Post Surgical Diabetes

[Maryka]

When I woke up from surgery I begged the nurse for something to drinki or at least to moisten my mouth and lips (presumably from the ventilator having been removed). She said "You can't have anything to drink because you are diabetic. Besides, you have an IV, you know, so cannot be thirsty.

I remembered from pre-op booklet that I would get ice chips, at least, when I awoke. I croaked at the nurse (who was helping another patient), "Oh, great! I come in for heart surgery and you make my diabetic!" The nurse, looking at my chubby self, said, "You weren't diabetic before?" "No!" I croaked. I want to go to my room so I can get something to moisten my mouth!" (Shortly the staff in recovery demanded I walk over to get weighed, which I dutifully did, then they put me in the funky-recliner-on-wheels where I would spend all day from then on. I rode to my room on that funky-recliner.)

Finally in my room, I asked that nurse what the deal was--why was I now diabetic? She said, "You weren't diabetic before?" I said "definitely not!" She, as did several nurses after her, said "sometimes you are diabetic for just a few days after heart surgery."

My meals were HORRIBLE--nasty suger substitute for my oatmeal, etc. I lost about 10 pounds, which was welcome. Sure enough, after about 4 or 5 days, I was no longer diabetic and they quit giving me insulin.

I have never heard anyone else talk about this problem, yet I have been told that temporary diabetes is not at all uncommon.

Maryka
===============
BAVR/aortic root replacement Dec. 23, 2008, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Duke Cameron

 

[lb151]

I had the same problem. I have since heard that it is very common. My GP followed me for several months and had me test my blood sugar,,, he decided I wasnt diabetic.

 

[Eva]

Maryka,

It is normal for blood sugar to go high after a surgery due to the trauma the body goes through.

My blood sugar level went way up and I was put on insulin injections for about 8 days. My food was not horrible at all...it was well balanced. If I ordered oatmeal for breakfast, I could not order a toast...if I ordered sandwich for lunch, I was denied ice cream and recommeheded sugar-free jello. Nutritionist assigned how much carbohydrates I was allowed for each meal and all info was on conputer; so, whoever took my phone order referred to my computer chart and guided me accordingly.

I am surprised you were denied ice chips!

 

[Nancy]

Yes, my husband had the same problem a couple of times. It did straighten itself out. I hope it does for you as well.

 

[westie]

2 day diabeties

2 day diabeties

.
i was diabetic for 2 days after surgery, when the nurse said she was going to give me an injection in the stomach i said no way! the nurse said i would not even feel it; she was telling the truth.

the food i got was quite nice, but the taste was not so good due to the anesthetics i guess.

the hospital made no attempt to control/reduce my sugar intake.

 

[Cameron]

Maryka,
I was deemed "borderline Diabetic" before I went for the surgery, but after the op they told me I was fully Type 2 Diabetic. The Docs and Nurses both said that surgery increased the sugars and that this was a normal result. I was given insulin injections while in hospital and was put on Metformin. Before I left the hospital the Insulin and Metformin were stopped and the Doc said that as my sugar numbers were borderline I should track my sugar for a few months while I adjusted my diet and got back in to exercide and that my numbers would probably drop back out of Diabetic territory - that seems to be being borne out by my numbers, although I have a date with the local Diabetic Clinic to get a professional opinion.
Good luck.
Cameron

 

[Bina]

My late Mom became diabetic after kidney surgery.

 

[ruthienc1]

I, too, was diabetic for a couple of days after surgery. My husband reminds me I had insulin injections while I was in the CCU (I have no recollection of this!) and had finger sticks and a somewhat restricted diet for a couple of days. It resolved very quickly. This, too, shall most likely pass

 

[BigOwl]

Well this is news to me, so thanks for bringing it up. I have controlled type 2 diabetes (never have had to take insulin; I control it with diet, and my numbers are only borderline anyway). I have my A1C levels checked two or three times a year along with liver enzymes and cholesterol. Anyway, now I know to expect blood sugar variations after surgery and can ask about it ahead of time.

The value of this forum increases daily!

 

[stilldreamin]

i was tested for several days after surgery also, and was told this was routine and normal. i've never been close to diabetic before.
the women in my room were also being tested, and i remember a couple getting shots, but i'm not sure if they were diabetic before.
and i think all the hospital food is awful... its supposed to be to get us to want to go home, right?

 

[Superbob]

Well, look on the bright side: You could have been diabetic both before and after, and on a continuing basis, and have to relish those sugar substitutes as regular fare. Yummy! Hope you are otherwise doing fine.

 

[briansmom]

My son needed insulin after every surgery. Otherwise he is not diabetic. Oh and he was EXTREMELY thin for both hospital stays.

 

[mikeb85]

I am in the same boat! I do have family history and was told that it is routine to get insulin right after surgery but when the little indian dr I had never even seen before just showed up in my room and announced YOU ARE DIABETIC I would have choked the littlle*&#^#* if I could have! So now I am monitoring and I hope to prove him wrong.

 

[Maryka]

Thanks for all the replies! FYI, I have always been hypoglycemic before the surgey. When I have had glucose toleranced tests I have tested LOW on suger levels But anything can happen! No, I am not diabetic any more!

The food situation was rotten because I am a vegetarian-by-conscience and I became allergic to eggs about 15 years ago. My breakfasts were the worst. One morning, because I could find nothing on the day before's menu that I could eat, besides milk, I lifted the main-dish cover with curiosity. Underneath, alone on a big white plate, was one tiny piece of bacon. It was such a pitiful sight that I had to laugh. I, of course, put the cover over it to send it back. I would never, ever eat bacon--even when I was a meat eater (decades ago). I got some friends and relatives to bring me some plain yogurt, plain cottage cheese, and some chopped dried fruit (this fruit I used sparingly to flavor my yogurt and cottage cheese) I also got friends to bring me some whole-grain products because the hospital only seemed to have white bread. Yuck!

A friend of mine who is a nurse told me she has seen a lot of temporary diabetes after heart surgery. She said she thinks the glucose IVs we get can put some of us over the edge. Who knows?

Maryka