Low Blood Sugar????

HELP! I've been having episodes of what I think is low blood suger.  Shaking, sweating, dizziness....about 1 hr after I eat.   Doesn't always occur, just once in awhile. This morning I had SF yogurt, plus 4 strawberries and 1/4 cup lowfat low sugar granola. I am 17 months out and this seems to be getting worse. I have a call into the DR, but I wondered if anyone else experienced this? Thanks! Cindy

Boy yes!  I do have this problem.  My pcp has me checking my blood sugars on a regular basis to try to keep track of things.  My whole family - extended (mom, grandma, great grandma, etc) have Type II diabetes and no weight problems, so it's always been a concern for me.  Funny thing for me is that I had this problem before WLS and was told I could possibly have Reactive Hypoglycemia.  Now, after WLS, and after my PCP talked to my surgeon, they've decided it's Dumping Syndrome.  An excellent post by DX long ago explained both early dumping and late dumping.  It was very informative.  So I do believe that I have late dumping syndrome.  When I check my sugars, if I eat ANY carbs, my sugars will go up to close, if not over 300.  Then a while later I'll drop.  I have dropped into the 30's before, many many times, and have lost conciousness also.  PCP says he doesn't want to put me on insulin because of the extreme lows.  He's afraid I'll go into shock.  So I just have to watch very carefully what I eat, or keep Orange Juice on hand.   So, get it checked out, make sure all docs are communicating with each other, and keep juice on hand.  It really is the fastest way to get over that feeling.  It works in just minutes, if that is what's going on. GOOD LUCK! and Keep us posted.  I'm so curious as to what others experience with this, and what their docs say.  It's a scary thing.

I react to carbs the same way that you do.  So far have not passed out, but had a close call this last week.  I am now carrying glucose tabs with me along with my protein bar for emergencies.  I posted some links in a separate answer on this thread that you might find interesting and possibly helpful.

Thank-you so much for your reply Kimberly.  I will search for the late dumping article.  Maybe that is what is happening???? Hugs- Cindy

Hypoglycemic episodes are not uncommon for those of us with gastric bypass.  Here is a link to some articles that might be of  help:  http://www.hms.harvard.edu/news/pressreleases/jos/1005glucos e.html

http://www.fred.net/slowup/hcauses.txt  http://www.surgery.uiowa.edu/ibsr/wwinter05.htm http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/353/3/249 Try googling for  Nesidioblastosis Now, I will say that if I had that breakfast I would crash.  I HAVE TO HAVE a plenty of protein with my carbs or I crash.  On rare occasion, I will crash an hour after a protein shake and I am not quite sure why at this point except to think that perhaps some carbs pre-shake are the culprit. 

Thank-you so much Sandy.  I will read these and hopefully figure out how to avoid them!   I thought my breakfast was healthy......but evidently I am still learning what I can/cannot tolerate.  Looking back, I usually have protein and this doesn't happen when I eat that. Hugs- Cindy

Thanks so much for the info.  Very interesting reading.  It is so important for us to stay on top of our medical issues because so many PCP's are just not familiar enough with our issues.  UGH!  Anway, thanks again!

i was doing that all the time and it was to many carbs for my body to handle at one time, and my nutritionist did say it was late dumping cause it happens 1 to 2 hours after i eat and yes my sugar lvl does bottom out.the best thing to do is cut more carbs out. it helped me.

I'm having the same issue, Cindy..........I guess sometimes we're so far into the insulin resistance stage that when we drastically change what we eat, our body goes wacky until it balances out again, at least that's what my primary is telling me.  meanwhile I check my blood sugars several times a day and limit all my intake (most of the time, still struggling with it) to only protein, natural low glycemic index carbs and little dairy in the way of cheese.  It's a fine balance I guess. Carol J

  This is a very serious side complication of RNY. It is reactive hypoglycemia. The Mayo Clinic is the best place to be tested and treated because they have done and are doing a study about this. People can have their pancreas go nuts after RNY, and have either huge islets or too many islets all making too much insulin in reaction to foods you eat, sometimes not even carbs! There is a medication, ask your doctor to research this, but some people end up with part or all of their pancreas removed. Blood glucose levels below 40 are not compatible with life. You need to be sure and have a protein and complex carb snack before bed and possibly set your clock to test your glucose levels around 2-3 AM. If your levels are below 50 or so, ( your doctor may give you a different target number like 55 or 45) you should treat it with a tiny amount of OJ or a small hard candy followed by a protein snack. Or peanut butter on a whole grain cracker. Good luck with this and please follow up on it. Sp many people 1 1/2 to 2 years out have posted about having this issue. And many of them were NOT diabetics before surgery