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The Question
03/15/10 08:26 AM

"My sister's blood sugars run in the 50-60 on a daily basis. She is known to drop as low as 17 and has to use a glucagon injection. We need help!!!"
Asked By: tlaytart  
Category: Other

Background Info Hide
My sister is 33 and has had gastric bypass followed by removal of her entire stomach due to complications. She originally weighed 375 and now weighs 150. She is in a college nursing program and is a single mother of 2.

Expert Answers (1)

03/19/10 05:01 PM

Helllo,

Thanks for asking dLife.

Blood glucose levels below 70 mg/dL are considered hypoglycemia (low blood glucose). It is good that glucagon is readily available to bring your sister's blood glucose back up to normal levels.

There are many causes of hypoglycemia:

  • not enough carbohydrate eaten during a meal

  • too much insulin for the amount of carbohydrates eaten

  • increased physical activity

    Your sister should talk with her doctor about the frequency of the hypoglcemic episodes. He or she can evaluate her diabetes treatment plan and adjust her diabetes medication accordingly.

    With dramatic weight loss, dosages of diabetes medications must be frequently adjusted to match the reductions in blood glucose levels. In fact, many people with diabetes who had gastric bypass surgery are able to normalize their blood glucose levels over time with little or no diabetes medications.

    Take care.

    • Answered By: Liz Quintana
    Accreditations: EdD, RD, LD, CDE
    Sources Show

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