Question:
Will a HIGH A1C prevent and delay surgery on diabetics

I am a diabetic type 1 and i have a high a1c. I am working on lowering that espcially before the surgery. I am going for my surgery consult in 2 wks. Has anyone had a surgeron tell them that they had to have a certain level on their a1c for a certain peroid before they could do the surgery. To me this surgery will definatly lower it. Thank you    — Rebekah P. (posted on July 19, 2002)

July 19, 2002
My hgb a1c was 10.8 at the time of surgery....you didn't say how high yours is. They never mentioned anything about that, but I think I remember them saying your blood sugar has to be below a certain level the day they do surgery.
   — Kelly T.

July 19, 2002
Sorry, I forgot to add this to my previous post. I am 5 months post op and my hgb a1c has gone from 10.8 before surgery to 5.8. I had type II diabetes and was taking 2 oral medications. I have not had to take any medication since the day I had surgery. (surgeon said to take my glucophage only if i get a blood sugar reading above 200...and I have not had to take it yet!!) This surgery has helped me learn to eat the way I should have before...very little sugar, low fat....I've never felt better...I had open rny on 2/22/02 and I have lost 79lbs.
   — Kelly T.

July 19, 2002
Prior to surgery my a1C was 11.2. I am a type II diabetic and prior to surgery I took insulin twice a day and amaril and actos each once a day. I had my surgery 14 months ago and haven't taken insulin since the day of surgery, off the amaril 6 weeks after surgery, off actos 2 and a half months ago. My a1c is now 5.6. Good luck on your journey.
   — cheryl R.

July 19, 2002
My surgeon said that my sugar had to be under 200 the morning of surgery or he wouldn't do it--I have been working hard getting it down for that.. good luck
   — Linda L.

July 19, 2002
Thank you so much for the responses, as to the question my last a1c was 10.2, which was down from the prev of 11.something. I am going to my post op with surgeon in Richmond on the 31st, and my bigget fear was he would say it had to be such and such( a very low number) for a couple of months. To me thats one of the reason I want to have this surgery is because I know that in the long run it will improve my A1c. I know that realisticly it will never completely go away since I have Type 1 since Childhood, but I know that it could improve it and slow down the side effects from it that I have such as neuropathy, glucoma, and reinathopy (bad sp) and thats just a few. thank you to all these answers above
   — Rebekah P.