Low insulin causing fainting

[CWAM 8]

I had my sleeve April 4 in June I had an episode in a grocery story were I passed out. The episode happened twice in about a 45 min period. Went to the hospital all tests were normal. I chalked it up to waiting to long to eat but followed up with my primary care. She did a 3 hour glucose test and found within an hour my insulin level went from 10 at fasting to 211, for those not aware that's and unheard of level, which she has seen one other time and that was in someone who had also had Bariatric surgery but she was 2 years post op not 3 months. She put me on metformin hoping to regulate and I ate about every 3 hours. I thought it was takin care of until out of nowhere I had another episode a few weeks ago and have felt pretty poorly since. I can never catch a sugar drop at least not at levels I believe should make me pass out. I get a continuous glucose monitor this week to wear for a week and have an endocrinologist appt at the end of the month. I can't find much research on this issue but my doc did give me an article about it. Essentially your body thinks its starving so it over reacts to food it gets producing too much insulin dropping your blood sugar ( sort of reactive hypoglycemia but a more intense reaction). And can actually cause your pancreas to grow. I am so pumped about my weight loss ( 80 lbs in 5 months) but I did this to be healthier too and I have followed surgeons/ nuts instructions to a T and feel very discouraged by this development. Has any one else experienced this? Essentially it's nothing I am doing wrong it's just a negative reaction my body has decided to have following surgery. But again not much research out there so I thought maybe some of you may have insight.

[CWAM 8]

Sorry should say low blood sugar/ high insulin

[gamergirl 4,609]

That doesn't sound like fun does it? I'm curious what people say because my husband and I are 4 weeks out and are dizzy every time we stand up, and at various other times, but I put that down to our very low calories. All my blood tests came back with normal levels but we didn't do a fasting glucose. Hmmm wondering if we should do that.

Does your doctor think this goes away with time as you can eat more?

[ca_medic5 75]

I'll have to keep up on this plz let us know ur results. Over reaction of your pancreas to food? We're u a long time diabetic. Controlled or uncontrolled diabetic prior to surgery? I'll have to look this up interesting

[CWAM 8]

I'll have to keep up on this plz let us know ur results. Over reaction of your pancreas to food? We're u a long time diabetic. Controlled or uncontrolled diabetic prior to surgery? I'll have to look this up interesting

My family has a long history of diabetes but I had normal blood sugar/ insulin prior to surgery. This is out of left field really. I had a BMW of almost 50, high blood pressure, and morbidly obese which is why I did surgery. Due to family history diabetes was probably in the future but I'm only 26 so it wasn't there yet. I get usually 110+ g of Protein calories stay about 900 carbs were around 50-75 and was reduced to 30 or less for a couple weeks but I have been instructed to heighten those up again. Again model patient then this.

[ChristineR 128]

Interesting. Can this clear up on its own? Please keep us posted and I hope you feel better soon and get some clear answers

[tami- 0]

I am a year and 5 months out and having the same issue. I had the test yesterday ... Well part of it. Had an episode during testing which took my sugar down to 43. I was told to eat a Protein snack two hrs after meals and before bed. Drink plenty also as being dehydrated can trigger it also.

[nadoue 158]

2 years out and this is one of my very concern. I try to get a good snack in the morning, carb and do not skip lunch. So far so good.

[Peggy D 124]

That doesn't sound like fun does it? I'm curious what people say because my husband and I are 4 weeks out and are dizzy every time we stand up, and at various other times, but I put that down to our very low calories. All my blood tests came back with normal levels but we didn't do a fasting glucose. Hmmm wondering if we should do that.

Does your doctor think this goes away with time as you can eat more?

I saw my surgeon today for my first post-op visit, 18 days since surgery. He did caution me to be aware of orthostatic hypotension. If you stand up too quickly your blood pressure drops. Apparently we're more likely to develop this after WLS since we lose a lot of the fat padding around our organs.

[ChristineR 128]

I saw my surgeon today for my first post-op visit, 18 days since surgery. He did caution me to be aware of orthostatic hypotension. If you stand up too quickly your blood pressure drops. Apparently we're more likely to develop this after WLS since we lose a lot of the fat padding around our organs.

That's exactly what happens to me every time I stand up and sometimes when I get out of the car (only if I'm not driving). It's an awful feeling!

[CWAM 8]

I had heard of that when standing up suddenly after sitting particularly after long periods but the first time it happened to me I had been up walking for an hour and half (slowly it was a grocery store) and I feel crummy all day almost like its buildinf