My junior year of high school was a rough one. I got my diagnosis at the very beginning and tore my ACL at the end. Im not going to lie, my diabetes was not the first thing on my mind when I found out I was going to have to have surgery.
Thankfully, my parents were thinking about it and my doctor was wonderful. For each surgery I’ve had, I’ve always been the first one in the door, so like being at the hospital by 5am so I wouldn’t have to go too long without food. I also always make sure multiple times that someone will be monitoring my blood sugar throughout the surgery. My first ACL surgery honestly set the standards really high for everything after.
I ended up having to have a second knee surgery on my ACL and other things and that also went really well. I truly believe this was the case because of my honest, open, and trusting relationship with my doctor. He was aware of everything I needed and all of my restrictions and concerns. He listened to my worries and he made sure that he did nothing to impair my levels.
However. I went through an entire process that led up to a major jaw surgery my junior year of college. Before the major surgery, I had a more minor procedure done. I didn’t know this doctor as well so when the person came in to begin, I ask what all they would be injecting and putting into my body. STEROIDS. This doctor, knowing I was diabetic, was going to put strong steroids into my body. If you don’t know, steroids drastically elevate blood sugar levels. So I began to tell the doctor I couldn’t have steroids.. this began another process and conversation. HE DIDN’T KNOW I WAS DIABETIC. So he began doing research and talking with other doctors and came back in and said all he could do was dilate the steroids but I would still be getting steroids. I went under anxious and scared and untrusting. And I spent the next couple of days hovering around 200 which I never do.
Eventually, I did have to have the major jaw surgery. The doctor who performed this surgery I did trust immensely and had a great relationship with him. We had a couple of long conversations about how we would do with the diabetes and I felt good going into it. The surgery required for my jaw to be wired shut, so that was the major concern initially. Minimal steroids were used so I remember my blood sugar being slightly elevated right after, but not nearly like it was with the other procedure. The first day or so, everything was fine. I was on some crazy pain meds and was trying to drink things blended up.
Problems started about two days out from the surgery and lasted about 1 week post-op. I couldn’t keep anything down. I was spending all night throwing up.. so imagine that with your jaw wired shut. All I was taking in was water and chicken broth and still, my body rejected all of it. We kept a close eye on my blood sugar and it was never anything crazy. A couple elevated and a couple lows, but nothing terrible. A week out we called the doctor who told us to come immediately. Once we got everything figured out, my normal carb ratio was great for smoothies and milkshakes :)
All together, surgery can be harmless and safe with type 1 diabetes. Some major takeaways:
Make sure you have a good relationship with your doctor who knows your diabetes and listens to you and you feel heard.
Have the surgery first thing.
Make sure you’re monitored throughout.
Be aware of any steroids used.
Use your normal carb ratio after and check your levels every hour or two so you can make adjustments as needed, especially within the first couple of days.
If you’re put under and on pain meds, make sure someone is waking you up regularly to check your blood sugar because you won’t feel yourself getting low.
And feel better!!!!
HP