Two and 1/2 Years Out, Life is Great, but have one Question

[mmcclure 3]

Hi everyone,

Some of you may remember me and some may not, but I thought it would be a good time for an update on myself and my daughter. I also have a question regarding VSG and diabetes.

I had VSG in November of 2010. My highest weight was 251. My lowest weight was 104 (too low for my 5'5" frame) and now I am holding steady between 108 - 112 (has been this low for over a year now). My regular doctor still thinks I am too thin, but my labs have been great so he isn't nagging me too much. My biggest problem other than what I address below is that I have a hard time finding clothes that are small enough (yeah, I know - stop complaining).

My daughter had surgery the same day as I. Unfortunately, she developed a leak and was in the hospital for quite a long time. She has since lost over 200 pounds and feels terrific. She has new-found confidence (she is 23) and is much happier than she used to be. She has always been beautiful, but now the way she feels about herself makes her even more so.

Now for my question. I went to my PCP on Friday and he is concerned because he said that my blood sugar could be going too low. I "had" type II diabetes but haven't been on any medication since the surgery.

So, I got a new meter and have been checking my blood sugar levels. They have been about as perfect as they can get, with the exception of me gorging on a lot of candy last night (I'd like to say it was an experiment, but I love candy and eat too much of it, too often). About 1/2 hour to 1 hour after eating a lot of sugary candy, my blood glucose level was 179. Within another half hour, it came back down to 103. So technically, if I had waited until the 2-hour mark after eating, my glucose level would have been fine. I don't like the 179 though.

I have been craving candy, especially in the evening. It is almost as if I am a junkie and have to have my fix. But, once I start eating it, I can't seem to stop until I brush my teeth before bed! I've always had a sweet tooth, but never this bad. My husband tells everyone that I have a "tootsie roll pop problem." Also, if I don't eat candy, I start losing weight again. (Yes, I've tried Protein or good carb Snacks.)

Anyone with any insight on this issue? One theory I have thought about is either that my blood sugar is going low so I crave sweets to bring it back up or that my body goes after sweets because I am so thin and it is trying to get me to not lose anymore. Or, something I don't like to think about - I am tempting my diabetes to come back and need to kick the sugar habit asap!

Oh, and one thing I neglected to say - my current weight also includes my extra skin, which my PCP figures is somewhere in the 10-12 pound range. So, I'm actually a lot thinner than the scales say.

Thanks.

Marilee

[mmcclure 3]

Oops, I posted this in the wrong forum. Apologies.

Marilee

[TES 858]

Congratulations on your weight loss and your daughter's too! Have you had your HbA1c checked? Are you seeing an endocrinologist? I would suggest a work-up with an endocrinologist, preferably one who sees post-bariatric surgery patients regularly.

Also, maybe if you ate some Protein along with the candy, it would keep your blood sugar more stable?

[TexasMiss 314]

I have a friend who helped me through my surgery (he has had it also). When he starts to get too thin he drinks chocolate milkshakes!

[LINDANACK 15]

Hi Marilee; I too am a bad diabetci and I still can't get mine under control. It's been 4-5 mo. already. I too, have sugar cravings to kill for. I saw a Health sponsored documentary the other night and I wish you would have seen it too. It told how the gov't is politically orchestrayted by big industry like McDonalds, the beef industry, the sugar cane industry and all the different soda industries and how they have, over the last 28 years, turned America into sugar 'attics'. It gave statistics on obesity, child obesity and how diabetes is at an all time danger for our children. It stuned me to see how big business does not care about our children, let alone, us. They are doing their level best to get us hooked early in life, and keeping us hooked. It was enough to make you cry, rape! Rape of our innocense, our trust in Gov't to stop them, rape of children to look to their of future with hope for normal nutrition in the schools, at home, and at the local stores. So you see, you are caught up in that sugar addiction and you need to get off it. 2-3 days without any sugar will set you back on the right track. Carbs will raise your blood sugar too. You don't need sweets. As for your glucose rising to 179, well it will after you eat all that sugar. As long as it came down again, that's what is imp. Just try to give up candy. I go for long periods and then fall again too. Also, I read on one of those health letters that if you crave sweets, you're lacking Chromium, carbon Phosphorus,Sulfur, and Tryptophan. It works. Good luck.