Postbariatric hypoglycemia, abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass explored by continuous glucose monitoring

• Published in: Obesity research & clinical practice 2024-01, Vol.18 (1), p.9-14
• Main Authors: Bjerkan, Kirsti K., Sandvik, Jorunn, Nymo, Siren, Johnsen, Gjermund, Hyldmo, Åsne A., Kulseng, Bård Eirik, Salater, Sissel, Høydal, Kjetil Laurits, Hoff, Dag Arne L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdominal pain; Dumping syndrome; Late dumping; Postbariatric hypoglycemia; Postprandial hypoglycemia; RYGB
• ISSN: 1871-403X; 1878-0318
• DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2024.02.004

Abdominal pain and postbariatric hypoglycemia (PBH) are common after bariatric surgery. This study aimed to explore the potential relationship between abdominal pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, and PBH more than a decade after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and whether continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) with dietary intervention has an educational role in reducing symptoms. At two public hospitals in Norway (one University Hospital) 22 of 46 invited patients who reported abdominal pain more than weekly took part. Recruited from a prospective follow-up study of 546 patients 14.5 years after RYGB. They used a CGM for two 14-day periods, with a dietary intervention between periods. The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and the Dumping Severity Score (DSS) questionnaires were completed at the start and end of the study. The 22 women had preoperative age 39.6 ± 7.7 years and body mass index (BMI) 42.0 ± 4.0 kg/m2, present age 54.6 ± 7.7 years and BMI 29.8 ± 4.8 kg/m2. The total GSRS score and DSS of early dumping decreased after the diet intervention. The number of events with Level 1 (