Operation for gallbladder removal

[susansteven]

Hi
I am new on here and really need some support right now. I am type 2 and have been suffering from gallstones for 3 years, my first op was booked in for January and it was canceled because of no beds, I was due to go in yesterday for op and canceled, the assessment team had picked up my glucose figure is 78 and it should be below 68 to have the operation.

At no time over the three years has the consultant mentioned this and he knew I am diabetic, I feel so let down and angry as I could have been on a new medication. They have also taken me off the list, so I have a sense if I go back on I will have to wait another year.

I am back with the diabetic team but it seems my gliclazide is not effective in getting my numbers down. I am in pain daily, and don't want this to turn into an emergency operation. I have asked my GP to send me elsewhere, but he hasn't got back to me yet.

Questions please:
1. has anyone else gone through this?
2. suggestions of effective medication?

I have been a diabetic for 20 years and no one has ever told me if I needed an operation my figures had to be under 68, I am so frightened now incase it turns into an emergency and also the side effects of having an OP.

Any help and support appreciated, thank you

 

[Antje77]

Hi @susansteven , welcome to the forum.

That is a nasty situation you are finding yourself in, and I feel for you, having had gallstones attacks for a couple of years and an inflamed gallbladder before finding the cause and getting rid of the pesky thing.

2. suggestions of effective medication?

There are many different medications for T2, but the first port of call is the foods you choose.
Depending on your current diet, there may be a lot or a little room for improvement there.

Do you use a glucose meter to test before and after meals?
This can give you a lot of insight on where you can improve. If a meal gives you a post meal reading that's much higher than the pre meal one, there were more carbs than you can deal with.

All carbs turn to glucose in the body, so the logical thing is to lower the carbs.
In your case, you need to go carefully because you're on gliclazide, which can cause your blood glucose to go too low. However, with your hba1c of 78 mmol/mol, your average BG must have been around 12mmol/l, lots of room to reduce.

Would you like to share what you usually eat? We may be able to give you some ideas.

 

[Goonergal]

Questions please:
1. has anyone else gone through this?
2. suggestions of effective medication?

I have been a diabetic for 20 years and no one has ever told me if I needed an operation my figures had to be under 68, I am so frightened now incase it turns into an emergency and also the side effects of having an OP.

Sorry you‘re going through this.

It’s pretty standard for hospitals in the U.K. to set a threshold similar to the HbA1c levels you state for non-emergency operations.

However, it should not be standard that you discover this so close to a scheduled operation. It should have been flagged up early on and certainly blood tests for the pre-op assessment would have been an early red flag for them.

In your shoes I’d be:

1) Asking why you have been removed from the list, rather than being given a timeframe in which to work with your healthcare team to get blood sugars down.
2) Seeking a review on how best to manage your blood sugars so that both the operation can go forward and for your overall health - running at those numbers is not good in the long-term.
3) Not qualified on the meds front, but some combination of dietary changes and medication review ought to be able to bring your levels down.

 

[susansteven]

Hi @susansteven , welcome to the forum.

That is a nasty situation you are finding yourself in, and I feel for you, having had gallstones attacks for a couple of years and an inflamed gallbladder before finding the cause and getting rid of the pesky thing.

There are many different medications for T2, but the first port of call is the foods you choose.
Depending on your current diet, there may be a lot or a little room for improvement there.

Do you use a glucose meter to test before and after meals?
This can give you a lot of insight on where you can improve. If a meal gives you a post meal reading that's much higher than the pre meal one, there were more carbs than you can deal with.

All carbs turn to glucose in the body, so the logical thing is to lower the carbs.
In your case, you need to go carefully because you're on gliclazide, which can cause your blood glucose to go too low. However, with your hba1c of 78 mmol/mol, your average BG must have been around 12mmol/l, lots of room to reduce.

Would you like to share what you usually eat? We may be able to give you some ideas.

Thank you for your advice, so today I have had porridge and berries, tomato soup and slice of bread and small portion of homemade fish pie and peas.

 

[Antje77]

Thank you for your advice, so today I have had porridge and berries, tomato soup and slice of bread and small portion of homemade fish pie and peas.

Would you be interested in lowering your carbs?
If so, you might like to have a read of this written by one of our members, but keep in mind you're on glucose lowering medication so you are at risk of getting hypoglycemia.

The Nutritional Thingy

There’s a few things you should know. 1. Practically all carbs turn to glucose once ingested , so not just straight sugars, but starches...

josekalsbeek.blogspot.com

Being on gliclazide, always carry some quick acting glucose and your meter wherever you go!

Assuming you have a meter (you should have, being on gliclazide), what about using it to test before and two hours after your porridge?
Porridge has a lot of carbs, and many of our members find they do much better on bacon and eggs, or natural ful fat Greek yoghurt ot such.

 

[susansteven]

Update today I have to start insulin on Monday, as my gallbladder is inflamed and I am in a lot of pain that may then be putting my figures up. So hoping insulin brings them down quickly and I get fast tracked for my op, everything crossed