If you are obese and have had trouble controlling your weight with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, then it may be in your best interest to speak to a professional about bariatric surgery. If you are eligible for the surgery, then you will need to manage your diet carefully afterward. And, one complication you may run into involves low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Keep reading to learn how you can go about avoiding this issue.

Reduce Sugar Intake

A great deal of metabolic changes occur in the body when you go through bariatric surgery. You simply cannot eat as much food, so your body must adapt to this. Before your surgery, your body was used to producing enough insulin to manage the sugar from all the food you were likely eating. Your body will continue to produce a great deal of insulin for some time, and this can cause your blood sugar levels to rise and then drop quickly, creating hypoglycemia. 

You can help your body get back on track metabolically by reducing your intake of sugar. In other words, your body will identify more quickly the fact that there is not nearly as much sugar being consumed and the insulin is not required.

Try to avoid anything with refined sugar. This means minimizing your desserts and others sweets and sticking to low sugar options like carrot cake, yogurt parfaits, and fruit pops. You can also opt for diabetic desserts and treats that use artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. 

You also want to reduce your intake of fruits that are high in sugar like bananas, apples, grapes, and plums. 

Eat Frequent Meals

Your physician will inform you that you need to eat smaller meals that are more frequent. Your digestive system simply cannot handle the amounts of food that you are used to eating. And, you will need to schedule your meals often to ensure that your body is receiving a consistent amount of nutrition. In other words, you want to provide carbohydrates regularly to keep sugar levels regular. 

Eat a small meal once every three to four hours and make sure that you consume one complex carbohydrate during each meal. Foods that contain the carbohydrates include whole grain items, vegetables, beans, pasta, oatmeal, and quinoa.

If you do eat fruits or other items with sugar, then pair them with high fiber items. This will help to slow down the digestion of sugar and its release into the body. 

If you want to know more about bariatric surgery and how you reduce hypoglycemic concerns, speak with a bariatric surgeon. 

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