If you have had any type of surgery, ... - Diabetes Research...
If you have had any type of surgery, did your blood sugars stay controlled? What did you do?
Activity2004Administrator11 VotersI was given excellent and comprehensive advice and care regarding managing my sugars prior, during and post operation by my consultant and anaesthetist. My main contacts during recovery and recuperation were the consultant and Diabetes Nurse Practitioner - the latter was available at short notice and would give comprehensive advice by telephone or arrange a face to face consultation. I was also referred by my GP to a Diabetes Nurse Practitioner in my local area, who was known to and had trained with the one in the hospital and they sort of 'tag teamed' me for six weeks. I am inordinately thankful to the NHS and to these selfless professionals in particular. I feel incredibly blessed.
That's fantastic news and wonderful support. Did you have to go back for any follow up appointments after surgery was done?
Yes. I had four follow up appointments in just over a year - roughly every three months. Two with the consultant himself, the first and last - where I was signed off and two with other members of his team, one of which included two medical students who appeared to be very interested in the outcome of my surgery.
My healing was slower than normal despite my sugars being mainly in range - thanks to the ongoing support I mentioned. At some stage I had to take antibiotics. My eating was fairly ok but for some reason, struggled with periods of nausea, constipation and dehydration so all in all, my aftercare was exemplary.
Tbh, I still struggle with constipation from time to time but I'm much better at spotting the signs and taking steps to address it with more roughage and fluid intake as well as keeping relevant meds to hand, just in case.
I had an Achilles’ tendon reconstruction operation involving a tendon harvesting and transplant. At the last moment, I opted for a spinal block instead of a GA and the op had no effect on my blood sugars. Post-op, I was not mobile so had to modify my calorie intake.
How long were you on bed rest?
I was not weight bearing on my left foot for 4 weeks. I used a walking frame in the house and a wheelchair outside.
Thank you for letting us know! Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Really bad rain/thunderstorm here now by my house.
Very interesting conversation have not thought of surgery although getting to the age and my body to breaking things. Though I broke my foot the other day from the dog stepping on it- me 90lbs and him 60lbs at six months. I've had many falls from seizures one of these times one of them will claim me. Looking forward to hearing from others on how it has effected their blood sugar levels and how to prepare if you know you are going to have surgery and that what great staff their is out there! Thanks again Leah.
You’re welcome! Please make sure that your dog is careful with where he steps.
Yes, this is a very good conversation!😀👍
I had a triple heart bypass just after the May Bank Holiday of 2018. One year prior to that I had set out a plan to lose weight because my insulin levels were continuing to rise and my weight had risen to 18.5 stone. By April of 2018 I weighed 11.5 stone and effectively had reversed my diabetes and was taking no medication what so ever and was able to come off the DVLA restrictive index, controlling the disease through weight loss and exercise - something that eventually went on to save my life because of my fitness levels and stamina. In the 10 days I was in hospital (from heart attack through post operation release) my weight increased by almost a stone, mainly through water retention and digestive biscuits with tea! Once home, the weight and the water dissipated and now over a year later, I still manage my diabetes through diet and exercise and weigh 11 stone 3lbs - height 5.8" at age 69. Fully fit and signed off from cardiac surgical team as fully recovered and 100% fit. The NHS medical and surgical team are superb and worth every penny and more. My diabetic care and support continues and have the six monthly checks and yearly eye checks as well. I still test about once every three days, rotating the time from morning, noon and evening and am maintaining a level 5.9 HBA1C.
That’s great news about your A1c.😀👍 Was your blood sugar tested before you were able to go back home?
It was a bit of a battle in hospital since they insisted on testing my blood three times a day but each time the readings were below 5.6 every time - when they tested before meals! They would test up to one hour after meals but would not record whether the readings were taken before or after meals. I did discuss the system being used with the diabetic sister who said it was all down to staff levels with not enough time to record all the diabetics at the prescribed time. They also had a problem with my being diabetic but not needing medication and thought this very unusual also that I used my own tester so that the machine recorded my levels so that I would be able to retrieve the data when I got home and add it to my spreadsheet records - I have spreadsheets of my daily readings and medication levels since diagnosed ten years ago that allow me to reflect upon trends and dietary changes to the readings.
I recently had surgery this past week and the hospital used my CGM during the surgery since both numbers before surgery matched up with each other! The sensor worked very well.😀👍 Has a doctor suggested a CGM?
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Please check your private messages on HU. I sent a message to you tonight. It’s okay!😀👍
I forgot to mention the most important piece of information being that I am type 2 diabetic and unlike the myth that says all type 2 diabetics must be overweight and incredibly lazy - mine was brought about during a seven month period where my downs syndrome sister was hospitalised and who passed away in the January. This was inevitable and accepted and had a more understanding approach been available, her suffering might have been much shorter! I realised something was wrong in the October before she died only because I began to drink more and more water or sugar free drinks - yes even at that period I used sweetener and kept an eye on sugar intake.
No one this side of the pond has been offered a CGM as a form of monitoring their blood sugar levels and I read with much interest the artice on the subject at endocrineweb.com/news/diabe... although I have never found monitoring a problem using an "Accu-Chek" Mobile smart meter that carries a needle cassette for 6 needles and allows me to transfer data from the meter to a spreadsheet on my computer.
My apologies for the lack of clarity regarding type of diabetes.
It’s okay! Thank you for letting us know more information about yourself and your family. You can always tell us whatever you’re wanting to share. No pressure!😀👍
I had Disc and Vertibrae removed, Appendix which ruptured before I was diagnosed with diabetes.
Sorry for the delay.
When I was 2 weeks old, I had surgery twice to remove most of my pancreas (the first surgery didn't work) and my appendix at the same time.
