• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Hospital for surgery

hale710

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,903
Location
Scotland
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all!

So today I'm being admitted to get my tonsils removed. Surgery is tomorrow but I'm going in tonight so they can control my BG so I'm able to fast.

I've heard some stories though! My friend is a hospital dietician and she said all they aim to do at her hospital is keep you below 12! That's mega high for me! Above 9 my eyesight blurs slightly. So I'm hoping its not the same where I am but I'm guessing it will be.

Has anyone been on the sliding scale? I'm a bit unsure of the details, I'm assuming I won't be doing my background insulin jab tonight? But if I don't wont i go high tomorrow when I (hopefully) go home after surgery?

And the obviously question is about tonsils and eating. I won't really be for a while. I know I keep my basal, but when I'm testing etc if I'm high I should correct with my Novorapid right? Even if I'm not eating.

It's all so confusing!
 
Hi hale wishing you a speedy recovery after your op my friend had her tonsils removed she was eating toast on the same day


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
I'm sorry I can't help with your query but I want to wish you well with yoir op and your recovery. I hope you're feeling better soon

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Shzz46 said:
Hi hale wishing you a speedy recovery after your op my friend had her tonsils removed she was eating toast on the same day


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Click to expand...

They give you toast to eat and won't let you go until you have finished some of it. But apparently it's agony. My friend had hers out about 5 years ago and she said after leaving hospital she avoided food like the plague! I'm not so worried by that though, just the BG levels
 
Thundercat said:
I'm sorry I can't help with your query but I want to wish you well with yoir op and your recovery. I hope you're feeling better soon

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Click to expand...

Thanks Thundercat! At least I've got the good weather to recover in
 
Good Luck Hale!

I would stock up on smoothies juices ribina vimpto etc etc and make up carbs that way, you have to drink so flat carby drinks would be my way forward x
 
I'm being really mature and running home to mummy afterwards we have fresh berries this time of year so I could get her to whip up some smoothies for me. We usually do around now anyway. Good idea thanks!
 
Yes, some people have had bad experiences. When I was in hospital last year my sugars were, as you said, allowed to run higher than normal. I couldn't sit up and could barely move for three days so I was completely reliant on the doctors and nurses checking my sugars and adjusting my insulin. It was much easier once I could sit up and do things for myself!

Test your sugars yourself when you're in and, if you feel they are too high and they are making you unwell, say something. The anaesthetic may have some effect on your sugars. The fact that you'll probably miss a few meals won't help either. You'll probably find that they are a little bit all over the place when you come round - nothing that can't be sorted though.

Take your background insulin with you. I didn't have to take mine for the first few days as they did everything with the sliding scale. Not sure if this is normal practice.

Try not to worry. They will take care of you. You will be able to test yourself and be sure to tell them if you don't feel well. You know your diabetes better than anyone else. Ask to be taken off the sliding scale as soon as you can. It's then a lot easier to control things the way that you normally would.

Regarding meals - I haven't always found that the NHS is great at providing low carb meals. I got my other half to bring me in some food. It tasted much better than the gruel they were serving in the hospital and I knew what was in it so could more easily adjust my insulin.

The doctors will advise you on what to do regarding your insulin if you're not able to eat. They sent a diabetes specialist round to see me when I was in. Helpful to talk to somebody who understands the ins and outs of diabetes!

Anyway, try not to worry. Just focus on getting better soon! Worst case scenario is that your sugars are up and down for a few days. You'll get that back under control very quickly

Take care,
Em x


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
BG is 5.6 ...... Nurses are freaking out because its "low". This is going to be a long stay......
 
hale710 said:
BG is 5.6 ...... Nurses are freaking out because its "low". This is going to be a long stay......
Click to expand...

Oh dear! Not a great start. Maintain your course and keep reminding yourself you know more than they do! Tempis fugit:smile:

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
hale710 said:
BG is 5.6 ...... Nurses are freaking out because its "low". This is going to be a long stay......
Click to expand...

Oh dear! Not a great start. Maintain your course and keep reminding yourself you know more than they do! Tempis fugit:smile:

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
As a type 2 on no meds I cannot give you any useful advice, but just wanted to send you good wishes for a speedy recovery.
My daughter had her tonsils out last year, iced smoothies/iced tea/ice lollies and ice cream were a Gods sent, numbing the pain, but she was eating solids from day 3.

All the very best to you x
 

Thanks, I'm hoping to be back on a completely normal diet in 3 days too!

I'm still waiting for someone to confirm if I should take my levemir or not. They're all very noncommittal about it! I'm meant to take it at 6 so they'd better decide soon.
 
hale710 said:
I'm still waiting for someone to confirm if I should take my levemir or not. They're all very noncommittal about it! I'm meant to take it at 6 so they'd better decide soon.
Click to expand...

Hale, if you're not on sliding scale yet I'd certainly take it. If you are and they can't decide then it's up to you. They can control your blood glucose up or down with the drip - so if you are on SS, and you're confident that they are monitoring you, then you could leave it.

Worth noting that your blood sugars will probably go a bit haywire after the anaesthetic but should calm down after a few days.

Hope it all goes well for you.
 
They've suddenly decided I don't need a sliding scale, so my overnight stay isn't required. Typical! Taken the levemir and continuing to control myself.

It is unbearably hot in here which isn't helping my patience!
 
I was on a sliding scale when I was first diagnosed Type 1. I knew nothing about diabetes so put myself in their hands. I now know that they were running my levels at what I now would call "high". It wasn't until I was discharged and took over my own management after seeing my DN that I felt happy. I dread to think how hot it must be in hospital in this hot weather. The ward I was in was unbearably hot at the end of April last year !!


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
I wasn't sick when I came in here, I am now! I'm too hot, my head is pounding and I feel sick!
 
Hale710 .

Hope you're now at [parents] home - feeling 'much cooler' and better

Forget/leave the toast completely out :shock: :thumbdown:
Stick with the icelollies , smoothies , greek yogurt etc , stay in the shade too :thumbup:

Please let us all known how you are too .
Thinking of you .

Anna .
 
Wishing you all the best hale and a healthy and a speedy recovery.

Take care with lots of good wishes

RRB x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…