Question:
My question is..what happens to your suger levels after surgery.
Will I still have to finger stick and check my levels? Does the diabetes go away immediatley after surgery? Does it take time? — Sue T. (posted on January 27, 2003)
January 27, 2003
Sue, I know there are some who believe that this surgery 'cures' diabetes.
It does NOT! Your blood sugar levels will get back to normal very quickly.
However, what this means is that you are controlling your diabetes with
diet and exercise. Although you probably don't have to be as vigilant as
you have been in the past, it would still be a good idea to get an A1C test
a couple of times a year, or even to check your sugar levels 4 times a day
for one day every month or so. You don't want your sugar levels to go back
up without your knowing it.
— garw
January 27, 2003
My blood sugar has been normal since my third day post op...it is only
checked by the lab when I have routine bloodwork done every 2 or 3 months.
My doctors told me I could throw away my monitor! I think it depends on
your personal medical condition, and you won't know until after the
surgery...my doctor does say that 90% of the diabetics are
"cured" by this procedure....he and my other physicians no longer
consider me a diabetic. Good luck.
— Linda 1.
January 27, 2003
My blood sugars were at normal by the time I came home from the hospital.
This was my main reason for having surgery. I had studied and found that
diabetes was eliminated 82% of the time. And most cases where it was not
eliminated the patient was older and had been living with diabetes for a
long time.
— Linda A.
January 27, 2003
This is something you need to keep in VERY close contact with your internal
medicine doctor about. Most surgeons tell you to keep in close contact
with the doctor who treats your diabetes, as that is NOT something most
surgeons feel very comfortable handling! A lot will depend on what meds
you take, how much you take, and how well they control your sugars now.
There are just too many variables and this is something you don't need to
rely on this website for (as good as it is!), but need to work CLOSELY with
your diabetic doctor on. Personally, I was taking 10 mg of Glucotrol XL
twice a day before surgery and my sugars were still consistenly over 200.
Within a week postop, I was down to 1 pill once a day and within a couple
of weeks was taking 5mg once daily. Six weeks to the day postop, my
internal medicine MD took me off all meds completely, but still had my
check them 3 times a week for another few weeks. I haven't had to do a
fingerstick for over 3 months now. My hemoglobin A1c done at 5 months
postop was 5.4, normal. But the previous poster was correct. That doesn't
mean I am no longer diabetic, just that diet and exercise and LOSING WEIGHT
have my condition under control. I haven't miraculously begun to use the
insulin my body produces or begun to produce more insulin, so I am still a
diabetic. PLEASE make sure you follow the directions your diabetic doctor
gives you. You need to have that physician VERY involved with your preop
and postop care! Good luck to you!
— Carolyn I.
January 27, 2003
This is something you need to keep in VERY close contact with your internal
medicine doctor about. Most surgeons tell you to keep in close contact
with the doctor who treats your diabetes, as that is NOT something most
surgeons feel very comfortable handling! A lot will depend on what meds
you take, how much you take, and how well they control your sugars now.
There are just too many variables and this is something you don't need to
rely on this website for (as good as it is!), but need to work CLOSELY with
your diabetic doctor on. Personally, I was taking 10 mg of Glucotrol XL
twice a day before surgery and my sugars were still consistenly over 200.
Within a week postop, I was down to 1 pill once a day and within a couple
of weeks was taking 5mg once daily. Six weeks to the day postop, my
internal medicine MD took me off all meds completely, but still had me
check them 3 times a week for another few weeks. I haven't had to do a
fingerstick for over 3 months now. My hemoglobin A1c done at 5 months
postop was 5.4, normal. But the previous poster was correct. That doesn't
mean I am no longer diabetic, just that diet and exercise and LOSING WEIGHT
have my condition under control. I haven't miraculously begun to use the
insulin my body produces or begun to produce more insulin, so I am still a
diabetic. PLEASE make sure you follow the directions your diabetic doctor
gives you. You need to have that physician VERY involved with your preop
and postop care! Good luck to you!
— Carolyn I.
January 27, 2003
I haven't been on my Glucotrol XL since 2 days prior to surgery (when I
started my liquid diet). They did a non-fasting blood glucose during my 3
and 6-month blood studies as well as a HgA1C. My blood glucose was 75
both times and my 1st HgA1C post-op was 5.3 and the 2nd was 5.2...JR
— John Rushton
January 28, 2003
Hi, when I was in the hospital for my surgery, my sugar levels were really
high. They kept giving me insullin shots and I was pretty upset about it.
When I was sent home, my doctor told me to stay off my medicine. I was
scared. My levels were high (199) for about a week or two when I came
home, but then they started to drop. I am currently around 112 on a daily
basis. I am taking no meds at all for any reason, and I took 13 pills a
day just to deal with all my co-mobidities. Hope this helps. Good luck and
God bless. Martha
— Martha P.
Click Here to Return