Question:
How can I get my blood sugars under control to be approved for surgery?
I am having tremendous trouble with my blood sugar(A1C) count. It is 9.6 and my surgeon will not approve me unless it is below 7. Can anyone give me a way to tackle this problem? My nutritionist suggests I go on Medifast for diabetes patients. She states it will help me drop the 26 lbs. I gained back and control my blood sugars in order to be approved for surgery. I previously dropped more than the required amount of weight, unfortunately, illness made me gain it back. Can someone PLEASE give me advise on the blood sugar control/reduction???????? I currently take novolog and lantus insulin. — DIMPLES69 (posted on July 12, 2008)
July 12, 2008
Stacey, You are in a pickle, aren't you. My a1c was at 8.4 and my doctor
told me to get it below 8. I lost 22 pounds before surgery and got my a1c
to 7, the lowest it has ever been. The only way to get it to under 7 is
lose weight by cutting WAY DOWN on carbohydrates. It can be done but you
really have to lose the weight which is so hard for us. I used Humalog
25/75 or 75/25 insulin, whichever one it is, and glucophage. As I went
down in weight, my BS were easier to mannage and I cut way down on my
insulin from 86 units 3 times a day to 30 units 3 times a day. I cam home
from the surgery without diabetes. That is just the coolest thing on
earth. I had that d___ disease for 10 years and was beginning side effects
from it. Now it is gone. Good luck, wish I could have been more help.
Lyn
— SkinnyLynni2B
July 12, 2008
I agree with Lyn, the best and most effective way to lower your blood
sugars quickly is to lower carbs, decrease caloric intake and increase your
exercise. I know this is not easy, we are addicted to food and tend to be
couch potatoes when we are morbidly obese. Please, begin to dream of the
future and do what you gotta do girl.
Just start making small changes every day that will begin to add up and
make big changes in your life. Protein, veggies, water and exercise... you
can do this. We are here to listen and to help motivate if you need it so
post often. We are lurking and ready to help.
Good luck to you,
Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
— DawnVic
July 12, 2008
The nutritionist is right but I used the Atkins Advantage Protein drink, it
has 15 protein, 1 gram sugar and 2 net carbs and my sugars came under
control pretty fast, plus I lost weight. My A1C was 8.2 before the surgery
(I had lap band 4-16-08) but in one month it went to 7 and now I had
another one 7-10-08 and it is 6.5 (off the novolog and lantus) back on oral
medication but my doctor thinks I will be off of it entirely within 4-6
months (if I continue the weight loss) You can do it.
— dyates2948
July 12, 2008
I am a Registered Nurse. Call your endocrinologist or Primary Care Doctor
and get your insulin increased AND decrease drastically carbohydrates
(white bread, sugar, potatoes, rice, pasta,and juice mainly) , AND
increase exercise to at least a total of 30 minutes a day.
FOOD increases blood sugar, EXERCISE and INSULIN will decrease blood sugar.
If you need to meet with your doctor's nurse or a diabetes nurse ask for
it.
— nancycarle
July 12, 2008
RNY WLS will help, but you got to be below 7 to have surgery or you will
not heal properly. You don't want open wounds for months. Reduce Carbs,
to ZERO. It is hard at first, but you got to do it. Ask for some strong
medications, and then consider insulin, and check your Blood Sugers with a
meter 6 times a day. 2 Hours after each meal, when you get up and when you
go to bed as well as anytime you feel different. No sugars, even watch
natural fruit sugars, and stay away from Orange Juice. I got mine to 6.4 -
6.8 before surgery and 6 months later I am a 5.5 Never though I would see
it after 25 years with Diabities. Now I still will not touch Carbs, sugar,
or even fats except for olive oil. Best of success to you.
— William (Bill) wmil
July 12, 2008
Do you see an endocrinologist? If not, that would be the best start. I
have had dm II since 2003 and have been on and off meds and lost and gained
wt many times. My surgeon reccommended that I consult with an
endocrinologist before the surgery so that he can take care of my diabetes
needs right after surgery. I wish I had seen him yrs ago. He was so
helpful and helped me decrease my A1C from 7.8 to 7.0 in 2 months. He was
very dilagent in watching my bld sugars and adjutsting my meds. I am on
Metformin 500 2x a day, Januvia 50mg, and Lantus 110 units. Now I have
more issues with low blood sugars. I also just had gallbladder surgery and
the whole time I was in the hospital, my sugars were either normal or low.
So I am hoping after the bypass, the same will happen. He says he expects
me to get off meds pretty quickly with the surgery and wt loss. I also saw
a nutritionist ( required by ny insurance company before approval), and
they also helped me out tremendously. After having this gallbladder
surgery, which is supposedly easier than the bypass and having a few set
backs I see now how important it is to be as healthy as you can be to heal
faster. Unfortunately, my GB surgery was urgent, so I did not have a
choice, but now I am getting back in shape and going to start a liver
shrinking and high protein diet to put my body in the best shape possible.
Good luck with your quest!
— eyenjeff
July 12, 2008
contact me. I have something that is worth a try.
— bariatricdivalatina
July 13, 2008
How about making an appointment to see a local Diabetes educator?. They
are awesome! ( at least, mine is ) and she helps me trouble shoot all the
time. Most of the time they are covered by insurance, are not as expensive
as an endo, and they can give you a food plan, and get you going so that
you don't bottom out as you lose. I imagine that being sick really made the
sugars go up too..so hopefully by feeling better, you will be able to
conquer this.
— purplek78
July 13, 2008
Do all of the above and try a good liquid vitamin mineral such as VEMMA.
It has good results for lowering blood sugar count. Go to TrySomeVerve.com
— [Deactivated Member]
July 13, 2008
Stacey, I discovered something by accident. I needed to get off of
long-acting insulin before my EGD test on July 15 because I can't eat for
14 hours and I can't risk a low blood sugar attack. I started in June
reducing my units of levemir from 150 per day. I compensated by eating
smaller meals more frequently and less carbs (no simple sugars!) and moving
more. I did not lose weight, yet I just took my last dose of 20 units
tonight! My blood sugar readings have not gone higher! My readings are
between 94 and 220. I'm amazed. Start small....small steps, small meals,
small portions of carbs. I also substitute 2 meals during the week with
protein drinks that have fiber in them. It works! My A1C is right around
7.
— AlmaRene
July 13, 2008
Prior to surgery my AIC was 8.1 so I asked the doctor to change my
medication, plus being diabetic I ate healthy and cut out a lot of the
excess carbs, after surgery I was cured and had a new AIC reading of 4.7, I
am no longer a diabetic and there is no need for medication. My suggestion
is that you listen to your doctors and ask for their assistance while you
attempt to gain control of your sugar.
— cdombi37
July 23, 2008
I also needed to get my a1c under 8 to be cleared for surgery...My
endocrinologist put me on byetta to control my blood sugar it also helped
me lose 30 lbs preop...I was also put on a low carb high protein diet 2
weeks prior to surgery...The byetta was instrumental on getting my sugar
under control but you need to be taking pills not insulin..
— lori042499
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