Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) Support Group

The term hypoglycemia literally means "low blood sugar." Hypoglycemia can produce a variety of symptoms and effects but the principal problems arise from an inadequate supply of glucose as fuel to the brain, resulting in impairment of function. Derangements of function can range from vaguely "feeling bad" to coma and in the worst case, can be fatal.

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tina5269 04/19/2018

I had RNY Gastric Bypass surgery 8 years ago. 6 years ago I developed reactive hypoglycemia, soon after I had my gallbladder removed and an emergency hernia repair. I do not know if the hypo is related to those or not, but I was told I may get it prior to having the RNY.

It seems to be getting worse as time goes by. Today I feel like crud & took my sugar. It was 85, so I ate lunch at 1:30 (Italian sub sandwich and sweet tea, only had 1/2 of each item.) 45 mins later at 2:15 my sugar was up to 298. My heart was racing harder than before, and I felt terribly confused. (I thought it was still low till I tested it.) I drank water, and at (30 mins later) 2:45 it had dropped to 197. Still racy feeling, but now add fatigue. I waited another 30 minutes, had more water - my mouth is SO dry - Now 3:15 and it dropped another 100 pts to 97. This is how it goes all the time. What am I doing wrong?

I tried to see an endocrinologist and they said they don't diagnose only treat. So I saw my regular MD who said he doesn't diagnose the endo does that... so he referred me to one. His office called 3 for me and they all said no we don't diagnose. WHAT DO I DO? I use that crummy Obamacare so I am kind of stuck here. Any advice?

Christine feeling worried and frustrated

Goldielocks5 04/20/2018

Hi! I have reactive hypoglycemia and have been seeing an endo for 2 years now. I was diagnosed by a fasting glucose test. Have you tried low carb diet? The carbs and sugar trigger it. I too got worse over years. Once I went low carb the hypo started to stop. It took 2 months but it worked. My heart races too if I eat higher carbs. A sandwich and sugar drink like you had for lunch wI'll do that to me. I'm trying to go back to low carb again. Everything improved. My glucose stabilized, my anxiety went down, my heart rate, my sleep improved, lost a lot of weight too. It's important to eat higher fat with low carb. Good fats like nuts, olive oil, and avocado.

bgreer 04/25/2018

I went to my general doctor and told them my symptoms and requested a glucose test. The test sucks... but it'll get you your diagnosis.

tina5269 04/26/2018

Thank you Goldie & bgreer. I will see if my general dr will order the fasting glucose test. I've had glucose testing in which I had to fast overnight & they take my blood sugar in the morning. Is that different than the kind you are talking about?

There was another kind that my gastric surgeon did, in which I had my sugars tested and A1 (? I think) tested 1st thing in the morning. Then I had to drink a really sweet syrup, and they tested it again periodically. After a few hours I drank syrup again and they did the tests again. That is when he said I was pre-diabetic and insulin resistant. This was part of my assessment prior to having the gastric surgery - I had to establish conditions caused by being morbidly obese. (I'm 5'9" and at the time I was 325 lbs. I had the RNY bypass & lost 180 lbs, regained some like he said I would and I leveled out at 150-155 for a long time. So I say I lost 170 lbs.... In the 8 years since my surgery I regained about 30 lbs, mostly in the last 2 years since my sugars have been getting so wonky. I DO want to lose 25 - 30 lbs. I've done low-carb Atkins-style dieting, but my glucose drops super low more often. I don't understand why. I WISH I could get to see an endo - but Obamacare won't approve it for me. Wish me luck with the insurance company war. I'll get it, just God knows when. THANK YOU BOTH for your replies.

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