbs into the thin skin in your mouth rather than having to swallow it if you don't want to. Anyway that is what I was told. You could try it

Good Luck to you!

How have you type 1's reached your goals? How many carbs are you taking in a day? I'm not happy with my weight loss and looking for new ideas. I'm having trouble finding advice from my surgeon or nut with this combination of a sleeve and being a type 1.

Hi Nancy, I have Type 1 and a pump.  I am scheduled for the gastic sleeve in two weeks.  Have you had any issues with severe lows?  Could a glucose shot be a help to have on hand instead of ingesting sugar?