I generally have issues when I haven't eaten in a couple hours too. But, I can have issues sooner if the last thing I ate was carbs.
I started having issues at almost exactly 1 year out from surgery. It was happening 3 times a week or so. I would eat breakfast, lunch & afternoon snack and then I would have an episode on my way home from work. One time I ran to Walmart after work and had an episode there. It got really bad. I was sweating, weak, & shaking then all of a sudden I started seeing stars like I was going to pass out. I wasn't able to test, but I'm sure I was down to about 50. I made it to the car and drank some sugared soda that I bought on the way out. I sat in the car for a little while until I felt better. Not good. I haven't had one that bad in awhile because as soon as I start to feel the symptoms (usually the shaky hands for me) I get something in me right away and head it off. No, I have never had one while I was having a snack. Although I'm not sure peanuts would help me when my sugars are low to bring it up. That may be why you had an episode while you were snacking. And yes, I get VERY exhausted afterward. I was just thinking that it isn't happening as often as it was, but I realized it is, I'm just catching it sooner. One thing I would say is just be patient after you take your glucose to give it time to work before taking more. Taking too much will reek havoc with your surgery too. I find that if I'm not patient and eat or drink more, when I recover from the low blood sugar, then I'm sick from having too much sugar!
Tammy

Yes I have read an article about that. I have recently been diagnosised with hypoglycemia, and I came across it as I googled for info.  I think about six cases were found in a study of >1000 WLS patients. The article didn't go into great detail re: symptoms, causes, etc.

I have a lot to learn about Hypoglycemia. I feel confused about so many things. For example, after dinner the other night, I went to a baseball game and I was snacking on peanuts (usually episodes happen when I've gone without food for a couple of hours. But I was snacking and it happened anyway. A paramedic tested and my glucose was 52 - I felt awful - disturbed vision, dizzy, shakey, numbness in my tongue, teeth, arms and hands. I took a tube of glucose and it went to 70. I drank some lemonade up to 140. I was exhausted afterwards.

Is this what you experience?

That why they always say YMMV   your mileage may vary.

Sorry that things are such a struggle for you.  I know there are days I deal with that too.  Good Luck

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply.  I do know what you have said, with one exception:  When my sugar is high, I have absolutely no appetite.  It is when I am on insulin and my sugars return to normal that I fight the constant hunger.  It has been that way since I first started insulin 15 years ago.  I am working a bit with lower glycemic carbs, but I have not noticed any difference.  Still struggling, but I know I will manage this eventually.

Thanks again for your sound advice!

Driving under the influence of poor blood sugar control, diabetes and reactive hypoglycemia.

I've nevereverever even had diabetes, but dealing with reactive hypoglycemia is sometimes like having diabetes, some of the crappy parts.

From the Mayo Clinic, an entry regarding:

Driving with diabetes

I am nearly ready to start driving again, (I was on a six month wait for seizure control) but I am determined to MAKE FOR DAMN SURE my blood sugars (in addition to my brain explosions) are controlled before I get behind that wheel with my kids.  Most of the time, I cannot predict a hypoglycemic event, but I must be prepared.  I could very easily become dangerously hypoglycemic at any moment, and lose control of a car (or a lawn mower for that matter!) so trying to avoid a low is imperative. 

I've been driving during a 30 mg. blood glucose level.  That's really safe, no?  o_O  In fact medical professionals have told me that my blood sugar levels were not 'compatible with the living.'  Nice to hear while you're sitting having your blood drawn!

NO, IT IS NOT OKAY.  YOU CAN KILL PEOPLE, AND YOURSELF, DRIVING WHILST UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SCREWED UP BLOOD SUGAR.  DON'T DO IT. 

If you're a hypo like me, you must consider yourself a 'drunk' - (carb drunk perhaps?) - and TEST YOSELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YOSELF.  (I know.)  I have heard/read too many of  'us' (post WLS hypos) driving while hypoglycemic, and they're all, "Oh well."

Too high or too low blood sugar levels are dangerous when you're behind the wheel of a car. Monitoring your blood sugar is important if you're the driver. Stress, time changes, and changes in your eating and sleeping schedule can affect your blood sugar level, so it's best to test more frequently when driving with diabetes.

Hypoglycemia is an abnormally low blood sugar level typically less than 70 milligrams per deciliter or 3.9 millimoles per liter. Early symptoms of low glucose include shakiness, dizziness, hunger, headache, lightheadedness, moodiness, pallor, and confusion. As blood glucose levels continue to drop, loss of consciousness and seizures may result. Some people aren't aware that their blood glucose is dropping. This is a condition known as hypoglycemia unawareness.

Hyperglycemia is an abnormally high blood sugar level of 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L) or greater. Symptoms of hyperglycemia that you may notice while driving include blurred vision, fatigue, hunger, excessive thirst, and frequent urination. Symptoms and effects of hyperglycemia may not be noticeable until blood sugars are above 250 mg/dL (13.9 mmol/L).

If your blood sugar is too low or too high you may not be able to focus on driving or control your car.

Some tips for driving with diabetes:

• Always test your blood sugar before driving.
• If the value is below 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) don't drive. Eat and retest and drive when blood sugar is above 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L).  (In this case, I would NEVER drive.  I am typically 70-90 all day long until I am hypo.  So, I think this number can be a bit off.)
• Follow rule of 15 — treat blood sugar below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) with 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate — and retest in 15 minutes. Test and retreat every 15 minutes until blood glucose is up in goal range.
• Always carry a source of carbohydrate in your car.
• Test blood sugar every two hours when driving long distances.
• Don't drive with impaired vision.
• Wear a diabetes medical ID.



 

• Insulin and some medications can cause low blood sugar. Test your blood sugar before you drive and don't drive if your blood sugar is too low. Check with your health care team as to how often you should check during the drive.
• Don't miss or delay a snack (depends on your diabetes medication program).
• It's never OK to drive with a low blood sugar. Stop the car if you experience symptoms of hypoglycemia. Check your blood sugar. Treat with fast-acting sugar tablets, juice, regular soda, or hard candy. Wait 15 minutes. Test and treat again as needed. Do not drive until your blood sugar level has reached your blood glucose range. You should eat a more substantial meal containing protein as soon as possible.
• I add:  If you have severe, continual problems with hypoglycemia, it may benefit you to have a Continuous Glucose Monitoring System.  (I have one, it's going back in this week.)  It's a gadget that looks like an insulin pump, tha****ches your sugar 24/7, and can be useful to predict trending sugar levels and AVOID lows.

 

Supplies to take with you:

• Glucose meter
• Snacks (in case meals are delayed), a fast-acting sugar such as glucose tablets, juice, regular soda, or hard candy.  (I recommend glucose GEL, because I have found when I am super low, I cannot deal with the chew-chew-chewing or sucking on candy, I need INSTANT relief.)
• I add for the hypos:  a carb/protein/fat combo to back up the glucose/sugar to maintain your sugar level afterwards  (Peanut Butter cracker pack)

Overall - it's about avoiding a problem and remembering that you must take extra care in keeping yourself and others SAFE.

 

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