hypoglycemia and a1c

I recently was screened for diabetes with a questionaire. My gastric bypass surgery was over a decade ago. Since the questionaire indicated that I was at high risk for diabetes I agreed to lab work A1C resulting in 6.1  The nurse indicated that the high range was 5.5 and diabetic lower range was 6.5. Follow up with a glucose tolerance test was scheduled. Shockingly my blood glucose level 2 hours after drinking the glucose was 22. Before finding out the result I was told that I could go home and they would call me with the result. When the nurse called, she was checking to see if I was alright and said that most people with a glucose level of 22 would be unconscious. I had driven myself home and was alone. So, I just tried to eat protein and complex carbs until I felt better. I realize the danger that I was in and am concerned because I feel the same way and worse frequently. I am scheduled to see the same doctor in a few days. I am thinking that perhaps I should not have been tested since I have had gastric surgery. Is this common in those that have had gastric surgery or an indication that something else is wrong?
 

Shortly after my RNY I had episodes of having seizures and after different testing and such the conclusion they came to was severe hypoglycemia (a.k.a reactive hypoglycemia) .. My readings tend to go to the 20's and 30's if I'm not careful .. I do carry a diabetic meter and test only when I feel "funny" .. But I have learned to know when I'm close to being "in danger" and I carry (literally) in my pockets and purse and car and at work and anywhere else I can think of glucose tablets .. You can buy them at Walmart and sometimes I have to take 2 or so before I start to feel "normal" .. I'm not a medical person but I have experienced this same thing since my RNY in 2003 .. with a total of approx 8 seizures but luckily have not had one for about 2 years or so now .. But everyone who knows me is aware of this situation so if for some reason I tend to not be acting right - stubborn, or maybe not paying attention - they will tell me to either check my sugars or take a tablet .. As crazy as it sounds just eating a taco will make my sugars drop .. I don't dump but I do have a significant drop in my blood sugars if I eat anything with sugar in it, as well - total opposite of a diabetic .. I have heard more people having this after having gastric surgery .. Good luck and hope you're able to decipher what your triggers are for it so you don't continue with the lows .. Again I am not a medical person but only telling you my experience with this issue ..

I  am 7 1/2  years  out  after Gastric bypass and  have  had terrible  heads and seizures off  and  on for  over  2  years .. Have  seen specialists and  was put  on  meds to  prevent  seizers and pain meds to take for  my head  aches... Never once was low  blood  sugar explored ...The  last  two  months I  have missed  work because of  pure  exhaustion and  head  aches  coming  and going ... Went  to  the  primary  Dr and  she  did  a  physical and I  requested to have  my  blood sugar  checked  well it  just  so  happened  it  registed 38 in the  office .. So  needless  to  say  she  new  of  a  company  that  did  a device  under  the  skin  that  you  wore that  recorded  your  blood sugar  every  5  minutes .. I  wore  this for  4  days  showed  most  night  in  the  30's and  40's  one reached above  100 one  time day  time  it  was  like  a  yo yo  30 to  70 ... After  all this  Dr  says I  don't  know  what  to  do  for  you ...  So  I   called  my   Gastric bypass  surgeons office  and  I see  them  this  week .. I  have  searched  the  internet and there  are  so many  studies on Low  Blood  Sugar after Gastric  Bypass .. I  am also  seeing  a Endocrinologist very  soon takes so  long  to  get  in ..  After  reading  I  do  believe  my  neurologist miss  diagnosed me over  2  years ago ..The seizures  and  head aches all  go  with  the  phase  2  of  Hyperglycemia ... I  just  encourage  any  one  to make  sure  you follow up if  you are  having  this issue  ..    

There is Reactive Hypoglycemia (RH) - and just hypoglycemia.  They are different. The first one - happens as a reaction to a meal or a snack that has too many carbs - sugars. Even if those are eaten with fat and proteins - the body my react to a spike in blood sugar and make too much insulin - and after 1-2 hrs - the blood sugar will drop. That is a very common for people who had gastric bypass.  

The way to avoid that is to eat proteins first - then fat then some complex carbs, like veggies.  Some people are more sensitive tahn others. 

i.e. one person can eat potaoes as long as she/he eats some proteins and fat with that.For Others (like me ) the potatoes turns into a pure sugar and my body produces too much insulin, so no matter how much meat and veggies I have with the potatoes - my BS will drop almost any time if I have more than 1 tsp of potatoes. (or rice, or cake, or bread... you get the picture..)

And there is the hypoglycemia... low blood sugar while not eating for more than 3-4 hrs. ... regardless ... that may happen independently from RH or together with that. 

When RH or H happens often - the body runs out of cortisol and just stop reacting... 

My BS needs to be in 40's or 30's before I know something is not right.