low blood sugar

I have had a couple of episodes of low blood sugar. Last night was a bad one and was scary. I apparently passed out for a few minutes. I knew I was having an episode and was trying to eat to bring my sugar up. When I came thru I still had food in my mouth and was covered in sweat. I am 2 years and 2 months since my bypass. My first episode came about 2 months ago and was pretty bad but I didn't pass out. I have had one other episode but just got shaky with that one. I know I can not have sugar so I was wondering what is the best way to get out of this if it happens again. I don't want to go to the hospital they will just give me sugar and make me crash again. Please help.

Yikes, that's scary. I have diabetes and sometimes I get low blood sugar - I know the signs and I drink half a smaller can of pepsi to get it back up. I read orange juice would work on my nutrition booklet from my surgeon. Orange juice is not fast enough for me. I am preop - surgery on the 23rd.

I would call your bariatric team right away and make an appointment with a endocrinologist. Make sure your are getting your protein goals met and don't take to long to eat between meals.

I worry about this post op because we are not to eat simple carbs - sugars but that is how we get the blood sugar up.

My thinking is that your bariatric team - even if you are 2 years out - might be able to help while your waiting for an endo appt. Endos are specialists as you know and they can take a while for you to actually have your appt.

There has to be a way to treat this. God bless.

I would call or email your surgeon. My surgery booklet suggests Apple juice. Avoiding the doctors is not a good idea. Passing out with food in your mouth could of caused you to choke! Good luck :)

You need a combo of protein, complex carbs, and I always eat something with a good amount of fat in it as well. The carbs will bring up your blood sugar quickly and the fat and protein will keep it regulated.

I have had RH since my 2nd year out.

I would avoid fruit juices or anything sugary to bring up your blood sugar. You?ll start a raise/crash cycle. What actually works best for me is a glass whole milk or full fat greek yogurt. A low carb/low sugar protein shake followed by some cheese would also work. If you can?t do dairy, I?d suggest a small amount of peanut butter or even peanuts themselves. ( any nut or nut butter you can tolerate would work as well. )

You?ll need to learn to eat by the clock if it?s a timing issue causing this. ( forgetting to eat if you don?t feel hunger can cause low blood sugar issues )

For me, it was simple carbs causing it. Now that I?ve managed to stop eating anything with flour and/or sugar, pasta, rice, and potatoes, my RH ( reactive hypoglycemia ) is well under control.

It?s very scary to go through an RH episode. I?ve been there-they suck. Hope you can get it under control.

Edited for clarity.

You are so right, RH is scary. I find crackers and peanut butter work well.... of course avoiding what causes my RH is the best course of action.

Great info from a vet! Thx Audrey!

Not quite a vet, but thank you for the vote of confidence.

Thanks for your information. I believe mine was also caused by eating simple carbs. The two times that I have had bad episodes have been after some "bad" eating. The first was a very busy weekend and looking back on it I barely ate anything the entire weekend then I was running late to work and grabbed a breakfast taco. I think that tortilla was to much. The last and by far the worse was when I ate some potatoes and steak for dinner. I do not usually eat tortillas or potatoes. I try to stick to protein, dairy, vegetables and fresh fruit, however I know there may be times in my future that I eat something I should not and could have an issue. I appreciate your information. I was trying to up my sugars up quick with the crackers and cheese for some protein.

If your episode is bad enough that you are passing out you need sugar. Once it has passed then eat the protein and fat like the peanut butter.

I do carry glucose tabs. Yes then followed by food. That is for when it hits hard and fast and within 5 minutes I'm in a full blown episode. I had one while driving last summer, I needed glucose tabs.

Then there are times you feel it coming, get shaky whatever then it's just food. I realize now that I can test my blood sugar sometimes my frequent 'I need to eat something ' was my BS dropping.

There is regular hypoglycemia which is low blood sugar from waiting too long to eat, and then there is reactive hypoglycemia that hits usually about 2 hours after you eat the offending food. You can have one without the other.

For me so find the RH is worse if I also haven't eaten for a long time. Foods I have eaten many times with no problems can become s problem when combined with too long since I ate.

Around 2 years is when it starts to happen for some people.

Thanks, I am just real concerned about having any sugar. I have not had processed sugar at all since my surgery, only sugars that are natural in food. I was addicted to sugar and am afraid that I would fall back into that pattern.