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Topic: RE: Hypoglycemic? I think so!
Excellent!! I've learned from those I know who have hypoglycemia, that eating protein and carbs together helps to stop that cycle of crashing, eating, crashing. As diabetics, we always know that carbs help us when we are in blood sugar trouble, but we forget that protein is very important as well.
I'm glad that you have been able to find something that works for you. As a Type 1.5 diabetic, part of my weight gain over the years was in struggling to exercise and keep my blood sugar in balance. I would get all ready to exercise, only to find out that my blood sugar wasn't high enough or that I had to eat to keep it out of danger. I never learned how to do that well in my 25 years as a diabetic, largely because I think there wasn't much emphasis put on skills to do that. I've gotten better and am committed to seeing it through, but there's nothing MORE frustrating than wanting to exercise, knowing you need to, and not being able to do it because of a blood sugar issue.
So, don't get too frustrated and keep working at it! It's working!
Terry
I'm glad that you have been able to find something that works for you. As a Type 1.5 diabetic, part of my weight gain over the years was in struggling to exercise and keep my blood sugar in balance. I would get all ready to exercise, only to find out that my blood sugar wasn't high enough or that I had to eat to keep it out of danger. I never learned how to do that well in my 25 years as a diabetic, largely because I think there wasn't much emphasis put on skills to do that. I've gotten better and am committed to seeing it through, but there's nothing MORE frustrating than wanting to exercise, knowing you need to, and not being able to do it because of a blood sugar issue.
So, don't get too frustrated and keep working at it! It's working!
Terry
Topic: RE: Hypoglycemic? I think so!
Thank you for your reply. I was given some advice yesterday, to eat an Extend bar before exercise. It actually worked well and I was able to walk for over 50 minutes at a quick pace. I still will be talking to my doctor tomorrow, but it sure made me feel better.
Amy
Amy
Topic: RE: Hypoglycemic? I think so!
Congrats on your success to date and condolences on your hypoglycemia....how frustrating! You said that you are off all meds, correct? So, the hypoglycemia is not related to what you might still be using (and don't need....)
You are right to discuss this with your medical team. I have certainly seen posts on this and other diabetes forums about chronic hypoglycemia after RNY and other WLS. I don't know that a cause is known, but I am sure you can find some strategies to try, in addition to the ones you are already doing.
How many carbs are in your pre-exercise snack? Perhaps you need to amp that up a little and combine it with some protein to try and give you a more even rise and drop in your blood sugar. I am a Type 1.5, so an insulin user, and I know that I need to exercise within 2 hours after a meal, cut my insulin in half and check myself before, just after, and for several hours after exercise.
Another thought - and I can see where this would feel counter-productive, but maybe you need to split up your exercise into 15 minute chunks and spread them out? Again, I wouldn't really want to do this. But, if your problem is coming up around 30 minutes, perhaps you need to end before you hit that mark.
I'm betting the answer is in the food composition before the exercise...please check back and let us know what the doctor says? This is how we all learn....
Best of luck - and again, congrats on your amazing success!
You are right to discuss this with your medical team. I have certainly seen posts on this and other diabetes forums about chronic hypoglycemia after RNY and other WLS. I don't know that a cause is known, but I am sure you can find some strategies to try, in addition to the ones you are already doing.
How many carbs are in your pre-exercise snack? Perhaps you need to amp that up a little and combine it with some protein to try and give you a more even rise and drop in your blood sugar. I am a Type 1.5, so an insulin user, and I know that I need to exercise within 2 hours after a meal, cut my insulin in half and check myself before, just after, and for several hours after exercise.
Another thought - and I can see where this would feel counter-productive, but maybe you need to split up your exercise into 15 minute chunks and spread them out? Again, I wouldn't really want to do this. But, if your problem is coming up around 30 minutes, perhaps you need to end before you hit that mark.
I'm betting the answer is in the food composition before the exercise...please check back and let us know what the doctor says? This is how we all learn....
Best of luck - and again, congrats on your amazing success!
Topic: Hypoglycemic? I think so!
Hi All, this is the first post that I've made to this forum...I am diabetic, had RNY on March 23rd 2012- and at the time had erratic but mostly high blood sugars. At my highest weight, I was 285 (in 2006 when I was diagnosed with type 2), and pre-op, 270lbs...It is now just over 4 months and I am at least 81 or a bit more down and off all of my diabetes meds. I have lost 15 pounds in the last month alone and so here is the issue. I was being good and walking on my treadmill at home. About a month ago, I started to experience low blood sugars as I was reaching the 25 minute mark. I was able to bounce back from them fairly quickly by getting off the machine and getting something to eat. So then, I started to eat before I went on...just before. It still happened. Then I got some glucose tablets so that I could take them during the exercise if I felt my sugar dropping. That worked for a while too. Then, the last time that I tried to walk, I prepared myself, had the glucose tabs at the ready, and at around the 20 minute mark, started to sweat profusely and got dizzy. I got off the treadmill, took a tablet - checked my sugars 3.4. It took me 4 glucose tabs to get the sugars moving.
Has this happened to anyone else with RNY? Is it ever going to stop? Might it be that I'm just losing very quickly right now, and my metabolism is screwing up my blood sugars?
Just so you know, I am going to see my doctor on Thursday...but I just thought that I'd ask to see if any of my WLS brothers or sisters have had a similar experience and what did you do to control it?
Thanks everyone! And sorry for the exceptionally long post.
Amy
Has this happened to anyone else with RNY? Is it ever going to stop? Might it be that I'm just losing very quickly right now, and my metabolism is screwing up my blood sugars?
