I am 19 months post roux n y gastric bypass. I also am checking my blood sugar 2 times a day. I've had a few low readings below 60.I'm sure my blood sugar has been dropping for a long time. I have seen a dietitian to help me work on eating more protein getting back to my diet with less sugar. She thinks that when I eat sugar it raises my blood sugar and then it falls off, dropping to the low levels, 60's or lower. It has helped so far. There are many articles on the web regarding hypoglycemia and gastric bypass. Hope this helps.

I am seven years post roux n y gastric bypass. In January '09, I began experiencing low blood sugar episodes as low as 37, usually happening in the evening a few hours after dinner. The endocrinologist diagnosed it as late postprandial hypoglycemia. I am no longer considered diabetic (type 2). For the past two months, I have been taking arcabose 25 mg, taken at the first bite of carb at every meal. So far, no problems after meals. The problem, however, still occurs after I snack. For instance, last night I had some baked potato chips and fat free dip, and several hours later a 42 blood sugar reading. I will be calling my doctor this week to find out if I can safely take the arcabose with snacks. I do not know who is more afraid of this--my daughter or me. She found me dazed and incoherent in my home one night with a 37 blood sugar reading. I have forced myself to be more aware of the low blood sugar symptoms, although it sometimes comes on very quickly as it did last night. Not sorry that I had the surgery, but this is complication is not so nice.

I am a 51-year-old-female 18 months past roux n y gastric bypass and began to suffer sever hypoglycemia about 6 motnhs ago.
It is not uncommon for my blood sugar to drop to the low 20's at which point I cannot even see- just a terribly frightening white light in front of me. Afterward I always suffer a terrible headache.
These episodes can occur several times per day and sometime make me scared to drive a car or be away from home.
Have tried adjusting my diet in every conceivable way and simply cannot make any connection that seems to be consistent in the foods I eat. I keep glucose tabs with me at all times.
Now trying to convince my medical insurance company to approve a CGM- Continual Glucose Monitor that I will wear 24/7 and set the alarm to go off at a pre-set point. This would at least provide some warning.
However, while this is often approved for diabetics, it is not often approved for hypoglycemic patients as our condition has received very little attention.
Would certainly appreciate any suggestions anyone may have.
Thanks,
Jo Ann

I have a question about the pancreas removal!!! I curretnly am suffering from a severe case of hypoglycemia post gastric bypass. My surgeon has advised me of a new study that proves partial or distal removal of the pancreas reduces the insulin level in gastric bypass patients to counteract this severe hypoglycemic activity. Has anyone else heard of this in this situation? I have tried everything from glucose tabs to altering my diet, but it's like a never ending cycle.......sugar drops, take glucose, gets normal, and then the process starts again. It seems my pancreas is producing too much insulin for my body versus the amount of sugar I can intake and ultimately is keeping my glucose level too low. It's to the point now I've blacked out and was later found in seizure like activiity, etc. I'm now being restricted from even driving.......I need some advice......anyone???

Dear jblanton,
I can certainly feel for you as I am at this same point.

I have been working now for nearly a year with the folks at the Mayo Clinic here in Phoenix. They have discussed a partial resectioning of the pancreas with me. However, they have done 70 procedures of this nature at the Rochester, MN facility and have found out that the largest percentage of these patients still experience the severe hypoglycemic episodes. It's a nasty surgery to go through for slim results.

Have you asked your endocrinologist to prescibe you a CGM- Contiunous Glucose Monitor- that would monitor your blood sugar levels 24/7 and warn you when it drops to a certain point and you can get a head start on the correction before it drops too low.

Right now it is a hard sell to many insurance companies. It is often approved for diabetics- but as of now they have mnot seen too much need for its use by hypoglycemics. However, we are not the typical hypoglycemics that drop a few points, eat a bit of food, and feel better.

Best of luck- and keep me posted.
Jo Ann

Jo Ann,

Thanks for the reply! Helpful info....I definitely don't want to go drastic as removing the pancreas and end up making things worse. I'm a police officer and if I can't get a grip on this problem, I'm afraid my job will be jeopardized. I currently am under a restriction for driving for the next six months, because of a "black out" spell I had in which the consulting neurologist said I needed to be monitored for six months to assure this was not seizure related. I advised her my history with hypoglycemia, but she will not back down from this restriction. Eventually, if I can't manage to control these weak, shakey, and "black out" spells.......I have no doubt I will be unemployed. I have a great general surgeon that used to perform gastric bypass that is working with me to help me through this problem. I'm sure he'd be willing to prescribe and help me fight insurance to cover it. He's not my original surgeon.....that's another story. One of those deals where they did the surgery, monitored you for a few years, and then drop you. It's like getting in to see the president to schedule a follow up with them, especially if there's a problem. Keep me posted on any info you learn. Thanks!

