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Effect of surgery?

G

geekesse

Member
Messages
20
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
I keep my blood glucose under control normally by eating a moderately low carb diet. Pre-meal measurement in the evening is usually 4.3-4.5, 2 hrs post-start of meal around 6.5. If I have a normal amount or carbs (portion of spaghetti, bread, rice), it spikes to around 10 - hence low-ish carbs.

I had hernia repair surgery this morning. Pre-meal measurement this evening was 6.0 which was a bit up from normal. I had bread, cheese and soup, so normal rather than low carb, but I was a bit dismayed that the post meal reading was 15.4.

So my question: does the trauma of surgery cause blood sugar to rise? I’m going down to minimal carbs tomorrow once the anaesthetic has properly worn off (I’m still a bit dopey this evening), so I am hoping that today’s highs will be a one-off.
 
Absolutely.
It is a fight of flight reaction from our body when we are anxious or stressed: our liver releases a dump of glucose. You may find your BG is higher for a few days as your liver continues to release extra glucose to give your body the extra energy to heal.

There is an article which is often quoted which describes 42 things that affect our blood sugar including food, stress, medication, alcohol, exercise, time of year, time of day, time of month,
 

Thank you! I was having a bit of a panic there, but this is very reassuring. I’ll stop worrying about it. I love this forum!
 
Hope your recovery goes well and that back to your normal soon. As others have rightly said don't worry about it as you get back to your normal self so should the figures. My bg rises these days always indicate I'm under stress or under the weather and takes a few days after the stress or bug fighting off before back to normal - for me!
 

Thank you for this reassurance. As you and others have predicted, my blood sugars are now back to my normal.
 
I had surgery last Friday and I was allowed to keep my Libre sensor on. Pictured below are my blood sugar graph from the day of surgery and then the following day. It’s very easy to pin point when I went to theatre!

 

Wow, that’s pretty clear! I’ve learnt something really useful from this thread . Thank you all.
 
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