Question:
After RNY is low blood sugar side effect?

Seems everyone is experiencing low blood sugar after wls. Is this more severe with former diabetcis?    — Toby2 (posted on May 26, 2008)

May 26, 2008
I had Lap Band and had low blood sugars. (I am a diabetic) the doctor decreased my insulin 50% and now after 6 six weeks I am on oral medicine right now and with more weight loss probably off of it altogether.
   — dyates2948

May 26, 2008
To answer your question: No. It is not more severe with diabetics than with non-diabetics. Diabetics just tend to NOTICE it faster because we keep TRACK of our blood sugars on a regular basis. Non-diabetics usually have to WAIT to get their problem diagnosed by the DOCTOR. The difference is also more DRAMATIC in diabetics because we often have blood sugar levels that are WAY out of normal range to begin with so a drop from THREE HUNDRED points to SIXTY points is much more dramatic than a drop from the typical 70 to 120 point range. The BEST way to combat low blood sugar is to eat several SMALL meals a day instead of the TRADITIONAL 3 LARGE meals of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My nutritionist recommended 5 to 6 meals a day with about 15 grams of protein and 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrates in each meal. I do NOT recommend that you follow the SAME pattern. I DO HIGHLY recommend that you consult a nutritionist for YOURSELF to see what he or she would recommend FOR YOU. Each person will have different requirements for different goals. At the moment, I am trying to lose weight. At the end of a year or so, when I have REACHED my goal weight, we will have to re-evaluate my dietary requirements and CHANGE my diet. If I do any heavy exercise, I need to be sure that I consume EXTRA calories BEFORE AND AFTER the workout to assure that I do not CRASH! I CANNOT eat enough food at one time to make certain that I do not have a drop in blood sugar from over exertion. If I am required to work hard for long periods of time (all day) then I need to eat fruit ALL DAY to keep up my energy. I CANNOT eat sugar because I am a freak of nature and I am allergic to it. I would not recommend it anyway since it has a tendency to go into the blood stream too quickly and then cause the pancreas to over produce insulin which then causes the blood sugar to drop too low. This causes a cycle of highs and lows as you keep taking the sugar or sugar laced foods to feel better and the body keeps over producing insulin and packing the sugar away as FAT instead of USING it as ENERGY. The natural fructose in the fruit is LOCKED in the fruit and takes TIME to be digested. This acts like a time released capsule for the fructose and allows it to be released over an extended period of time instead of all at once like the sugar. Even in the sugar laced foods, the sugar is too free and it rushes into the blood stream too quickly. It is not locked into the cellular structure of the food. I must inform you that I am NOT a medical professional but I am merely a Weight Loss Patient who has done some research. I am NOT an expert in this kind of stuff. I just happen to know about this because I am a diabetic and have done some research. My research also happened to dovetail nicely with the Weight Loss Research that I have done. I hope this helps, Hugh
   — hubarlow

May 26, 2008
I had low blood sugar as a teen and young adult. I was told when it happen just drink a coke and have a candy bar, so I at 4-5 cokes a day with 4-5 candy bars. No wonder I became a type two dibetic. I expected after being a diabetic for 25 years, if I got rid of it the low blood sugar would return and it did. I am happy not to have diabities any longer, and I take three sensable meals a day. If I see that my blood sugar is running below 90, I take about 4 ounces of fresh fruit to bring me up to 110. I don't take orange juice as that will should it up. I used a meter for 25 years so I don't mind check it regulary during the day to make sure that I am staying balance, but don't over-react. It will not help the issue, just make it worse. As far as I know, I do not hear others in my support group complain about low blood sugar. If you were hypo-glisemic then you might get low blood sugar again. Better than diabities that will kill you with side effects. Best of success to you.
   — William (Bill) wmil

May 27, 2008
I heard (I did not research the validity of this) that diabetics often become reverse diabetic in the form of hypoglycemia. I was diabetic and have not... I also heard that it happens because of the small amount of food we eat after any WLS...That is why MANY doctors and nutrutionists prefer us to eat 6 small meals a day to keep our sugars regulated. It is the healthier way to eat in my humble opinion. I have had much success eating this way for 4 1/2 years post op as recommended by a NUT. I eat less and keep my pouch amount small. I don't over eat and make certain I do eat something every 3 hours...Even if it's just an ounce of almonds or a 1/2 C of yogurt, cheese stick or small protein and or fruit. Many of the people I know with hypoglycemia have it under control eating this way...some however can no longer drive a car because it is so severe. I have had two low sugar days that I know of over the last 4 years. Otherwise, I'm doing great and no more diabetes either.
   — .Anita R.

May 28, 2008
I was a diabetic with low sugar tendencies but I have not had a problem with this since my surgery. Actually my levels are fine and I was taken off all my meds. If you are spacing your meals correctly and I use milk to drink my vitamin shake and protein shak inbetween my meals I find I don't have a problem (I had a problem with low tendencies before I was diagnosed).
   — Melanie C.