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