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HIP REPLACEMENT

H

helenbran

Newbie
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2
Good Morning,

I have joined as my Mum has just been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

She is due to have a hip replacement operation - will the fact she has diabetes affect this at all??

I am sure I will have many more questions for you over the coming weeks.

Many thanks
Helen
 
Hi Helen,welcome to the forum.Is you Mum on diabetic medication? The chances are that the operation will upset her blood sugar levels a bit but the hospital staff will be aware of this and keep an eye on it.If she has good control over her blood sugar levels then healing etc will not be a problem.Please feel free to ask any more questions and good luck to your mother with her operation.
 
Hi Helen,

I had a hip replacement in May 2004 - I wasn't diabetic at the time so I can't really help with how diabetes will affect her surgery.

I have had other surgeries since being diagnosed (not sure whether I am T1 or T2 - probably T2 insulin dependent as my pancreas was damaged by long term use of high dose steroids for my bowel condition). The surgeries were for bowel blockages and I must admit it was hard as I had to go on a "sliding scale" for the diabetes and it took quite a while to get off it again as, because it was bowel surgery, I was unable to eat for 5 days after surgery.

The one thing I can say is that, at the time, the hip replacement revolutionised my life. I was able to walk without sticks or crutches and able to walk without a limp. I had a very skilled surgeon and the surgery was performed at the National Hospital for Orthopaedic Surgery. Sadly, because of other medical conditions, I am not very mobile at all these days although at lease the pain of the arthritis is gone which is fantastic.

I wish her every success with the surgery.

Jackie
 
Having diabetes, especially if it's not tightly controlled, tends to slow healing and make wound infections more likely.
The surgeons know this and should act accordingly. If your mum normally has good control, she should ask to be allowed to do her own testing and control while she's in hospital. In any case she should inform them that she wishes to eat from the "normal "menu. The diabetic menus in hospitals are awful. Don't be surprised if they want her on an insulin drip for the day of the surgery.
Best thing is to discuss all the options with the surgeon well before and look at what BBErnstein writes about diabetics in hospital for unrelated things.
My T1 husband had surgery( not a hip replacement) several years ago and they used a combination of light general anaesthetic and local anaesthetic, so that he was back to his own control within a couple of hours. they did his operation early in the morning to make it easier to get him back on track.
 
Hi, sorry your Mum is faced with surgery so soon after her diabetes diagnosis, tell what are her bg readings like? Is she taking any medication, eg Metformin? If so Metformin needs to be stopped 48 hours before any surgical procedure, so make sure that surgeons are aware if she is on medication.

As per that above posts, its important that her bg is well controlled, and make sure that Mum is eating really good and healthy food, and maybe even take a good vitamin/mineral supplement as well so that she is well prepared for the surgery and as healthy as possible this will help her recovery. I know plenty of people who have had hip replacements and are once again able to walk really well and no more pain.

I hope all goes well for you all, and yes, do come in and ask away, there is always someone here to give really good advice/suggestions.

All the best

Karen
 
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