Hi All,
6/19/09 I suffered with non diabetic hypoglycemia during all 4 of my pregnancies, 2 ended in miscarriage. My last pregnancy was 18 years ago. i was fine until Monday 6/15/09. About 3 hours after eating breakfast my sugar dropped at work. My co-workers freaked, I managed to tell then i needed OJ, which they got for me, I stayed at work and about an hour and a half after lunch i dropped again, more juice, then a co-worker took me to the ER. Of course by the time i was examined " I was fine, there was nothing wrong" I saw my Doc the next day and she said... you know there really is no such thing as hypoglycemia, it is a precurser to diabetes or side effect of diabetic meds. She ordered a 2 hour Glucose tolerance test for the next day to look for pre/diabetes. after fasting 12 hours and drinking the glucose drink my 2 hour BGL was 54 and i was fading fast. She gave me some more glucose and said, WOW i guess it is real. Ive never seen it before. I go see an endocrinologist next month.
I am concerned because i had not skipped a meal or eaten anything high in sugar.
On Wednesday I started eating every 2 1/2 -3 hours, I check my blood 3 times a day, so far i have stayed between 75-95.
7/1/09 update. My BGL had dropped at least 6 times in the past 2 1/2 weeks. I usually catch it around 55-60. I check now before(big) meals and 2 hours after meals. I also check if I start feeling bad. so at least 6 times daily. Strips arent covered by my insurance because I am not diabetic. I have noticed that fresh fruit increases my BGL 160-200(feels like dumping syndrome) then it drops quickly. My sugar has gone from 88 to 181 to 54 to 70 in a 45 minute span. Sometimes i think it is the speed that it fluctuates as much as the degree. I have been to the websites checking post Gastric bypass( mine was in Jan 04).Trying to wait patiently to see the endocrinologist but getting tired.

I am almost 6 years post gastric bypass and have been suffering w/hypoclycemia since about two years ago, however, as of last Saturday, it's been really bad. Today I suffered two spells. I'm @ work and I'm totally out of it. I'm afraid I'm going to lose my job too. I don't know how to adjust my diet to control this. I'm at the point where if they want my pancreas out, then I'll do it. I almost passed out at Busch Gardens on Saturday. I thought I was having a heart attack because I had just ate about an hour before the attack, which wasn't high in sugar. So I didn't understand what it was. But I do understand the white light thing. It is very scary.

I underwent gastric bypass surgery 3.5 years ago and have begun to experience hypoglycemic symptoms. I underwent a 5 our glucose tolerance test called by my endocrinologist and my glucose levels dropped into the 30's. Needless to say I was disoriented, sweaty, lightheaded, slurring my speech, and quite out of it. My own hormones kicked in and my sugar began to rise on its own. This process took about 4 hours to return to normal. I did remain at 50 for an hour and a half. All I felt like doing was sleeping. My doctor has still not gotten back the full lab results, but we did discuss this complication that some gastric bypass patients seem to have after surgery. I am quite worried as I have a high stress job and my mental function is not normal when these episodes occur. In addition, I seem to be experiencing them daily. I have just gotten a glucose meter (today) and I just checked my sugar. It was 90. Considered normal and yet I don't feel quite right. In addition, over the last year as these symptoms have appeared I sought the help of a therapist who prescribed anti anxiety medication as we thought I was going through perimenopause and was experiencing generalized anxiety. It seems that all of these anxiety symptoms can be linked to hypoglycemia. At this time I don't have any answers as the diagnosis is too new.. but I will say that the thought of living with this is scary. I constantly worry about being at work or outdoors, or worse-driving, and having an episode. I have been carrying quick acting glucose tabs and they seem to help, but they do cause rebound responses and I seem to be right back where I started a number of hours later. My doctor recommended a low carb and high protein diet as we sort through the lab results as they come in. I also want to mention that I have hypothroidism (no thyroid - was radiated), fybromyalgia, asthma, interstittial cystitis, and now hypoglycemia. I'm really not sure how much more of this I can take. This diagnosis has made me very depressed.. and the more I read about it the worse I feel. I guess, it's like with anything, the dust has to settle and you just have to explore what words best for your own body.

I underwent RNY GBS in Oct 2005. Developed severe hypoglycemia in 2006. Sugars into the 20's. In 2007 I had a calcium stim test which revealed my pancreas was producing 2 to 3 times more insulin than normal. Underwent the pancreatectomy in Dec 2007: had 75% of the pancreas removed. In 2009, I am doing okay. I still have episodes of hypoglycemia but my sugar doesn't go as low as it used to. Still follow a very low carb/sugar free diet....stick to high protein. If I do eat carbs or sugar, I have a drop and use glucose tabs to counteract...
I went to the University of Iowa for my care and surgery...
Please post if you would like more information!!!

I forgot to add that a biopsy of my pancreas after surgery did reveal the development of nesidioblastosis....it is a very real and very scary condition to have. My pancreatectomy did not "cure" my condition, but it has allowed me to function normally and not be afraid to be alone or drive....
I was very fortunate not to pass out or have a seizure.
When I started my research into this, I was dismissed by many doctors but was finally taken seriously after I found an endocrinologist at the University of Iowa Clinics...
Don't let doctors dismiss you!!!!

I have also experienced hypoglycemia frequently, almost every day, in the evening. I am 3 years post-roux en y. I find the best solution is to drink fruit juice, which corrects the problem within 10-15 minutes.

I think if you are having problems with hypoglycemia after RNY, you should go to an endocrinologist and have a mixed meal test done to see if your problems are being caused by too much insulin....

Just saw a nurse practitioner to an endocrynologist today for post gastric bypass hypoglycemia. I think it has been coming on slowly over the last couple of years, but has recently become significantly worse. I am just short of 7 years post bypass and have done very well until now. I've have read a study out of Harvard about removal of the pancreas, but that was dated 2004. Has anyone read anything more recent? The nurse practitioner recommended low-carb and more protein. For those of you that are already following that, have you had good success with controlling your bgl?