What to do for surgery

Marburg,
Make sure that the surgeon is aware of your diabetes and whatever meds you take. Also, if you pre-register at the hospital ask them if you should bring your meds with you. Different hospitals have different policies about regular medications. Check with the nurse at your surgeon's office about how they handle ongoing medical conditions thru surgery and the hospital stay.

Also, don't worry about the Dextrose 5% solution or your blood sugar right after surgery. It's not just the solution that caused the rise in your blood glucose. There are several uncontrollable responses that your body makes in conjunction with the "assault" of surgery. Your system goes thru pre-op anxiety and stress, the physical stress of the cutting and blood loss as well as the pain associated with post-op. These things will all raise your blood sugar just in case you decide to "run away". (It's the old fight or flight syndrome.) Please don't try to regulate your blood sugar in the hospital. Let the professionals work on that. They do lots of surgery on diabetic patients and they know more about your blood glucose response to surgery than we do.

The temporary rise in numbers as you work your way through healing and getting home is not a large problem in the overall picture of things. You may want ask if your blood sugars are ok while hospitalized but don't be overly concerned if they are a bit out of line. This is normal after surgery.