Severe Hypoglycemia

Hi All,

I just had the 3 hour glucose tolerance test and it was terrible. Well the test resulted in severe hypoglycemia. I had my surgery a little over a year ago. I was wondering if anyone has the same problem mine dropped down to 17. I would appreciate any advice.

Hello!! i go to the docs next Thursday. I never had any sugar problems before i am almost 7 months out and the past month i have been experiencing a huge drop in my sugar level. Saturday i got really bad dizzy shaky and my mom checked my blood sugar and it was 56. When i called the nurse i was told to start eating more often until i see her next Thursday.

 

This is all new to me :( scary!!!

i have episodes of hypoglycemia also. im a little over a year out. a few months out i talked my dr into pescribing me a meter for when i crash. my sugar doesnt get too low but when i get below 80 i have symptoms. i keep those glucose tablets in my purse at all times also. saved my but quite a few times. youll figure out a system to keep your sugar up. good luck!!

I can't imagine doing a 3 hour glucose tolerance test post-RNY.    Reactive Hypoglycemia is a side affect of surgery for MANY post-ops.  It can ofentimes be controlled and managed with a low carb diet (white carbs, sugar specifically) and focusing on a dense protein, complex carb diet.  Eating 3 meals and 3-4 snacks per day to keep your sugar level even is what you want to do to control the drops.

OMG  I'm not going to say I told you so.....but, you were warned when you asked about it before you had the glucose tolerance test. 17 is very dangerous, why they even let you get that low is beyond me.

Reactive Hypoglycemia is not uncommon after RNY, and it usually starts after one year out, I have a very bad time with it and am now on a medication that is really helping me but most can control it with diet. I do have some printed information that was given to me at Joslin Diabetes Center and I would be happy to email to you if you PM me your email address. 

Joslin has locations all over the country. I hope that you get in with a specialist that understands RH in post RNY patients. I went to an endocrinologist who wanted me to go to the lab an cause a crash to show I really had RH. I left and didn't go back------at least he didn't recommend a glucose tolerance test!! 

What on EARTH possesses a doctor to do a 3hour GTT on an RNY'er      Unless the doctor came up with a cast iron reason for doing this test, you should have refused!

Let this be a lesson for any of us going to doctors who clearly do NOT have a clue!   GTT's are not a good idea for us unless it is a matter of life and death because this test could certainly get you closer to the latter than the former as it did for the OP!   17 really is very dangerous territory (many diabetics (particularly type I's)  may go into a coma, have seizures and/or die at these levels). 

You really should consider why you allowed a doctor to do this to you when you had had advice not to do it!   It is imperative that we take responsibility for our own health and this may well include teaching doctors what we can and cannot do after surgery ... 

Unreal!  I am amazed you allowed yourself to be tested that way! There was no need for that.  My mother almost died when her sugar dropped to 20 and my father found her passed out on the bed and had to call 911.  She was type 2 and thank goodness Dad didn't waste anytime and took a tube of frosting and rubbed it into her gums until the ambulance got there. Thank goodness she survived but when I was taking meds for type 2 before surgery my doctor said the lows are the most dangerous and you can DIE.

Please find another physician from this point on.  That way of testing is barbaric for a WLS patient.  Jane

Well, i guess I was stupid by having the test, but when you are feeling bad and don't know what is going on I felt the need to find out. Now that I know what is wrong I am trying to figure out how to make myself  feel better so if you have something to email me that would be great: [email protected]. 

 

 

I sent you some information. Do you have a nutritionist that can help you?

I had mild hypoglycemia before surgery and it is worse now than it was before, but as long as I eat a combination of protein and carbs every 3-4 hours, I am usually fine. Lots of people get REACTIVE HYPOGLYCEMIA, which is initially what I thought it was with me, but careful monitoring showed me that it was not tied to what I was eating, it was tied to WHEN I was eating. Talk to a physician or nutritionist who understands both RNY nutritional needs AND hypoglycemia.

Yes, 17 is VERY dangerous. When was hospitalized for pancreatitis (and not eating or drinking anything at all), they had to add glucose to the IV because my blood sugar dropped to 30-something and everyone freaked out. (Then, once I was allowed to eat again, but still had the glucose IV, they checked my blood sugar after a meal and it was too high, of course... and THEN they wanted to give me insulin (which I refused, insisting that they just discontinue the glucose and let my body get back to normal on its own).

Lora