Impact of Postprandial Hypoglycemia on Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery

Postprandial hypoglycemia (PPHG) is a well-known complication after bariatric surgery (BS). However, it is not known whether PPHG affects weight loss after BS.

To assess the impact of PPHG on weight loss after BS in subjects without and with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).

Data from 338 subjects who had undergone gastric bypass (RYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and were followed up for at least 2 years were analyzed. At each follow-up visit, the patient's anthropometric and biochemical characteristics were recorded and the Edinburgh Questionnaire was performed to evaluate the presence of PPHG symptoms.

Before surgery: younger age and lower BMI predicted PPHG after BS (p = 0.02 and p = 0.0008, respectively). Also, the baseline OGTT indicated that subjects who developed PPHG had an earlier glucose peak and more often had low glucose levels at 2 h compared with the no-PPHG group (p = 0.03 and p = 0.004, respectively). After surgery: Mild-to-moderate PPHG occurred equally after RYGB and LSG (38% vs 25%, p = ns when accounting for confounders), and in T2D who achieved remission and those who did not (29.5% vs 28.6%, ns). At the 2-year follow-up, occurrence of PPHG was independently associated with smaller weight loss (p = 0.0006).

Mild-to-moderate PPHG is a frequent complication after bariatric surgery and results in smaller weight loss after 2 years. Age, baseline BMI, and an earlier glucose peak during OGTT predict PPHG after bariatric surgery.