Pre-Surgery Liquid Diet and Diabetes

I'm kind of wondering how my sugars are going to react.  When my husband had his DS, Dr. Greenbaum put him on protein shakes 3 times a day pre-op, nothing else.  I'm guessing he's going to do the same with me and I'll ask him at the appt on March 27.  I'm assuming that protein only shakes and nothing else is going to affect my sugars but I'm not sure how.  I wonder what I"ll be advised to do about my meds....?

I'm assuming you're type 2? Are you on insulin, or just oral meds?

Yes, I am type 2 and take both insulin and oral meds...

The insulin may require some adjusting. I would ask about that (PCP or endo or whoever watches your diabetes). I can say from personal experience as a pre-op on a very strict low-carb diet, my sugars are VERY happy! For my type 2, carbs are the devil. I am on oral meds only, which typically won't cause any lows, but having too much insulin when your glucose levels are not going up could cause crashes.

Thanks...that's exactly what I want to avoid--the crashes.  Definitely will discuss it with my surgeon and my PCP.  I was thinking I should stop the long acting insulin but wasn't sure about the byetta or glucovance.  Thanks so much for your input!

I took Actoplus Met and Byetta while I was on the pre-op liquid diet.  My PCP took me off the Glimepiride because my sugars dropped too low.  My surgeon & nut added 3-4 oz of lean protein to my liquid diet because I was still feeling weak and shaky.  That made me feel better.  And I still lost 11 lbs prior to surgery.

I took the Actos up to 2 days before surgery and then I stopped the Byetta the morning before surgery.  I've been off all diabetes meds since then and my A1C at 3 months post-op is 5.1.

Just listen to your body, and don't be afraid to contact your doctors for help pre-op if you feel weak, or if your sugars are too high or low.  Follow their advice and keep testing your sugars as instructed.

Good luck!

Thank you for your input and hey, that A1C is great! Glad to hear it!  :)

I am hoping to have gastric bypass this year sometime. I have really thought long and hard about it for several years. I don't like being fat, but worst of all is having diabetes. My A1C is getting worse and worse. This is the reason I will have the surgery, not really the weight (even though I don't like it), but the diabetes. I just pray my diabetes will be gone or in control after surgery. Thanks for listening and any advice or comments would be quite welcome.

I hear you, this is mainly why I'm having surgery too!  It seems that most people I've "talked" to who've had the bypass or switch has been able to stop their diabetes meds almost right away.  My husband is also diabetic and had a switch.  He is practically in remission.  You might want to post as a separate thread so that more people on the board see it.  :)  Best wishes!

I sooooo am with you! I have even told my family that even if I end up only losing 10 pounds after surgery, it will be worth it as long as my diabetes is resolved.

Check out my profile for more info on surgery for type 2 diabetes.