Diagnosed with Hypoglycemia after bypass surgery: What helps?

Posted by happyheidi63 @happyheidi63, Oct 22, 2023

I had Roux en Y bypass surgery March of 2021. I went from 265 down to 160 (with in 6 months). Over the past year I have been putting weight back on and now I am at 205. I have been diagnosed with Hypoglycemic and my problem is I do not know I am low until I hit 40 or below and this has ending me up in the ER. So when I start to feel sweaty, shaky, dizzy I test my sugar and if it is in the 50's I grab something "sweet" but if in my 40's or below I take a couple of my glucose tablets and prayer it come up. I have never had diabetes and to this day do not. I see Endo. and Gastro. and General Surg. and they don't understand why I have lows. Insurance will not allow me to have a CGM as I am not a diabetic. I do take Acarbose Tablets 25 mg which has helped some. I do not drink, smoke or do drugs. The weight gain is crazy. My new thing is after eating I get very hot and break out in a sweat. Anyone else have these issues?

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Laurie, Volunteer Mentor | @roch | May 20 7:14am

In a Bariatric Support group meeting, members were talking about hypoglycemia and I realized it was similar to symptoms I occasionally experience. I plan to discussion with my endocrinologists next month. The episodes do not happen often, once every few month.

First time it happen I was scared to death not knowing what was happening. When followed up with my primary, he never discussed hypoglycemia. I have no history of diabetes, so they just said if happens again, come back and would run more tests. My A1C and fasting blood tests always come back OK. They actually did nero testing to make sure was not stroke related.

I just got a Accu-Chek and few strips from a friend who had extras. Going to randomly take glucose levels so know base line and if and when next episode happens, will take glucose level to see if low. The kind I am using does not require prescription and available at drug stores.

housewrk | @housewrk | May 23 9:31pm

I had Sleeve done in May of ‘23 and have been diagnosed with Reactive Hypoglycemia. This causes your blood sugar to rise and then crash. I have been down on the 40–50’s. The crash usually happens 2-4 hours after I eat. Thankfully mine is well controlled with diet. I have to stay away from 15gm or more of carbs per meal. If I go over that then my blood sugar crashes. A LOT of people with the Bypass have this. Look on the internet for it. Some people said that when their doctors appeal the turn down of insurance for a monitor the insurance approves it, or so they say. My doctor gave me a sample one for free, it was like a 10 day trial, that could maybe help you figure out when your crashes are coming. Worth asking. Hope this gives you some ideas. Good Luck!