Question:
Diabetic control after returning home

I am wondering how your blood sugars did immediately post op after returning home. I am type 2 on 1 500 Glucophage a day with 2 4 mg Amaryl morning and nite. My PCP didnt seem certain of what I would need medication wise. High sugars will be from the trauma of surgery, eating so little I doubt food will matter. I guess the hospitral will give me directions but I wonder what others experienced. This monday is my surgery.    — bob-haller (posted on July 20, 2001)

July 20, 2001
I am also type 2. Prior to surgery I was on micronase - no insulin. I had no problems with my blood sugar immediately after surgery, and within 3 months post-op I was completely off my diabetes and high blood pressure meds. Just be careful about your monitoring and take blood sugar levels several times a day. Best of luck to you!!!
   — Paula G.

July 20, 2001
I am also type 2 and was on 2 shots of insulin a day plus 1 actos and 1 amaryl. I talked to my pcp about what order i should decrease my meds as my sugar readings went down. My surgeon actually referred me to my pcp as to handling the decrease of the meds. I haven't been on insulin since surgery. As far as the other meds, I went to 1/2 an amaryl about a month after surgery when my levels started dropping into the 70s and then quit the amaryl altogether about a month ago. (My surgery was 4-27-01) I still am taking the actos though I hope to be off that soon too. The biggest thing is to monitor frequently when you first come home and if you run into problems call your pcp right away. If you have any other questions, feel free to email me. And good luck on Monday, my thoughts will be with you.
   — cheryl R.

July 20, 2001
I used to take 3-5 insulin shots every day, as well as 2000 mg. Glucophage and 8 mg. Avandia as well, prior to surgery in Dec. 2000. within a couple of months, I stopped the Avandia, and by mid March, I stopped taking insulin totally. the surgeon cut my insulin dose in half immediately after my surgery. My PCP then slowly reduced my dose based on my blood glucose readings. Now I am insulin free and I may begin cutting down on my dose of Glucophage soon. good luck on Monday.
   — Maria H.

November 27, 2001
My surgeon was also very concerned about my blood sugars after surgery. He referred me to an internist, who understands whats going on with my body. I was on 4 mg of amaryl, 2550 mg of glucophage, and 4 mg of avandia per day. While I was in the hospital, for 4 days, my sugars were through the roof, due to the trauma of the surgery. They gave me insulin shots for that. When I was released from the hospital, my internist had me off everything but 1700 mg of glucophage. He told me the amaryl and avandia would cause me to have major lows, which isnt good for us either. The glucophage makes your tissues absorb the insulin you produce, much better. Im post-op 7 weeks, today, and am only taking one glucophage tablet daily. My sugars are running kind of low again, so, Im sure I will be off of that one real soon. Yippee! : ) You should talk with an internist, or your PCP, and go from there. Good Luck!
   — Kerry P.

November 27, 2001
I am the poster of the original question. I am THRILLED to report I am OFF ALL diabetic and blood sugar meds. By my 3 week PCP appointment I was off both diabetic meds. The nurse had a fit when I said I had quit taking them. She rushed back with a testing machine and found my sugars were 113 a couple hours after eating 2 slices of turkey breast, a full meal for me at the time. My doc was thrilled. My AM sugars are now in the 80s the last time I checked. It was exciting to see this question resurface. At the time I asked it I was CERTAIN I wouldnt live thru surgery. How far I have come! I am crying as I type this in happiness I lived to answer my own question to help others...
   — bob-haller

June 28, 2002
I was on Humulin 70/30, Glucophage, and Avandia twice a day before the surgery and now after a week am only on Avandia in the morning. My practicioner coordinated with me before the surgery (I cut my insulin almost in half the night before). I had sugars all under 150 in the hospital so they did not do anything there. At home now they have hovered around 120-140. I was instructed to just start the Avandia and then simply watch the numbers. If they remained under 160 for now, I did not even need to call. I will revisit this with them in a few months.
   — Gina G.