Question:
Type 1 Diabetes/How to Treat Low Blood Sugar Post Op

My surgery is scheduled for 12/9/03. I have been tested and am a type 1 diabetic - I make no insulin. How do other type 1's treat low blood sugar post-op, which is typically treated with products containing sugar, without experiencing "dumping"? Thanks.    — Susan C. (posted on December 7, 2003)

December 7, 2003
Susan I am also a type 1 and i treated my low blood sugar with either juice or glucose tabs. It really only takes a couple of ounces to get the BS up then I would wait 15 minutes or so and eat a carb/protein snack. It did scare the hell out of me the first time when i was 2 weeks PO as I couldnt chug down some milk or eat candy etc to bring it up. Sometimes the glucose tabs or juice would leave me feeling kinda queazy but so does a hypoglycemic attack so i am not sure which actually causes it. Either way there is no other option as crackers etc dont bring it up quick enough especially when you are newly PO. I carry them all the time even tucked in my sports bra when i exercise. I found that i needed to test more often especially early on. I started on a pump in Feb and it has been heaven i jsut adjust my basal rate and dont have to worry about the long acting insulin and its crazy absorbtion. Being quite brittle, this surgery and my Insulin pump have made diabetic life at least tolerable. I took 140 units of nph and humalog prior and after about 60 pounds down i was at 42 units however still very brittle and now with the pump I average 30 units a day depending onthe amount of carbs I eat. Although it doesnt "cure" it for us it improves control tremendously. Best wishes to you and if I can answer any other questions feel free to write me, Lesley
   — Lesley T.

December 27, 2003

   — Connie B.