Surgery & Diabetes Control

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2004
Surgery & Diabetes Control
6
Tue, 07-20-2004 - 12:23am
I am scheduled for major surgery July 30th; can anyone offer suggestions for the best way to manage my diabetes (type 2) during the recovery process? I have an appointment with my Endo, CDE and dietician later this week for their input but am curious if any of you have been through surgery and managing diabetes. I've been working closely with my surgeon to be sure my diabetes is properly managed during surgery and my hospitalization which is expected to be 7-10 days, it's the recovery period which will be challenging. My surgeon will consult my Endo, CDE and dietician while I am hospitalized; we are approaching this as a team effort to be sure all systems are well cared for.

The surgery is for treatment of GERD and I’ve been told by my surgeon recovery will be lengthy. For a time, could be weeks, I will be on liquids, and then advance to soft foods before resuming a regular meal plan. One potential side effect to this type of “diet” will be weight loss, only have 8 pounds to reach my goal so that’s okay but I didn’t want to lose it this way. I plan on asking my dietician how to be sure I get the right nutritional balance but am most curious how other diabetics have dealt with surgery and BS control.

I appreciate any information you might share.

Jan

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 07-20-2004 - 3:13am
Jan,

I am sorry to read that you have to have surgery but hopefully you will feel better afterwards. You have done everything correct thus far.

There are special liquid diets (glucerna is one) available that you will most likely be given in the hospital and to continue at home. The CDE and the dietitian will tell you what is available in your area.

The nurses and physicians will watch your blood sugar quite carefully after surgery. Do not be surprised if you are on insulin for a time because that makes your blood sugar management easier. I don't know if you will come home on insulin or not. Research has shown that tight control of your blood sugar post surgery results in a much better outcome for you. There is less infection and a quicker healing time.

Do not be surprised if your blood sugar is screwy after surgery. As you heal it will come back down towards normal. You cant ell that you are getting better because your blood sugar is improving.

Good Luck. We will all be pulling for you and please continue to post any additional questions that you may have.

A very gentle hug,

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40

Co-CL Diabetes Board


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2004
Tue, 07-20-2004 - 10:13am
My husband discovered he was a diabetic while he was in the hospital for an emergency surgery on his stomach. They kept a close eye on the diabetes along with everything else. His sugar went way up and they fed him insullin interveinously along with the other meds he was getting. He was in the hospital for a little over two weeks.

After he got home he was on Metformin for a while and the diabetes was improving and they kept cutting the amount of the Metformin. After he healed enough to walk again he was taken off the Metformin completely. Today he controls the diabetes with diet and exercise alone.

The hospital was constantly vigilant about the diabetes. He was in a small country hospital for the surgery. We were lucky that they had a surgeon that could do what he needed in the middle of a snow storm. We had 20 minutes notice that he would have to have the surgery.

It sounds like you are very well covered regarding the diabetes and the hospital knows you have the diabetes before hand. Hospital nurseing staff know a lot about diabetes, my Mother (an 88 yr old diabetic) had seven hours of surgery on her leg last September and went out dancing in December. She also got insullin durning the surgery and they kept her on it til she could take Gyberide and Actos pills again.

The hospital took better care of the diabetes than she does. That is another point in your favor, as I am pretty sure you take better control before the surgery than my Mother did.

I wish you the very best of luck in your upcoming surgery and will say a prayer for you. Practice some stress relieving techniques right now.


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2004
Tue, 07-20-2004 - 11:39pm
Thank you Mary Frances for the information you share, I've made some notes to ask my Endo, CDE and dietician. I'm glad you mentioned the possibility of insulin usage post operatively, it is definitely something I will talk with them about. I like knowing things in advance so as not to be surprised. I understand insulin makes for better management and if they decide it's necessary then I am fine with that...yet if I hadn't known of the possibility prior to surgery then it might have freaked me out thinking I was in bad shape.

Funny you mentioned Glucerna, in today's mail I received a "care package" (a six pack of Glucerna shakes in a variety of flavors) from my dietician, she wanted to be sure I had some in the house before surgery. How very sweet of her!

I am somewhat anxious about the surgery and that is reflected in my BS numbers the past few days, but I know after recovering I will feel much better.

Thanks again for the well wishes and the hug! I will let you know how I make out.

Jan

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2004
Tue, 07-20-2004 - 11:48pm
Thank you for response and the information you have shared, it's nice to have this support system. I appreciate the mention of insulin as a possibility, as I resplied to Mary Frances...I would rather know in advance that this is a possibility than be surprised post operatively and think maybe my diabetes was worse.

One of the things I learned in my diabetes education class which has stuck with me is that I am 90% responsible for my health care and that's why I have made appointments with my Endo, CDE and dietician prior to surgery to be sure I am well taken care of. I have great confidence in my health care team and appreciate their diligent care.

Thank you for the prayers, support and advice to practice stress relief...I forget to do that even though I know it helps!

Jan

Avatar for cl_d_minnick
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 1:07am

I have to say that with each surgery it does cause stress to the body, which in turn raises blood sugar. I found that right after I wake up my blood sugar tends to be a little higher than is normal, but it does drop back down all on its own after a bit. You have done the right thing with seeing your Endo, CDE, and dietician about your concerns since they would be the best source for information. I am also so very happy to hear that your surgeon will keep in contact with all of them since it will take all of them to keep things in check with you especially being first on liquids for a while until your able to hold down solid foods, which I have done before due to being in a coma state for 6 days with only being fed by IV and waking up to not being able to hold down any solids for about a week.


Just do what your team has planned for you and I am absolutely sure all will go just fine. Just keep closer tabs on your blood sugar for a few days to see how it goes with the liquid diet since as you know some like juice causes blood sugar to rise. Do keep us posted on things, because we will all be pulling for the quickest recovery possible. Take care and have a great day!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-02-2004
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 8:04am
Thanks for your support, I will keep you posted on how I make out.

Jan