For Type 1s

I have a few questions for the type 1 post ops out there. 1. What instructions did your endo give to your surgeon or anesthesiologist? 2. What type of insulin were you put on the day and night before surgery and the day of surgery? 3. If you are on a pump, when did you get hooked back up to it? 4. Is it reasonable to ask the endo to instruct the surgeon and his/her staff to check bg every hour while you are incapacitated? 5. Did you take your pump to the hospital with you? I will be my surgeon's first type 1 patient and I want to get an idea of how my bg may be managed. Elizabeth

Hi Elizabeth! I was my surgeon's first T-1 as well. During my hospital stay, the nurses helped me the most getting my bs readings, and giving the info to the endo. Okay the answers to your questions: 1. What instructions did your endo give to your surgeon or anesthesiologist? My endo was on the hospital staff, so I'm sure my chart was given to them, not sure of the instructions though. 2. What type of insulin were you put on the day and night before surgery and the day of surgery? My night time basal was the same (however, if you tend to have low blood sugar in the morning before breakfast, you may want to ask your endo, maybe he'll cut your basals down. 3. If you are on a pump, when did you get hooked back up to it? The day I left the hospital. It was very hard by day 2 not to have it on, however, I was monitored closely and the endo keep my blood sugar somewhat normal. I think they preferred the bs to be alittle higher than normal. I did have some low bs and was still okay. Once I was hooked back to my pump, within a couple of days, I could figure out what my basals should be. 4. Is it reasonable to ask the endo to instruct the surgeon and his/her staff to check bg every hour while you are incapacitated? I doubt the nurses would have the time for one on one care with one patient.. When the nurses made their rounds (which were frequent for me since I was in ICU my hospital stay) they would check my blood sugar. But like I said, I took my machine and tested myself and let them know. 5. Did you take your pump to the hospital with you? Yes, but never used it. However, every surgeon and endo is different, so you should ask them and tell them your concerns. I'm sure they will work with you to make you comfortable. I'm really excited for you, less than a month to go.......yay! If I can help in any way, you know you can e-mail me anytime. Take care, Wendy 278/188/150

Thanks Wendy! I spoke briefly with the bariatric nurse practitioner and she said I might be able to keep my pump on during surgery, no guarentee though. I got sick over the weekend for not eating enough carbs. I felt like I was in DKA but didn't have the high bg. I felt very lethargic and got dizzy during my workout. I was drinking 4-5 liters of water a day and when I checked my ketones, the stick turned black! I called my dietician and she told me to add a can or 2 of V-8 juice a day and to mix my shakes with Lactaid or soy milk. Well, it was a learning experience for me. Elizabeth

Hi Elizabeth! Glad to hear that you maybe able to keep your pump on after surgery......I know that will make you more comfortable. Hopefully the extra V-8 helps in stabalizing those low blood sugars your having while excersing. I had to cut my basal down after dinner for two hours during excercise and the hour afterwards. Talk to you soon.....take care!!! Wendy

Hi I am a 25 year type 1er and on pump 18 yrs now when I went into surgery I was told I could keep my pump on but as I was inder it so happened I had my site in the area that they needed to cut so they took it off but as soon as a woke which was under 1 hour they told me and tested me telling me I was 261 and they gave me a shot of regular of 6 units and as soon as I was able to ne alert I could put it back on I could hear them talking around me and saying as soon as she is awake enough we will let her put her pump on it was weird but then about 2 hours later I was awake enough tosay hey test me please I was 200 I think and I said I want to put my pump on unfortunatly me and anastisia did not agree and I was pretty neasuas every time I moved but the durgery itself I did not find to be a big deal little sore but the neasua for me was the worst part and that was due to anastisia on I have babbled enough hope this helped just put ur site in ur lower stomatch or butt if u can and they should let you keep it on.

I am a Type II but am also on an insulin pump.  I had the same problem.  They would not let me stay on my pump because it was in the surgical site.  They didn't let me keep my pump on at all at the hospital.  They had me on an IV of insulin and the nurses were not that knowledgeable about diabetes.  I couldn't wait to get home to monitor and manage my diabetes myself again.  I am still on the pump but my numbers have come down and so has my basal rate.