Just so you know, I am going to see my doctor on Thursday...but I just thought that I'd ask to see if any of my WLS brothers or sisters have had a similar experience and what did you do to control it?
Thanks everyone! And sorry for the exceptionally long post.
Amy
Topic: RE: Transitioning to a pump
thanks for sharing your experience - this is great news. I don't feel fear about it - just a lot of questions. My diabetic educator is fabulous and very helpful, but I don't think he has really worked much at all with RNY grads. He met me after I'd lost 75 pounds, so in some ways, he doesn't totally have an appreciation for what I've been through that way. And, I just don't want to make a move that is going to make me gain any weight. Overall, though, good control is my goal. That is why I did the surgery in the first place!
I really appreciate your comments - that goes out to everyone. It sounds like Medtronic is one of the more common pumps. I have some reading to do on the different options. My CDE gave me some great summary sheets that give the pluses and minuses of each. There is one that does not have tubing - it is a little pod on the skin, but you need a remote with you to input any boluses. I wanted to check that one out a bit more too, because I liked the idea of it not being noticeable.
How is it to sleep with a pump? Do you have a continuous glucose monitor?
I really appreciate your comments - that goes out to everyone. It sounds like Medtronic is one of the more common pumps. I have some reading to do on the different options. My CDE gave me some great summary sheets that give the pluses and minuses of each. There is one that does not have tubing - it is a little pod on the skin, but you need a remote with you to input any boluses. I wanted to check that one out a bit more too, because I liked the idea of it not being noticeable.
How is it to sleep with a pump? Do you have a continuous glucose monitor?
Topic: RE: Won't Operate due to A1C levels- Advice Needed!
I've been a type 1 diabetic for 23 years. On the insulin pump for 10 years. My a1c ran about a 9 to 10 for most of those years. I too was told I had to wait until I got my a1c below an 8 before they would do my rny. It took me about 7 months working closely with a diabetic nutritionist and I finally did it. I did it along with the nutrition visits that my insurance required for the rny surgery. So it was a win-win situation for me. It wasn't easy, but well worth it!! Good Luck!!
Topic: RE: Transitioning to a pump
I'm on the Medtronic Paradigm pump. It saved my life!! I was on 4 shots a day and still had lousy control. So about 10 years ago, I made the transition. Last June I had the RNY. I had to get my A1c below an 8. I did it with the help of diabetic nutritionists. I have lost over 145 pounds in a year and my A1C is 6.8! The pump gives you so much freedom and flexibility. At first, it seems overwhelming--so much information, but it is so worth it. You can call Medtronic and ask them to check out your insurance. They will even send you a pump to just try out. They handle everything!! Don't be afraid. You can always say no. Good Luck!!
Topic: RE: pre-op sleeve type 2 pump user
I am now 15 days post sleeve.
I put myself back on the pump about 4 days post-op. My basal rate was 0.9/hr
Was not bolusing with my miniscule amount of carbs. My bg's were pretty good I thought. My endo called and told me to go back on the levemir, 10 units each night. And to "watch my diet" and to "vigorously excerise 40 min a day. LOL I am barely eating 400-500 calories a day, 50-70 g protein and less than 40 g carb. I am walking 1.5-2 miles a day, not strolling. I do not believe it is covering me enough. I do want to try this, I would like to think I can come off insulin, but it does not appear to be the case. I am confused why she took me off the pump and cut my insulin in half. I am not on metformin any more and would not like to go back on it, ever. It's crazy but I miss the control the pump gave me with my sugars. I just started with the new endo, but I would like an explanation as to why no pump. I built up antibodies against Lantus, it stopped working at all, so that's why I went on the pump in the first place. So now I have over a grand invested in pump supplies and insulin that I am not using. Again, I would like to be off all insulin, if I continue to lose at the rate I am, I'll be at goal in 10-12 weeks. But there are no guarantees of complete reversal of my diabetes. Sorry for the rambling, but I guess I need to call the endo back and get answers to my concerns. Thanks for listening. Denise
I put myself back on the pump about 4 days post-op. My basal rate was 0.9/hr
Was not bolusing with my miniscule amount of carbs. My bg's were pretty good I thought. My endo called and told me to go back on the levemir, 10 units each night. And to "watch my diet" and to "vigorously excerise 40 min a day. LOL I am barely eating 400-500 calories a day, 50-70 g protein and less than 40 g carb. I am walking 1.5-2 miles a day, not strolling. I do not believe it is covering me enough. I do want to try this, I would like to think I can come off insulin, but it does not appear to be the case. I am confused why she took me off the pump and cut my insulin in half. I am not on metformin any more and would not like to go back on it, ever. It's crazy but I miss the control the pump gave me with my sugars. I just started with the new endo, but I would like an explanation as to why no pump. I built up antibodies against Lantus, it stopped working at all, so that's why I went on the pump in the first place. So now I have over a grand invested in pump supplies and insulin that I am not using. Again, I would like to be off all insulin, if I continue to lose at the rate I am, I'll be at goal in 10-12 weeks. But there are no guarantees of complete reversal of my diabetes. Sorry for the rambling, but I guess I need to call the endo back and get answers to my concerns. Thanks for listening. Denise
Topic: RE: Transitioning to a pump
Ladies - thank you all for your advice and comments. They are very reassuring!!
My next step is to go through my pump choices and then start the process. I'm sure I will have lots of questions as I make the transition, and will likely call on you all again for works of advice and reassurance. Thank you - truly!
My next step is to go through my pump choices and then start the process. I'm sure I will have lots of questions as I make the transition, and will likely call on you all again for works of advice and reassurance. Thank you - truly!
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