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colonoscopy preparation

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SuzanneV

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I would love some advice about colonoscopy prep. having the procedure on Monday 24 June and from Sunday morning I will have to fast - for over 25 Hours and also use 2 doses of laxatives - Moviprep. I understand the suggested routines of low Fod diet in preceding day - ie Saturday, but how to survive the long fast without going into hypos. Furthermore I am on a cancer trial I at the Royal Marsden, and this has caused an adverse reaction for the past 6 months I have had ulcerative colitis - which I am suppressing with steroids. The steroids have forced me to increase the basal. as I have loose bowels already, I am not looking forward to using the Moviprep as it will evacuate my bowels very quickly, and then the second dose will probably just cause distressing levels of cramping in my guts. I do not want to have any hypos as this could jeopardise safety of the procedure on Monday morning and do not want to repeat all this again.!! thanks for advice
 
Hi @SuzanneV,

Don't know how much help I'll be - but my wife (non-diabetic) went through this procedure a month or so back.

From a pump user - assuming your basal is correct, you should be ok except for dips caused by stress etc (which is exactly what you'll be under...

If you're on injections - could be tricky to get through. I'd contact your DSN as soon as possible and ask them for advice - also contact the colonoscopy team (might be a bit like trying to contact me late Great Grandmother tbh....but worth a go) and ask them how to deal with it from a T1 side - they may be able to tell you to drop your basal back and use glucose and water if needed (or something).

Hope you get through it ok.
 
SuzanneV said:
I would love some advice about colonoscopy prep. having the procedure on Monday 24 June and from Sunday morning I will have to fast - for over 25 Hours and also use 2 doses of laxatives - Moviprep. I understand the suggested routines of low Fod diet in preceding day - ie Saturday, but how to survive the long fast without going into hypos. Furthermore I am on a cancer trial I at the Royal Marsden, and this has caused an adverse reaction for the past 6 months I have had ulcerative colitis - which I am suppressing with steroids. The steroids have forced me to increase the basal. as I have loose bowels already, I am not looking forward to using the Moviprep as it will evacuate my bowels very quickly, and then the second dose will probably just cause distressing levels of cramping in my guts. I do not want to have any hypos as this could jeopardise safety of the procedure on Monday morning and do not want to repeat all this again.!! thanks for advice
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My hubby not diabetic but has severe stomach problems and had too many of these to count, he also has other conditions. He always calls the team before hand and they are very helpful with advice on his other medications and needing to eat with them, or maybe speak to your diabetes team. I can see how being T1 adds a lot more variants and concerns so I think it would be best to speak to someone who is more in the know medically
 
Hello @SuzanneV and welcome to the forum. I'm sorry you're having to have a colonoscopy with your other health issues. Are you on a pump or MDI?

I had a colonoscopy a few years ago, and with being on a pump didn't have any problems. Was advised to use boiled sweets to prevent/treat any hypo's for the hours you can't have anything to drink, but in the end didn't need any. Stress made my blood sugar slightly high, so I just allowed that to continue, rather than correcting.

I'd definitely contact your hospital team, and the colonoscopy department tomorrow. Hope it all goes well.
 
Colonoscopy procedure is bearable. I have had it twice. It is a bit uncomfortable, but you can tolerate it. As far as any hypos are concerned, just treat those with Dextrose (or boiled sweets as mentioned above). Because you will suck the hypo treatment, nothing with get to the bowel to obscure the view of the colonoscopy camera. You will be fine.
 
I have never had a colonoscopy but did have a sigmoidoscopy years ago. I was on MDI at the time and my DSN told me to only take half of my usual basal dose. In the unlikely event of a hypo I was told to use clear sugary drinks, like clear lemonade.
 
I had a colonoscopy about five years ago. I took a slightly lower dose of basal (I’m on MDI) and corrected when necessary. I also had a couple of cans of lucozade as well as the glucotabs and boiled sweets for lows. Plus water.
The only good thing about having to deal with blood sugar levels alongside the moviprep was that it took my mind off the moviprep effects.
I hope the results you receive from the colonoscopy are key to improvements in your overall health!
I was also medically advised to have a preparation that helped recolonise beneficial bacteria after the colonoscopy. I wish I could remember what it was but maybe the team you’re with have already told you about this.
 
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