Question:
Experiencing low blood sugar levels on a daily basis
It will be 3 years since my gastric bypass and about 8 months ago started to experience low blood sugar levels and now its been the past 2 month now my docter took me off work cause i've had to many low numbers in the 2.8 to 3.3 range. i'm not a diabetic and the glucose tabs and my contour machine is with me at all times, the only way to keep it up is to keep eating. the diatician has advised me to incorporate my whole grains as this will make my food go through me slower. i've just had a ct scan of my pancrease to see if there are any cyst.. anyone else having this problem after surgery — claire G. (posted on November 4, 2011)
November 4, 2011
I will be 2 years post-op in December and I started having low blood sugars
last december... my dr has be carry peanut butter crackers in my car, just
incase, they work! They also told me to make sure I incorporate protein
and carbs at every meal... the right combination help to maintain blood
sugar. I usually peanut butter on toast or eggs with cheese and toast and
meat pot or rice and veggies always eating all protein then veggies then
startches... this works for me... very few issues :)
— fortywhat2
November 4, 2011
I haven't been formally diagnosed, but after researching it quite a bit, I
think I have "reactive hypoglycemia".. after I've eaten something
it takes about an hour and my blood sugar plummets... not fun. I've had a
few incidents where after my blood sugar drops I have to go home and lay
down.. i'm so exhausted. I guess I'd rather hanve this than the dumping
syndrome .. but it's not fun. I find that a few hard candies a day usually
takes care of it ! -- Best of luck.. Karen .. 1 yr 10 months post op !
— KQinNC
November 4, 2011
I too, have reactive hypoglycemia. It occurs with me when I eat carbs with
caffeine. I find that if I eat protein with my carbs after or with coffee,
it doesn't happen. Caffeine will lower blood sugar, so watch your intake
with carbs. good luck.
— Debbi S.
November 5, 2011
I am 2 1/2 years out and I have the same problem when I eat carbs, bread,
potatoes, fruit, etc. If I eat carbs I make sure that I am getting more
protein. But I try to avoid all carbs. I've had my sugar drop as low as 47
which is very scary.
— dsquire
November 5, 2011
I regularly speak with folks who are post-RNY at least 3+ years and who
suffer with a myriad of negative issues. The common denominator I find is
the simple fact, they are significantly skimping on protein. They also
usually have inadequate and uninformed help from those they should be able
to trust: dietitians, doctors, and or nurses who operate with the best of
intentions; however, either they have not been trained in malabsorption or
bioavailability of protein issues, or have a pet product they personally
wish to promote because they benefit from promoting the product.
I also find it very challenging to get through to these wonderful folks who
are so hurting, preaching 100% whey protein powder first, second, third,
forth, fifth, and sixth, etc. and not to rely on what they eat. Folks in
our situation eat to exercise our chewing muscles. Those folks who think
it is appropriate to have peanut butter this and that are unaware that this
is counter-indicative for the thyroid and contributes to the problem, as
does white foods, white bread, cakes, potatoes, milk, etc.
Go to my OH Group Website www.ObesityHelp.com/group/BellevueWA where you
will learn (1) how to calculate exactly how much protein you need daily --
yes, do the math!; (2) the bioavailability of protein and thus make better
choices for your chewing exercises the bioavailability issue is spelled out
for folks who've had the lap band as well as RNY); (3) commence to
rigorously keep your daily food diary, whether you use the one provided at
OH or another such as securing the one from www.myfitday.com.; (4) learn to
learn to learn how to read labels; (5) get off the coffee list and liquor
list!; (6) be sure to get the proper amount of supplements and
vitamins/minerals (in my case, I rely on Pre-Natal vitamins and at 74 I
don't plan to get pregnant, and because of my RNY I take DOUBLE THE DOSE);
be sure you get a MINIMUM of 64 ounces of liquid nourishment daily, and
only up to 96 ounces daily if you heavily exercise; and (8) be honest with
yourself and keep up with your exercises.
In my situation, I am almost 7 hrs post RNY, and what keeps me going in
spite of osteoarthritis issues and other later-in-life issues, is making
sure I have a MINIMUM of 120 grams of protein daily (counting only my 100%
whey protein isolate in powder form and not the protein from what I chew),
64 -- 96 ounces of liquid nourishment; and keep up with getting sufficient
greens (I DIDN'T say VEGETABLES, I said GREENS), besides regular exercises.
For my greens, I use my Vitamix because the motor in the Vitamix womps
those greens in seconds into instant pulverization, which I womp (mix) with
fruits, energy supplements like ZipFiz and Calcium C powder available from
Trader Joes, as well as taking 1 level scoop a day of Garden of Life
Perfect Food, which you can purchase at www.VitaminShoppe.com. The mixture
lasts 60 days. This Garden of Life Perfect Food augments everything for
your body because of our being 50% malabsorptive due to the RNY surgery.
For my preferred protein powder, I have tried them all. In my opinion, the
very best anywhere is also available at www.VitaminShoppe.com. It is
Isopure which comes in a multiplicity of flavors, as well as gluten-free
chocolate, no-flavor, and vanilla. Unjury is my second choice although the
protein content is less. But, they have a fantastic and
scrumptious-tasting chicken soup one. No one else in the market has this.
Those cloyingly sweet bullets or liquid protein drinks simply make me want
to gag, do nothing to help me feel nourished, and are so costly.
I truly know that what I write, although I am speaking from personal
experience of long standing, will raise the ire of many folks because more
than likely they have personal agendas; however, I have successfully worked
to help so many, many folks, who all share these commmon problems, and I
know what I know because I've been through it and I still remain a success
story of having vibrant health in spite of elderly health challenges (a
live bacteria which ate my internal organs, killed my liver, and ate most
of my pancreas; 2 Vegas responses where my heart stopped and I stopped
breathing, splitting my head open both times, getting a pace maker, and the
last one of having a total hip replacement done last March, and from which
I am still successfully recuperating) or as I say, opportunities to
continue enjoying life and living it to the fullest. I truly hope what I
write provides you good council to be writing exactly what I am writing
when you are post 7 years post-op.
My blessings, Christine Gibson, OH Support Group Leader & Coach, and
Bariatric University trained Coach (surely hope I've said all that
correctly.)
— Christine Gibson
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