Coping With Surgery

People with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes should be taken care of in hospital if they need surgery, even if the operation is classed as a minor one. Surgery is never an easy experience to go through, even without complications. But while complications from surgery can occur for anyone, they can be even more prevalent for diabetics. Not only can their disease affect the preparation and the surgery itself, it can also have an impact on the outcome.

First, consider before the surgery. Surgery is stressful enough for a non-diabetic, but for diabetics this stress can become magnified very easily. Since stress and diabetes do not go together very well, keeping the stress levels under control also means keeping blood sugar levels that much closer to normal.

Prepping for surgery means having your body in as good a shape as possible. The better your disease is being managed, the better off you will be through the surgery process… including recovery. During an operation, blood pressure, heart rate and respiration are all closely monitored. Having normal readings before surgery is a benefit that will help you to not only get through the operation, but will allow your body to recover faster and with less complications.

This is when being on a regular exercise program is really going to pay off. The more fit your body is when going in for surgery, the faster your recovery will be. Plus, your body will undergo less stress during recovery and there will be less opportunity for complications.

Your doctor, and your surgeon, will not encourage surgery unless your disease is at least somewhat under control. If you take oral medications for diabetes and the surgery is minor, you can delay taking your medications until you are ready to eat. If the surgery is more major and you are likely to miss more than one meal, your surgeon may order you to have intravenous insulin.

Having elevated sugar levels will also affect the healing of your operation site and the possibility of contracting an infection. If an infection does occur, it will also be much more difficult to treat if sugar levels are out of balance, and will result in the recovery time being extended.

If you are a smoker or alcohol drinker, the time to stop is several weeks before surgery. The reduction in alcohol will help your blood sugar level and your tissues will respond better to oxygen. Plus, oxygen will also be absorbed much easier if the body is not laboring from cigarettes.

Post surgery, it is just as important to keep your blood sugar levels stable. Even if your appetite is affected, it is best to not skip meals or snacks. Hospitals cater for diabetics and will ensure you have what you need. Make sure you eat at the appropriate meal times since you will not have access to food other than that provided by the hospital.

Posted in Diabetes