Blood Sugar and Band

[Ri-Bob 0]

I am actively investigating banding. I have type 2 diabetes and my blood sugar drops rapidly if I don't eat regularly. My doctor wants me on a low carb diet. I am concerned with the post op diet. If I can't eat (drink at first) very much, will I be able to keep my blood sugar stable enough? If all I can eat is mashed potatoes or oatmeal for a while, that's definitely carb overload for me at the current time. I don't want to end up trying to do something good for myself with the band only to find that my body won't support the restrictions due to my blood sugar.

Any thoughts or advice?

[BetsyB 9]

Banding is AWESOME for addressing blood sugar issues. You will likely find that your need for medication is dramatically reduced, if not eliminated.

But you're right, hypoglycemia can occur. As you know, eating at regular intervals is the way to combat this. And eating primarily Protein will do so in a way that is steady and sustained. This is in contrast to carbs, which quickly elevate too-low blood sugar, but cause a crash-and-burn after the immediate elevation.

Work with your doctor to come up with a plan that seems realistic to you. Timing is what is really critical---spacing foods out so that you don't plummet is key.

In my experience, diabetes educators are often better equipped to address these issues than registered dietitians and nutritionists; it might be a good idea to ask your doctor for a referral to one.

[JeweI 2]

I have hypoglycemia myself. Iwas on metformin for awhile but it was making me sick. Tha's when my endo suggested the band. I was nervous about the preop and postop diet. It was liquid and low carb. I can't have mashed potatos, oatmeal or yogurt. I started the low carb 2 months before banding, by the time I was on liquids I felt so much better. I have more energy and my family even noticed. If I break the rules and eat over 30 carbs I start to feel tired again. I only had 2 days of preop liquids and a week postop liquids. Follow your doc's instructions. They deal with this all the time. Many people do cut back or even completly come off their diabetic meds after they lose some weight and keep their diet in check. I have lost 33 pounds since Nov and 21 since my surgery Jan 4th. The most important thing I want to stress is follow your doc's instructions. It will keep you safe, losing and you won't worry so much about slippage and stretching your pouch. Goodd luck to you on whichever path you take.

[chrisdirects 0]

I agree, depending on what meds you are on, it's very important, especially in the immediate post-surgery period, that your primary care physician and surgeon work together to come up with a plan to help you keep your sugars in balance.

I have been taking a gram of Metformin a day for quite awhile...and was thrilled to find out that after being on Medifast for a month preop, my fasting sugar is down to 118, and my A1C has dropped from 6.6 to 5.3 in the last 4 months. I've lost about 20 pounds...my surgery is this Friday. :smile2:

Since so many of us have DMII going into this, your surgeon will definitely be of great help to you in getting stabilized.

Best wishes!!

Christine