Preop Diet messing with my blood sugar

[Mairkaye 4]

I have to be on a 3 week liquid diet. I started Monday and I have feelings of light headed and faint and other symptoms of low blood sugar. I keep checking it but lowest has been 102. I have had broth, strained cream Soups, Tomato Soup, Protein Shakes and lots of Water.

[Idlewood4 93]

My blood sugar was a mess when I started the liquid Protein. I was up, I was down... I worked with my endocrinologist and cut my NPH. After a few days I didn't need the Novalog, as my highest was 128. Right before my surgery I was at 34 NPH morning and night, Victoza 1.8 at bedtime, and Metformin 500 mg extended release morning and supper. I had my surgery Monday, and the hospital endocrinologist has me doing 5 NPH morning, 4 NPH bedtime. My highest sugar so far has been 148, but I'm just doing Liquid Protein and clears. I follow up with my endocrinologist 3 weeks postop. Keep taking your blood sugars, and treat with a fast acting insulin if you have to. I had the ok to have have a cup of juice or glucose tabs if I went under 170. Needless to say at 1:30 am the day of my surgery I had a 68 bs and drank a half cup of apple juice. It worked out okay. Best of luck.

[Butterthebean 8,146]

Sounds normal. Your blood sugar is not low at 102, but your body is going through sugar (carb) withdrawal it sounds like. If you ate a high carb diet before, likely you adapted well to fueling your body on glucose all the time. Most obese people fall into this category. Now you're body is being forced to switch over to burning fat for fuel, it's an uncomfortable process. If you've ever bonked during exercise...it's the same thing. However, the good news is your body will adapt to this new fuel very quickly and you'll feel so much better. In fact you'll likely feel better than before because you'll have way more energy without needing to feed it every 2-3 hours. Just hang in there past this phase.

[Jdub 109]

Detoxing from gluten can really throw you for a loop too. I was a huge bread/pasta person (also diabetic), and while my sugar was in the normal range (albeit the low range), the first few days of my pre-op liquid diet I felt like I was drunk (dizzy, light headed, etc...) and once my system got detoxed, I felt pretty good by about day 4.

[sheilarae 84]

I'm 6 months out. A few weeks ago I started having feelings of low sugar. Had trouble with it all my life actually. Not diabetic but had the glucose tolerance test done two weeks ago. I was do sick. My levels were...at 1hour 352, 1/2 hr later 158, and 2hours out 117. Dr said I was glucose intolerant, which I've read is pre-diabetic. Dr said low carb and no sugar. I've been having trouble finding a meal plan to follow. I need a lot of guidance I guess. When my sugar hits bottom I eat everything I can get my hands on which is not correct I know but that crash is SO scary. Anyone have some ideas? Oh btw I've lost a total of 100 pounds ( 60 before the sleeve ) but have not lost anything in 3 months.

[Butterthebean 8,146]

I'm 6 months out. A few weeks ago I started having feelings of low sugar. Had trouble with it all my life actually. Not diabetic but had the glucose tolerance test done two weeks ago. I was do sick. My levels were...at 1hour 352, 1/2 hr later 158, and 2hours out 117. Dr said I was glucose intolerant, which I've read is pre-diabetic. Dr said low carb and no sugar. I've been having trouble finding a meal plan to follow. I need a lot of guidance I guess. When my sugar hits bottom I eat everything I can get my hands on which is not correct I know but that crash is SO scary. Anyone have some ideas? Oh btw I've lost a total of 100 pounds ( 60 before the sleeve ) but have not lost anything in 3 months.

How many carbs do you eat a day and are they high glycemic or low? I only ask because I am insulin resistant and if I eat alot of high glycemic carbs I have the same issues. I really need to keep mine low and what I do eat needs to be low glycemic vegetable and fibrous fruits. That way my insulin stays even and level.

[sheilarae 84]

I eat the good carbs. Old fashion oatmeal with skim milk and some vanilla Protein Powder and cinnamon for Breakfast ( or an egg. ) I might have a mini whole wheat bagel or small apple with T Peanut Butter, whole wheat crackers( 4 am squares ) and a cheese stick, Danon Light and Fit Greek yogurt. , or Cottage cheese and fruit as meals. I was told to have carbs with Protein as a snack. I also drink Protein Drinks throughout the day. I know I should eat more veggies but they bother my pouch unless they're mushy. Yuk. I ALS eat one good fat a day. If I don't eat PB then I have almonds, walnuts, or avocado.

[Butterthebean 8,146]

Got it. So for me, the oatmeal, crackers, peanutbutter, bagel...and even the fruit can be to high on the glycemic index. They are obviously better than white bread and mashed potatoes and gravy....but in terms of the effect on blood sugar they are similar. They will spike my blood sugar just enough to cause an insulin spike which leaves me shaky, hungry and weak in about 2 hours. I like all those foods, but really have to limit them. I eat more fats than carbs....almonds, olives, avocados, cheese....they keep my insulin level a lot more stable.

If you are insulin resistant then these foods might be causing your issues.

[sheilarae 84]

That's interesting. My surgeon hasn't answered my emails. He's 2 hrs away. I was doing what my interest told me,..eat as if I was diabetic. Frustrating.

[sheilarae 84]

I mean internist. Also the nutritionist at work said the carbs would keep my sugar level but I should always have Protein with them. She also said to try and eat at the same times everyday. It's hard to stop eating when I'm full because I rarely feel "full".

[gomekast 559]

Got it. So for me, the oatmeal, crackers, peanutbutter, bagel...and even the fruit can be to high on the glycemic index. They are obviously better than white bread and mashed potatoes and gravy....but in terms of the effect on blood sugar they are similar. They will spike my blood sugar just enough to cause an insulin spike which leaves me shaky, hungry and weak in about 2 hours. I like all those foods, but really have to limit them. I eat more fats than carbs....almonds, olives, avocados, cheese....they keep my insulin level a lot more stable.

If you are insulin resistant then these foods might be causing your issues.

I also had issues pre op with blood sugars. But I figured out that it was all carb related like Butters is saying.

I never had the diabetes diagnosis but did have what Op says.

Post op now...I avoid anything carb and white. I limit milk and dairy too. Focus in Protein send non starchy veggies. I don't do fruits very often. Oatmeal, potatoes, crackers, bread of any kind, fruits and starchy veggies all cause my body to freak out. Feel light headed.

So I stick to what he says above...I track my sugars daily with protein/fat/calories. Once I hit my magic number I know it's all protein from there for the rest of the day.

[sheilarae 84]

I'll have to keep that in mind. I'm writing down what I eat at what time and how my sugar feels. I'll figure this out one way or another. I'd sit on my surgeons door step, but he's 2 hrs away. Tonight in the middle of supper I realized my sugar was good so I stopped eating. Thanks for replying.

[sheilarae 84]

Finally heard from my surgeon. He suggested I stay under 100 gm carbs and eat 4-5 mini meals a day. I'll see if this helps. At least now I have a number to shoot for.

[Mairkaye 4]

thanks everyone! This helps me a lot.