Can anyone who has type 1 diabetes help me with my fears?

Hi my name is Keisha and I am a type 1 diabetic. I am having gastric bypass on June 27th. I am very scared because for some reason some doctors think as if type 1 diabetics are not to able to handle the gastric bypass. I have had diabetes since the age of 9. I am now 27 and I am nervous. Some people suggested that I should ask my doctor to have a stress test and a heart catheterization test done before the surgery. I wanted to ask you all what type test did you all have before having the surgery. Is there anyone who has had type 1 diabetes almost all of your lives and have had gastric bypass? If so can someone give some advice on what to expect from the surgery and what precautions should I take before surgery?

Hi Keisha,

I'm type I and type II, having WLS June 6th. All the testing they've done on me is the usual: chest x-ray, labs, EKG. I go to the hospital day before surgery for more of the same. I know they are concerned about my AIC and will be testing that again, hoping it goes down from the 7.9 that it was last time checked. My concern is about wearing my pump, and correcting lows. Will I tolerate juice? or dump? I've also been told I will be in the hospital a couple of days because of the diabetes. Good luck!! Fern

I was in the hospital about 27 hours or so and then was released. I also have a pump and it's my best friend but I do get low blood sugar a good deal. I tolerate orange juice VERY well...doesn't make me dump AT ALL and I've had to use it to bring my BS up more than once. My A1C now is 6.1...that's the lowest it's been in years. Good luck!

Lance Felps  I was wondering did you have open or lap gastric bypass?

Keisha, I hope everthing goes well with your surgery. I too am a type 1 and am currently researching all my options for surgery.  I have found very little information regarding wls and type 1. Everthing relates primarlily to type 2.  Good luck!  

Thanks I hope everything goes well too. I have had people say type 1 do have success with the surgery. I will let know how everything goes. Thanks

Hi Keisha, I am a type 1 diabetic was on an insulin pump like fern pre-op doing about 100+units daily. HA1Cs were 9% on average. I had Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (no intestinal rerouting, only 85% stomach removal) done August 2007. The day after surgery my insulin use was in half. In february i went "off line", my endocronologist calls it that when you remove the pump. I am simply using injections to regulate my sugars. I use 12 units lantus at night and 4-7 units per meal of aprida. My surgery has saved my life.  I highly recommend looking at all surgeries before committing to one. I also recommend working closely with your endocronologist, surgeon, and a nutritionist, also a counselor before and after surgery. it is not an easy life change, but for me............it has been unbelievable. jeni

Hi J2 O !!

I am type 1 with a BMI of 31, I take insulin shots ( nph, and humalog) I do not have a cgm or a pump, pcos and hypothyroidism

and I am considering the gastric sleeve, but not a 100% convinced , I know your post is from 08 , I would like to know after all these years how are you doing?,any regrets or advises?

I have had type 1 diabetes for over 8 years now and I just had my RNY in March. I'm doing great, the only thing you have to worry about is having low blood sugar. It's a pain now because you can't really drink/eat anything too fast so getting it to come up is a little harder than before but it's not too bad. The only pre-op tests I had done was a chest x-ray, psych evaluation, some normal blood work and that's about it. I also have an insulin pump, but it's like my best friend haha. I have lost nearly 90 pounds so far, also. Everything is doing great with me, still a diabetic naturally, but doing well otherwise. I'd say go ahead and don't have any fears. Everything should come out just fine! Any questions? Just ask ;-)

Thanks for the response. That makes me feel a lot better. I hope I have as much luck as you. I am kind of scared but the more people I talk to the more I feel better. Good luck on your continue success!