diabetes and general anaesethic

My guess (and it is just a well reasoned guess) is that it's ok-after all there are lots of diabetics who've had anaesthetics. Also under anaesthetic they stop a lot of your normal functions so everything is being monitored. Before diagnosis I had a serious accident and been under general anaesthetis for quite a few operations as a result, and I have total faith in them medics they do a great job-all will be fine I'm sure.

p.s. I only made a complete fool of myself in Abbey National Derby hope they've forgotten me by now!

Discuss your control with the consultant carrying out the procedure, I've had a general anaesthetic being both uncontrolled and controlled but always make them aware of my diabetes control. With a general they'll be a health questionnaire to fill out beforehand anyways.

Nigel

When I had a major op, because I am diabetic they put me first on the list at 9 am so I only had to fast overnight.

I know you are T1
However for interest found this in BNF 61

Metformin
see ; use of general anaesthesia (suspend "metformin" on the morning of surgery and restart when renal function returns to baseline)

Click to expand...

Iv had a few large ops lately have taken me off all my oral Meds placed me on Insulin every time
until a day before discharge also been 1st on the list each time 8)


I had my wisdom teeth out in Hospital 30years ago,remember I woke up with a sanitary towel stuffed down my Gob ,With all the rest on the ward drinking small bottle of Guinness :cry:

Bob

The hospital will usually put you on a drip of insulin/glucose mixture. At least they did two years ago. They would not do anything else. My problem with general anaesthetics is not the anaesthetic itself, that is no problem at all, and no more dangerous for us diabetics than for anyone else, but the drip and their management of it. I have heard many stories from many people of great success and no problems, so I know my experiences are not so common, but I have had some doctors refuse to listen to me about the ratios in the drip and every time I've been in hospital for an op they have made me go hypo. So make sure any instructions you give at your pre-op meeting are written down and signed by your consultant, then the ward staff have to obey them.

Having said that I suspect that if you are on a pump they won't even use a drip and will let you manage your fasting period by yourself with your pump. They worry terribly about the BS being high and don't seem to realise that a bit high for a short time is no problem but low for a short time certainly is. One day they will get it through their heads, or maybe the rest of the world has and it's just my hospital. I am in the middle of a serious complaint about it with them.

Now, close your eyes to my scaremongering, talk to your consultant to make sure it all goes as YOU want it and don't let them bully you into doing anything you don't feel right about. You'll be fine. The anaesthetic itself is no problem. And do believe the staff when they say don't eat too much afterwards, because you may not feel sick, but the stomach tends not to cope with proper meals for a bit. I found that out last time.

I had a couple of teeth out by the specialist tooth people and I chose to have it done with a local anaesthetic. I thought it would be difficult, but they are so experienced and have all the right gear that it only took a few minutes and was not the least bit scary or painful. They were wonderful. Much easier than starving for a general. It might be worth considering, unless your op is more serious and needs loads of teeth doing.