Is anyone else having blood sugar issues since your sleeve?

[kitch101 24]

I had a health assessment yesterday and I was told my blood sugar was too low for having had Breakfast and a Protein Shake before the bloodwork. They said I really need to keep a watch on it.

I'm wondering if I need to add more carbs to my diet. I'm 3 months out and I've lost 50 lbs already. So excited! I'm affraid the weightloss might stop of I do.

I keep my carbs between 20-30 most days. My caloric intake is around 800 avg, and Protein is usually between 60-80.

[Mrs.RRn 2,111]

I had the same issue, especially once I started increasing my cardio- my doc suggested increasing my eating- worked well for me.

[T'snewstart 251]

I had a health assessment yesterday and I was told my blood sugar was too low for having had Breakfast and a Protein Shake before the bloodwork. They said I really need to keep a watch on it. I'm wondering if I need to add more carbs to my diet. I'm 3 months out and I've lost 50 lbs already. So excited! I'm affraid the weightloss might stop of I do. I keep my carbs between 20-30 most days. My caloric intake is around 800 avg, and Protein is usually between 60-80.

hi and yes. I am 16 months out and just started having this problem. I was told it is pretty common with wls patients. I had to start eating carbs with protein. The nut told me to never eat a carb without some protein. That has been working for me.

[kitch101 24]

Was there a diabetic concern for you? I have a strong family history of diabetes so it does worry me some.

[T'snewstart 251]

Was there a diabetic concern for you? I have a strong family history of diabetes so it does worry me some.

no diabetic concerns at all. I only had one episode. I did as the nut told me and it worked. I think I was just waited to long to get calories my body in the mornings. Live and learn!

[gomekast 559]

I have had this issue since. But i was diagnosed with hypoglycemia before sugery when i was younger. I never learned how to manage it then..and forgot about it when i became so big ans constantly ate.

Now, i focus on Protein and Fiber, but there are days i need to add in a snack of string cheese and nuts.

[kitch101 24]

I've had trouble with hypoglycemia for many years and have managed it well with 5-6 meals daily. Now, it seems I need to learn to manage differently than before. I don't u derstand though why I'm having problems when I don't touch sugar now at all and eat so few carbs. Confused.....

[moonlitestarbrite 902]

hypoglycemia means LOW blood sugar. it means you arent eating enough carbs to keep your blood sugar up. some people make too much insulin and have surges when they eat. its called reactive hypoglycemia. i had it when i was pregnant. you need to eat more carbs. eat carbs from whole unprocessed foods. 20-30 grams isnt enough to even feed your brain. increase to 50-70 grams and see if it changes how you feel. make sure you do it first thing in the AM, since you are probably waking up with low blood sugar. as the PP said, always eat a carb and a Protein together.

Edited March 20, 2014 by moonlitestarbrite

[kitch101 24]

Thank you so much for clearing things up for me. I really never thought about it that way, but it makes good sense. I assumed that by my eating/drinking 5-6 meals daily I should be able to keep my sugar stable as possible since it worked before my eating habits changed to low carb.

There is a history of diabetes in our family so I definitely don't want to go down that road.

My brother also has hypoglycemia.

Will adding carbs slow my weight loss though, or should I switch to low fat diet now?

[moonlitestarbrite 902]

75 grams of carbs is still "low carb." anything less than 100 grams is low. i never recommend low fat. moderate fat intake (60 grams) is needed for blood sugar stability, feeling full, production of hormones and neurotransmitters and good overall nervous system functioning, but they should be good quality fats... from whole foods... not processed food products. nut butters, olive oil, coconut oil, butter from grass fed cows... no corn oils, trans fatty acids, margarine, shortening, soy bean oil, etc.

Edited March 21, 2014 by moonlitestarbrite

[kitch101 24]

I wonder why so many of us are being told to stay under 25 carbs if it can be harmful. Of course, I realize I probably won't continue to lose as fast as I have been by bumpimg up my carbs, but I guess that's something I'll have to deal with.

Thanks for the help.

[moonlitestarbrite 902]

i have never seen anyone who was told to stay under 25 grams of carbs a day. my paperwork, from a bariatric center of excellence, says that after 6 months you should be getting 120-150 grams of carbs from whole food sources. under 25 is really really low. my center recommends a high fiber meal plan for life after surgery, you cant do that on 25 grams of carbs...

[kitch101 24]

I reread my folder on long term. Still recomends 25. Hmmmm....

I'll see my surgeon on the 31st for my 3 month and talk to him about it then. In the meantime, I'll just keep record of my suger levels and incorporate more morning carbs.

I know I need more fiber too. Can't go without softners and Miralax. Ugh!

[kitch101 24]

I reread my folder on long term. Still recomends 25. Hmmmm....

I'll see my surgeon on the 31st for my 3 month and talk to him about it then. In the meantime, I'll just keep record of my suger levels and incorporate more morning carbs.

I know I need more fiber too. Can't go without softners and miralax. Ugh!

[moonlitestarbrite 902]

I reread my folder on long term. Still recomends 25. Hmmmm....

I'll see my surgeon on the 31st for my 3 month and talk to him about it then. In the meantime, I'll just keep record of my suger levels and incorporate more morning carbs.

I know I need more fiber too. Can't go without softners and miralax. Ugh!

yeah, that is super low. what did they recommend for you about the low blood sugar? did they suggest you get a glucometer to track your BGL? some people just cant do carbs that low. i did the slow carb diet (as recommended by my doctor) several years ago... it's no processed carbs, lots of lean Protein and non-starchy veggies and a small amount of fruit. i felt really crappy. recognizing my symptoms from when i was pregnant, i asked my doc for a script for test strips and got a coupon for a free glucometer. sure enough, i was low! (fasting BGL: 86) even after my morning coffee with 2 sugars. guess what? my birthmom has reactive hypoglycemia too! i need at least 100 grams a day too feel "normal" and not feel like i am in outer space. (i hated the feeling of ketosis after my surgery too... though some people claim they feel great when in it) so you should go with what is healthiest for you. i would ask for a script so you can track your BGL... fasting, before you eat, 15 minutes after (some people shoot up really high after they eat.. also bad for the body, so good to know), 1 hour and 3 hours. if you write down all this info, along with what you eat, you will have a better idea how to manage it. not everyone reacts the same to the same food, which is why everyone needs to listen to their own body when it comes to eating. (ie, some people can't tolerate dairy, despite the doc saying eat two dairy servings a day) tracking your BGL will take out the guess work and give you concrete info to go on when making decisions about what and when to eat.