Question:
How can type I diabetes be monitored safely after WLS?

How can I control my blood sugars when I am on restricted diet? I am 22 years old and have had juvenille diabetes since I was 2 years old.    — Julie *. (posted on June 17, 2003)

June 17, 2003
Julie, I do not have diabetes but I do know that a lot of my doctor's patients do and many of them are Type 1. They do just fine with the eating plan after surgery. We eat lots of protein, vegetables and fruit and starchy carbs in moderation. He said that most type 1 diabetics do very well after surgery.
   — Patty_Butler

June 17, 2003
Hi, I am type II diabetic and post op for 5+ wks. I have been fine thru the liquid, blended and now the soft food stage. My blood sugars have been in the 65-100 area. Never over 105. I have even had to drink some orange juice or something with sugar in it a few times because I was below 80. It is amazing how my diabetes has been under control after surgery. Good luck.
   — ChristineB

June 17, 2003
I have Type 1 diabetes and am nearly a year post-op. I've had diabetes for 37 years, since I was 18. My insulin needs have decreased quite a bit, but my control is better than it has been in quite a while and I've been very careful to stay in reasonably good control since I was first able to use a glucose meter to do so. I can drink a small amount of juice to bring myself out of an insulin reaction. The dietician I had to see pre-op also suggested drinking milk and my endocrinologist suggested glucose tablets (my preferred treatment) or glucose gel since they dissolve and are absorbed mostly in the mouth. Please feel free to contact me if you'd like to talk more about this.
   — garw

June 17, 2003
i am type 1 been on insulin for years, i have not had one drop since my wls. my sugars are a tad high i just incresed my oral meds and am doing great! i was afraid if they went too low i owuld not be able to have any juice or sugar to bring it up, but i have been fine and level since surgery. i am very happy! hope you do as well!
   — janetc00

June 17, 2003
There's one other thing that I think is extremely important. The day after my surgery, the hospital's internist ordered 5 units of Regular insulin for me, even though my blood sugar was well over 200. I insisted on having them get an endocrinologist to come in and oversee my diabetes care. My own endo was out of town when I had the surgery. However, my experience has been that the hospital's internists just don't have the knowledge to handle diabetes care. When I had my gall bladder out, they also ordered 5 units of Regular when my blood sugar was over 400 the morning after that surgery. I called my endo directly and asked her to take over. The surgery is a trauma that will kick your blood sugar up and, if they give you a dextrose IV without any insulin included, that will also drive your sugars up. It's essential to get them back to normal as soon as possible, since the high sugars can keep you from healing quickly and can also lead to infection. Finally, make sure they understand that you have Type 1 diabetes. Often they believe that only people with Type 2 get to be obese, so they assume that you have Type 2 and don't need the intensive treatment that you really need to have.
   — garw

June 18, 2003
I am a Type 1 diabetic..... have been on insulin for 26 years. My doctor prefers I eat 6 to 8 tiny meals a day. Since surgery my insulin has been reduced and the diabetes is much easier to control.
   — Linda M.