Hypoglycemia Post Surgery
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Hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar, can be triggered by a number of different health factors; such as type 2 diabetes, excessive alcohol intake, the use of medications, and other illnesses that affect the production of insulin.
In most cases, hypoglycemia is a major side effect of type 2 diabetes.
Most patients with type 2 diabetes develop their condition as a result of eating a high-fat diet and becoming resistant to insulin. Since type 2 diabetics are typically prone to having higher blood sugar levels, they are prescribed medications to lower their blood sugar levels if diet and exercise fail to help. In some cases, type 2 diabetics can suffer from hypoglycemia if they experience difficulty in managing their conditions efficiently.
Hypoglycemia is extremely dangerous and can cause a person to either lose consciousness, suffer from seizures, or become hospitalized. However, patients who suffer from both type 2 diabetes and hypoglycemia have the opportunity to eliminate or reverse their conditions if they decide to undergo bariatric surgery.
According to research presented at a recent conference for the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, hypoglycemia is rare in patients who have had bariatric surgery. During a controlled medical study, bariatric surgery was shown to reverse type 2 diabetes and reduce the need for medications that lower blood sugar levels — ultimately eliminating incidences involving hypoglycemia.
The study involved nearly 1,100 patients who had undergone bariatric surgery and had previously experienced incidents involving hypoglycemia. Many of the patients involved in the study suffered from type 2 diabetes; however, the study also involved patients who had suffered from hypoglycemia but did not have type 2 diabetes. Out of all the patients who had had weight-loss surgery, only 0.37 percent required ongoing treatment for hypoglycemia following surgery, whereas the rest of the bariatric patients were able to reduce or eliminate hypoglycemic incidents fully through either weight loss, the reversal of type 2 diabetes, or by following a healthy diet and exercise regime following surgery.
The study presented at the annual conference further solidifies the benefits of weight-loss surgery in regards to addressing obesity and certain comorbidities, such as type 2 diabetes. Many health care organizations around the world are now recognizing that bariatric surgery is a viable solution to helping overweight and obese patients become healthier through weight loss.
If you are interested in weight loss surgery, check out MBL’s Ultimate Guide To Weight Loss Surgery.
