Diabetics in the hospital

[dcc617]

We had dinner last night with good friends of ours that are both nurses, one of which is a director of one of the clinicial specialities. (I was the token non-nurse at the table) Both of them have specialists on the hunt for me when I'm admitted. Now...here's the question.

I'm a type II diabetic currently on Metformin. I was told that I would be put on an insulin drip. Has anyone had issues with this? I may be a nervous Nancy here, but I keep thinking that I'll be come insulin dependent. According to one of my friends, insulin care in-patient is a bit scary. My diabetes is well controlled right now and I'd like to keep it that way.

 

[escargome]

Hi,
I too am Type II diabetic. I was on insulin during my hospital stay. They tested before each meal and only used a sliding scale according to my BG reading. I did not leave the hosptial insulin dependent. My doctor released me with the understanding that I would return to my oral medication. My internist who is in charge of my diabetes made certain that it was understood that I was free to resume my usual medication routine. I too am very well controlled on oral med. Have a chat with your cardio, maybe they will make an exception and let you continue with your oral meds.

 

[dcc617]

Thanks Chris. I'm seeing her today for ANOTHER pre-surgery physical. This will be on my list.

 

[ElectLive]

My situation was different, but thought I'd post as something to possibly be on the lookout for. I was a well controlled Type I insulin dependent diabetic prior to surgery, my insulin levels hadn't changed in years. Immediately after my surgery, my insulin needs went up drastically. It was almost unbelievable (up by a factor of 10 the first few days) how much insulin I was taking, but it's what was needed to keep my glucose levels under control, so by no means an overreaction on the part of the hospital team. Anyway, after I left ICU, they took me off the insulin drip gradually and returned me to my own insulin care (insulin pump). The only thing they asked was that I report my glucose tests while I was there.

I was told it's common for diabetics to experience this (needing more insulin than normal) due to the "shock" to the system the body goes through. I did not think to ask if it affects Type 2 diabetics in a similar way, but perhaps it might, just not quite to the same degree. The effects for me were a continuous taper back to normal, a quick return to slightly above normal in the first few weeks, than a slower taper to my pre-surgery insulin levels after 3 months or so.

 

[Superbob]

I am a type 2 diabetic also, and the only difference I noticed during my 5 days in the hospital was that at precisely 4 a.m. each day a nurse would wake me up to draw blood for a glucose reading. She said my numbers were good, so as far as I know I was never on an insulin drip. Perhaps if my numbers had been otherwise, they would have given me insulin. I take metformin, too, but I don't remember them giving me that either during the hospital stay. Of course I was pretty out of it, so they may have done things of which I was unaware. Hope it all goes well for you. Keep us posted.

 

[Bina]

One of my hospital room mates was a retired gentleman in for bypasses, I remember the nurse testing him often
for his diabetes and the only time she saw him out of range was when his ding dong wife showed up with a
bagel and lox (from a restaurant) for his breakfast one morning.
Diabetes is not uncommon, your team should handle it just fine.

 

[Jkm7]

Another angle on insulin and OHS......

I have never been diabetic and am not now.
However, immediately post op, they did glucose test and I am told I had two doses of insulin post op based upon that testing. Apparently, in recent years, they have learned more about this surgery and glucose levels and even non-diabetics commonly get some insulin as they find it helps in healing. They tested me for at about three days post op and then after getting normal readings consistently, they stopped.

I have read here about other non-diabetics having gotten insulin and I would guess there are more that did and simply don't know about it or forgot.

 

[ElectLive]

Another angle on insulin and OHS......

I have never been diabetic and am not now.
However, immediately post op, they did glucose test and I am told I had two doses of insulin post op based upon that testing. Apparently, in recent years, they have learned more about this surgery and glucose levels and even non-diabetics commonly get some insulin as they find it helps in healing. They tested me for at about three days post op and then after getting normal readings consistently, they stopped.

I have read here about other non-diabetics having gotten insulin and I would guess there are more that did and simply don't know about it or forgot.

Yes, exactly, I've read up to 50% receive short term, preventing infection is key.

 

[Greg a]

My situation was different, but thought I'd post as something to possibly be on the lookout for. I was a well controlled Type I insulin dependent diabetic prior to surgery, my insulin levels hadn't changed in years. Immediately after my surgery, my insulin needs went up drastically. It was almost unbelievable (up by a factor of 10 the first few days) how much insulin I was taking, but it's what was needed to keep my glucose levels under control, so by no means an overreaction on the part of the hospital team. Anyway, after I left ICU, they took me off the insulin drip gradually and returned me to my own insulin care (insulin pump). The only thing they asked was that I report my glucose tests while I was there.

I was told it's common for diabetics to experience this (needing more insulin than normal) due to the "shock" to the system the body goes through. I did not think to ask if it affects Type 2 diabetics in a similar way, but perhaps it might, just not quite to the same degree. The effects for me were a continuous taper back to normal, a quick return to slightly above normal in the first few weeks, than a slower taper to my pre-surgery insulin levels after 3 months or so.

Had to look if in fact I had posted that as my experience was so close LOL

 

[dcc617]

One of my hospital room mates was a retired gentleman in for bypasses, I remember the nurse testing him often
for his diabetes and the only time she saw him out of range was when his ding dong wife showed up with a
bagel and lox (from a restaurant) for his breakfast one morning.
Diabetes is not uncommon, your team should handle it just fine.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....ding dongs.

 

[dcc617]

So I asked my cardiologist about this yesterday and was told it's quite common.

She also thanked me for turning her onto this site. She referred a patient who needed urgent surgery to the website who found great comfort. YAY!

 

[Luana]

Many hospitals give insulin to all OHS patients, diabetic or not; the surgery is so stressful blood sugar levels get quite elevated.

You won't become insulin dependent. I had no problem with any of this. It's better for your blood sugar to be as close to normal range as possible as high blood sugars can interfere with healing.