Prediabetes and Ivor Lewis op

[champagnelover]

I have just been told I am prediabetic. I had oesophageal cancer 10 years ago and had the Ivor Lewis op. Has anyone else been in the same situation and if so what have you done about it. I still sometimes experience dumping especially after eating sugary things and have thought that the feelings associated with dumping are like a diabetic reaction. Any ideas?

[AoifeMcC]

I have been a type 1 diabetic since childhood and had chemo in 2006 then a total esophagectomy in early 2007, I also had my two children before the 5 years. It does make life more complex but I have had continous glucose monotor for over the past year which has been a lifechanger.

Best wishes.

[champagnelover in reply to AoifeMcC]

Thanks Aoife - I think I will get a glucose monitor. A practice nurse suggested that I could do a 9 month course - which did make me smile because I suspect it is about losing weight! She hadn't seen me yet so maybe a little shock when she sees how thin I am!

[sportsman]

You've made me think. I had my esophagectomy in 2005 and was told I was Diabetes type 2 in 2008 since when I have been diet controlled. I also experience relatively mild dumping occasionally, mainly if I happen to have a midday meal . I always carry Dextrasol glucose tablets and find if I take a couple my dumping goes away after a relatively short time. I have often thought that this, in relation to diabetes, is counter intuitive. I vaguely remember mentioning this to my GP several years ago with a similar vague response. I suspect I'm not adding anything to your knowledge but, the next time I see my GP, I will ask the question again.

[champagnelover in reply to sportsman]

Thanks sportsman. I suspect GPs don't really understand how our realigned insides work. I am going to contact the specialist nurse at the hospital where I had my op.

[sportsman in reply to champagnelover]

I think you're right about GP's knowledge. If you find anything useful from your nurse I will be interested.

[liz_crisp]

I am 10 years on and have been told in A&E or by paramedics that I need to go to the diabetic clinic normally after I had a dumping phase or people were worried as I was so fast asleep after a large meal. I do have a glucose monitor which is useful as I had hypoglycaemia before I got the cancer. But the clinics discharged me each time. It made me smile to when i filled out their diet sheet weighing in at 9 stone and 5ft 9 tall. How many biscuits did I eat.a day. Do talk to your cancer specialist nurse. I was ill with pneumonia a couple of summers ago and it really upset my system. I got a lot more dumping but it has settled down again. Be interested in how the diabetic clinic goes good luck

[grandylynda]

Yep, I had Iver Lewis 2 years ago. Got weight back to 7 . 5 stone and have to work at keeping it there. I have [as my sister so kindly pointed out!] spare skin in places. I am now pre diabetic and the second blood test was higher than the first. 2 different GPs have said don't worry yet and acknowledged that eating a balance diet is harder when you are out and about and have to eat little and often. I get dumping and dextrose helps a lot but iot's hard to sort it all out. You don't say how old you are, I am nearly 71 and am inclined to think that I am alive, have a life again and should maybe just get on with it!. I shal be asking my uper GI nurse at next appointment. My cholesterol is also creeping up again. I had it under control before the cancer. Anyway, we all keep going and do our best to be positive. Perhaps we can compare notes after hospital appointments

[champagnelover in reply to grandylynda]

Thanks grandylynda I have seen my GP since writing my post and she said she wasn't concerned about my prediabetes test result. She agreed the course the nurse wanted to send me on was about weight loss and exercise. I am 67 and have a fairly active life - looking after my 1 year old grandchild helps that! I am going to keep my appointment with the nurse as I think she needs to see that we have special problems and don't fit the mould in the same way as some people who made need the help. I am so grateful to be still here after 10 years!

[Mauser1905]

Hi there,

I had a dietetic clinic appointment yesterday. The dietitian ruled out that the problems of out of breathe and associated other dumping is related to the diet I am taking.

She will wrote to my GP.

My blood glucose levels are also on the higher end of turning to type 2. But GP practice diabetic nurse hasn't come across a patient suffering from oesophagectomy and hyperglycemia. So she is out of her typical type 1 and 2 expertise and unable to help.

GPs had been pushing to see the dietitians etc for long time and honestly the obese abdomen could explain higher blood sugar levels.

My both HbA1c levels were tip end to turn type 2 but GPs arent concerned about it as it's in the range.

I am now 41 and had ivor lewis type oesophagectomy 1.5yr back.

Struggling to get serious attention to my concerns as to turning type 2 diabetic.

[jeffw663]

Hi, I have been type 2 for over 15 years and was on Metformin.

After my I. L. 16 months ago I found that this made my dumping worse so I decided to stop taking it within 3 months of coming home. I told my Diabetic nurse what I had done and why and they were sympathetic and said that whilst my blood sugar levels were a little on the high side, as there appeared to be no bad problems, i.e. eyesight etc to continue but be very careful with my diet which I am.

As I lost about 30kg prior to my op, my blood sugars dropped significantly but now I have regained a little weight it has crept up.

So far I think I have done the right thing but be aware that the N H S frequently change the levels which are used to determine the various stages of Diabetes.

I am currently not taking any medication for diabetes, as they say, so far so good.

Jeff

[fieryvelvet2000]

what is considered to be a normal blood sugar level?