Gastric bypass may cause hypoglycemia

BOSTON, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Boston scientists are warning physicians of a hypoglycemic complication among gastric bypass surgery patients.

Collaborating researchers at Boston's Joslin Diabetes Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Brigham and Women's Hospital say physicians monitoring such patients should be alert for a new, potentially dangerous hypoglycemia complication that, while rare, may require quick treatment.

The study details the history of three non-diabetic patients who suffered such severe hypoglycemia following meals that they became confused and sometimes blacked out. Two cases resulted in automobile collisions.

The immediate cause of hypoglycemia was exceptionally high levels of insulin following meals. All three patients in the study failed to respond to medication, and ultimately required partial or complete removal of their pancreas -- the major source of insulin -- to prevent dangerous declines in blood glucose.

"Severe hypoglycemia is a complication of gastric bypass surgery, and should be considered if the patient has symptoms such as confusion, lightheadedness, rapid heart rate, shaking, sweating, excessive hunger, bad headaches in the morning or bad nightmares," said Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Patti, an investigator in Joslin's Research Section on Cellular and Molecular Physiology.

The research is published in the October issue of the journal Diabetologia.