Question:
My blood sugars are below 20 and doctors say I must get a reversal

I had RNY surgery one year ago and successfully lost 150 lbs. I am pleased with my new "self" and despite the rough beginning months I would do it all over again. My problem now is reactive hypoglycemia. My blood sugars are frequently below 20. I am seeing doctors and they say I need a reversal. Has any one else experienced this? I would appreciate hearing from any or all. I dont want to have the reversal if there is any other way. Thanks    — susan G. (posted on December 9, 2002)

December 9, 2002
there was just a thread about this on OSSG-graduate on yahoo groups. I do not have any problems with it, but you may get some information there.
   — Vicki L.

December 9, 2002
Hi susan, You dont have a profile, so we sont know if you were diabetic or had problems before the surgery. is the reading of 20 with your own home gloucose meter? If so it could be off or damaged. Are you eating enough carbs? Have you tested your blood sugar throughout the day? Being a type 2 diabetic myself I'd recomend borrowing someone elses machine, and or drink orange juice, or something with a little more carbs, that is on your wls diet, and test your blood 1 hour after you eat and then 2 hours. Maybe your exercising and not eating enough, Try eating before exercising and eating small amounts more often during the day, but of course dont exceed your allowed amount of food. There are differant blood test, to measure it. I hope this helps, it is something I would try before reversing the surgery. Or maybe see an Endocrinologist... someone who specializes in diabetics
   — wizz46

December 9, 2002
Hi susan, You dont have a profile, so we sont know if you were diabetic or had problems before the surgery. is the reading of 20 with your own home gloucose meter? If so it could be off or damaged. Are you eating enough carbs? Have you tested your blood sugar throughout the day? Being a type 2 diabetic myself I'd recomend borrowing someone elses machine, and or drink orange juice, or something with a little more carbs, that is on your wls diet, and test your blood 1 hour after you eat and then 2 hours. Maybe your exercising and not eating enough, Try eating before exercising and eating small amounts more often during the day, but of course dont exceed your allowed amount of food. There are differant blood test, to measure it. I hope this helps, it is something I would try before reversing the surgery. Or maybe see an Endocrinologist... someone who specializes in diabetics
   — wizz46

December 9, 2002
Susan, you may want to check out http://www.hcf-nutrition.org/diabetes_disease/hypoglycemia_article.html <p> It talks about reactive hypoglycemia - particularly the alimentary type. Here is the section on "Nutrition Management of Reactive Hypoglycemia": <p> Individuals with reactive hypoglycemia respond favorably to high-carbohydrate, high-fiber, restricted-simple sugar diets. All of our patients who closely follow this regimen do well and rarely have hypoglycemic attacks. In sharp contrast, individuals treated with high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets continue to have hypoglycemic attacks and, also, develop abnormal glucose tolerance tests. <p> The therapeutic diets provide 55% of energy as carbohydrate, 15% protein, 30% fat, 25-40 grams of fiber per day, and less than 50 grams of simple carbohydrate daily. Our research and clinical experience suggest that diets work like this: generous carbohydrate and fiber intakes foster a high level of insulin sensitivity and facilitate the smooth uptake of glucose from the blood; intake of soluble fiber delays gastric emptying, slows the absorption of glucose, and minimizes blood glucose excursions; and restricted simple sugar intakes decrease large rises in blood glucose values. These diets are somewhat restricted in fruit and dairy products. Initially, we recommend that fruit juices be avoided; subsequently they can be included as part of a full meal. <p> Three meals and a bedtime snack work well for most individuals. After gastric surgery some require three smaller meals and three generous snacks daily but most do not require the traditional "frequent small meals". <p> To treat hypoglycemic attacks we recommend pretzels, plain graham crackers, bread or other sources of complex carbohydrate. Patients should avoid sources of simple sugar such as cola, juice or candy. These symptoms usually disappear after 3-6 weeks of diet therapy.
   — John Rushton

December 9, 2002
Susan I have hypoglycemia post op almost 1 yr was diagnosed a couple of months ago, my dr suggestion I eat a couple hundred calories every couple of hours and drink gatorade in between...it seems to help when I eat every couple of hours vs just 3 meals a day. He also said that when we are over weight we probably had the hypoglycemia but since we were eating we never experianced the symptoms now we are not eating as much so we are experiencing he said we can control it we just have to keep our levels elevated by eating every couple of hours and we can do that without over doing it. good luck...
   — Deanna Wise

December 9, 2002
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG There's the link for the Grad list. Many, many of us have this nasty little side effect. The hope is to bring it under control.
   — vitalady

December 9, 2002
Susan, Are you familiar with a product called Level 90? It levels out blood sugars to where they should be. Email me for more info if you're interested. Are you a diabetic? Need more info to help you.
   — Patti S.