Dumping syndrome is a digestive condition that occurs in people who have had surgery to remove part or all of the stomach. This condition is characterized by the rapid movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine and other organs in the digestive system. It can lead to hypoglycemia, which is caused by excessive insulin production in response to the influx of glucose in the small intestine.
The removal of the stomach changes the digestive process, causing undigested food to pass quickly to the small intestine. When undigested food reaches the small intestine, vasoactive hormones are released, leading to symptoms such as nausea, bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. At the same time, the small intestine receives a large amount of sugar, causing the pancreas to release more insulin and resulting in a drop in blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia due to dumping syndrome usually occur 1-3 hours after a meal high in carbohydrates. Treatment for this condition includes emergency care and may involve changes in diet, medications to slow digestion or glucose absorption, and in some cases, surgery. To prevent hypoglycemia related to dumping syndrome, patients can follow a diet that includes smaller, more frequent meals and avoids high-carbohydrate foods.
While dumping syndrome is not typically life-threatening, severe cases can lead to complications such as rapid weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, persistent diarrhea, dehydration
