Question:
Comment on Hypoglycemia

I too have discovered I am hypoglycemic since surgery. I was diabetic prior to surgery. I believe that my body is still putting out insulin after a meal to sustain a 330 lb person, rather then a 170 lb person. I have no proof but I do believe this is the case. I just know I hate my sugars dropping. I have passed out once and almost passed out 3 times. I have no idea when it will happen and it happens every day at least once if not 3 and 4 times a day. I hate it! And of course once I do sugar to bring the sugars up, I start the round robin effect of dropping and raising. I wish there was a pill that would level our insulin out put like there is to help diabetics utilize their insulin.    — Jeanette Sprague (posted on February 10, 2004)

February 9, 2004
You may be insulin resistant. Have you ever had a fasting INSULIN level done? Way before I had WLS, I was looking for metabolic reason that I was overweight. I got interested in metabolic syndrome. My insulin level was in the high normal range. I wound up seeing an endocrinologist about a thyroid problem, and she noticed my insulin level. Even though my fasting level was high normal, she explained that my insulin level would go "through the roof" whenever I ate anything. That accounted for the ups and downs in my blood sugar, and the fact that I was hungry an hour or two after a meal! I was put on Glucophage XL (eventually up to 2000mg per day) and that help to smooth out the highs and lows in my blood sugars. Have you seen an endocrinologist? Glucophage helps to get the insulin into the cells. Also, I have to stay away from carbs. Now that I have lost weight, my insulin level is in the middle of the normal range. I can still tell if I have too many carbs - I crash a couple of hours later - not to the extreme you do, but I can still tell. ( I went off Glucophage just before surgery and haven't needed it since.)
   — koogy

February 10, 2004
This happens to me too. But I notice it seems to happen mainly after a meal pretty low in protein. Yes I admit I have been lax at times since I am over a year out. Try getting at least 20 grams of protein at a meal and you will feel much better. I know I do! Wendy
   — Wendy H.

February 10, 2004
I have the sugar crash too. One morning I had just woken up, not even out of bed, and the room was spinning like crazy. It was like I was severly drunk! I couldn't even turn my head side to side of sit up because I wanted to vomit everywhere. I think it was my blood sugar. SO I called my hubby to get me some juice and my vitamins and went back to sleep for 2 hours. It worked, but boy was that scary. It must have been extremely low blood sugar. I've had many of the passing out instances too.
   — emilyfink

February 10, 2004
As someone who has had severe acute pancreatitis, and type 2 diabetes, I would highly recommend a thorough work up with a good endochrinologist. Sadly, though, there is a lot of mystery involved between how WLS works with the pancreas. I have been working for nearly two years with reactive hypoglycemia and there is no drug that works for it - it is a balancing act between diet and exercise. My endochrinologist has tried everything for me and diet control is the best thing that works for me. Best wishes to you!
   — kultgirl

February 11, 2004
Jeanette I agree with Shelli and the other postings which mention a complete blood work up ASAP. There are a lot of other lab-related blood test that could caused the dizziness and passing out. But since you were diabetic Pre-Op you are right to be concerned. I have a similar problem but it is not glucose at all - put my sodium/postassium intake - that causes me dizziness Pre-Op and now Post-Op - I seem to have a gene that malfunctions in relating these two chemistrys, which have to work together.
   — Anna M.

February 11, 2004
Hi... I was not diabetic before surgery, but did have a problem with potassium a few months ago. The other day I had labs drawn just to check, and not only was my potassium really low again, but my blood sugar was only 41...and this was about 1 and 1/2 after I ate lunch. I don't know if this is going to be an ongoing problem or just an isolated incident. Tanya LAP RNY 1/5/04
   — Tanya C.