Nutritional strategies for correcting low glucose values in patients with postbariatric hypoglycaemia: A randomized controlled three‐arm crossover trial

Abstract Aim To evaluate the efficacy of nutritional hypoglycaemia correction strategies in postbariatric hypoglycaemia (PBH) after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Materials and methods In a randomized, controlled, three‐arm crossover trial, eight post‐RYGB adults (mean [SD] 7.0 [1.4] years since surgery) with PBH ingested a solid mixed meal (584 kcal, 85 g carbohydrates, 21 g fat, 12 g protein) to induce hypoglycaemia on three separate days. Upon reaching plasma glucose of less than 3.0 mmol/L, hypoglycaemia was corrected with 15 g of glucose (G15), 5 g of glucose (G5) or a protein bar (P10, 10 g of protein) in random order. The primary outcome was percentage of time spent in the target plasma glucose range (3.9‐5.5 mmol/L) during 40 minutes after correction. Results Postcorrection time spent in the target glucose range did not differ significantly between the interventions ( P = .161). However, postcorrection time with glucose less than 3.9 mmol/L was lower after G15 than P10 ( P = .007), whereas time spent with glucose more than 5.5 mmol/L, peak glucose and insulin 15 minutes postcorrection were higher after G15 than G5 and P10 ( P < .001). Glucagon 15 minutes postcorrection was higher after P10 than after G15 and G5 ( P = .002 and P = .003, respectively). G15 resulted in rebound hypoglycaemia (< 3.0 mmol/L) in three of eight cases (38%), while no rebound hypoglycaemia occurred with G5 and P10. Conclusions Correcting hypoglycaemia with 15 g of glucose should be reconsidered in post‐RYGB PBH. A lower dose appears to sufficiently increase glucose levels outside the critical range in most cases, and complementary nutrients (e.g. proteins) may provide glycaemia‐stabilizing benefits. Registration number of clinical trial NTC05250271 ( ClinicalTrials.gov ).