sugar lows after RNY...

I was wondering if anyone has ever had a sugar low after having RNY.  I had a low today at work and it took a can of regular soda to get back to what it should be quickly.  I have surgery on 1/15/08 and I won't exactly be able to down a bunch of sugar to fix a low.  Do lows happen after having RNY?  I know I need to call my diabetes doctor before I start the liquid diet...I just thought I would throw this out there because you all are so much quicker at answering questions...and I appreciate the "been there done that" aspect of the advice on this board. Thanks!! Jerri

Hi Jerri! I didn't have problems with low blood sugar until about month 9.. i find that I cannot eat white refined carbs or even too many GOOD carbs in one sitting or this happens to me.  I have tried regular sugar a couple times and dumped and then delt with low blood sugar after all that was said and done.  I don't use regular soda to get my sugar up but i will eat a protein bar or a shake mixed with milk.. but I find I can completely control this with diet.  This surgery keeps ya in line.. one way or another.  At least for me it does. edited to add: I am glad I have this reaction with my RNY.... it will keep me always being successful and nutritionally healthy b/c I MUST eat the *right* things.

Reactive hypoglycemia is very prevalent with the RNY.  I would definitely suggest that you ask about this over on the DS Forum, which is certainly the better surgery for curing diabetes.  The intestinal "switch" part of the DS (without the stomach reduction) is used in Europe to CURE type II diabetes in the NON-obese.  Here's the link to the DS Forum:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/DS/a,messageboard/board_id,5357/

Just on a personal note, I had the RNY almost six weeks ago and I am now off all diabetes meds, even with eating sugar here and there.  Both surgeries can be very effective for diabetes.  It was also the surgery recommended by both surgeons I talked to (both of whom do both DS and RNY).

Hmmmm....Juarez isn't listed as performing any DSs here on his OH Profile.  I think he's what we call a "bait and don't switch" surgeon.

There's no bait involved.  I can't speak for him, but I would imagine that he does not list himself on OH as a DS surgeon because, from what I can tell, he does not prefer the DS.

The "bait" would be CLAIMING to do the DS when he does not.

Low and high blood sugar are a side effect of eating irratically. The easiest way to stop lows/highs is to eat the same amount at every meal and eat on a regular schedule. After RNY most of us do this naturally. I have had about a half dozen bad low sugars in 15 months compared to pre op where I would have that many a week.  Definately talk to the doc pre liquid diet. I had to stop my diabetic meds for mine. Good luck :) PK 

I remember worrying about the same thing. I had a couple of episodes that my sugar dropped too low after hell sessions with a personal trainer, and I wondered how in the world I'd get my sugar back up after my RNY. My sugar levels have been great since surgery. I do eat every 3 hours to keep my sugar up, which is something I love to do anyway, so it's a good thing. I can't speak for everybody, but the surgery helped me immensely. My doctor said my diabetes has been "cured" but I hesitate to say that since I've always heard you can never be completely cured, but as long as I eat a little before exercise and don't go too long between meals and snacks, I'm fine.

Thanks for the replies... I've always thought that my lows happen because of my poor eating schedule and habits...but then a lot of things have happened to my body because of poor eating schedules and habits...hence the reason for WLS.  I'm just thankful there is light at the end of this very long tunnel!  I will check with my diabetic doctor.  She is the one that recommended the bypass surgery so I am assuming she feels it will help my diabetes.  We can only hope and pray!!!! Thanks again! Jerri