Capt Wolf Larson

Hi, I am a Type II diabetic on insulin. I had my sleeve on 3/1/11 so I'm 12 days post-op. I was really interested to see how the VSG would effect my BG. Before the sleeve, I took 40 units long acting in the morning, 25-35 units short acting with meals and 120 units long acting at bedtime. In short, I was shooting a TON of insulin, which kept making me hungrier and hungier, and gaining more and more weight! Like you, within 5 days I was down to NO short acting, and 70 units long acting in the morning. Also, like you, I saw averages in the morning in the 150's and 160's. However, by the afternoon, they would drop into the 80's. I was thrilled but, the high morning values seem to be due primarily to 2 things - 1) The "dawn" effect which raises BG slowly through the night, and which I've always had a problem, and 2) The fact that I was eating Soups with a fair number of carbs for my evening meal. I can drink all the Protein shakes I want with almost no rise in BG, BECAUSE THERE ARE ALMOST NO CARBs IN THEM. Then I have a cup of Soup thickemed with flower, or one with noodles, and there goes my BG up! There are a number of studies that show that insulin resistance takes a sharp drop after VSG (even BEFORE substantial weight loss), but eating a meal with a fair number of carbs without a rise of BG is just asking too much at 11 days out. Over time with continued weight loss our insulin resistance should continue to improve, though I doubt that I'll ever get off insulin because after 15 years with the disease, my pancreas is probably exhausted. Or close to it. However, being able to get by on so much less insulin is a beautiful and healthy thing! I'm nothing but grateful. Don't forget to check the carbs in thoses soups. The creamy soups they suggest are LOADED with flour to thicken them. Can't wait until this "full liquid" stage is over! Wishing you every success, Capt. wolf Larson