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Hi all- I had my Roux en Y last Feb 2010.  Have been doing very well since, feel healthy, have reached my goal and have had very little problems overall.  As part of my post op practice, I have been going routinely for blood tests to monitor my levels, iron, calcium, etc.  In March as part of my regular physical, my GP had my blood sugar levels checked.  Because my fasting blood sugar levels were just very slightly elevated and because of a family history of Type II diabetes, she sent me for the 2 hour glucose test. I went last Friday. After taking the glucose, I felt awful, shaky, faint, nauseous, and tired.  I felt like I desperately needed to eat at the end of two hours and as soon as I got home I did and felt better in about an hour.  I had a call and a follow up visit with my GP yesterday after getting critical results.  Turns out that instead of elevating my blood sugar levels, mine plummeting after my body produced too much insulin following the glucose, which explains my strange physical reaction. I haven't really noticed this extreme reaction on a day to day basis, but I have noticed that I drink a glass of juice when very thirsty (so drank it fast), I have often felt a little ill after and attributed it to a mild form of dumping. 

So I am just wondering if other people have had this kind of reaction (flooding of insulin following a sugary intake) as well, or is this what dumping really is and I just didn't realize it. 

Hi Maureen,

I'm assuming that they had you drink some nasty orange stuff which is either 50 or 75 grams of pure glucose/sugar.  Naturally your body will get the reaction you did because all that glucose is dumping directly into your small intestine.  Sounds to me like you 'dumped'.  It's a horrible feeling isn't it. :-(  

I don't think anyone who's had a RNY should have this type of glucose testing done because it won't provide a true reading and has obvious bad side effects.  You are better off having a fasting blood sugar done in the lab before breakfast or to monitor your own capillary blood sugars at home with a glucometer if your physician is concerned.

I hope this helps.

Lisa C

I opted out of this test! I was told by several fellow rnyers that we are not supposed to get this test done and there is a similar test we can get through bloodwork! (Not saying you were wrong for getting this test as that is between you and your doctor) I called Dr. Amsons office and they told me not to get this done too so hopefully all this bloodwork (they took 10 little tubes today)and my ECG so hopefully we can figure out what is causing my heart problems and nausea SOON!!! grrrrrr! LOL

Like Lisa said a few gals told me that we cannot get a true reading through this test.

I'm 3 years post-op and a Type 2 diabetic.  Within 3 months of surgery I was off all meds and my blood sugars have been in the normal range every since.  However, if I do not eat enough protein I experience extremely low blood sugar, which comes on very suddenly – I get dizzy, get the shakes & sweats, heart beat elevates, and I feel like I'm going to pass out.  After a couple of glucose tablets and some protein I'm fine.