My Surgery Experience and Managing Type 2 Diabetes

There was an occasion when I had to undergo a small minor surgery. Surgeries are not quite so "small" and easy when you have type 2 diabetes. My team of doctors was concerned for my well-being during and after the surgery since controlling and managing blood sugars with surgery is very risky and uncertain.

Surgery and concerns with type 2 diabetes

You can never really predict how your body will react to surgery or how long it will take for you to heal from it. Because type 2 diabetes impacts other aspects of health, undergoing surgery means you are exposing your body to a lesion. It's common for type 2 diabetes to greatly reduce the body's healing process, i.e., being more prone to infections.

Learning the details of my surgery

Putting all the scary details aside, my doctors were kind to me. They helped me understand how important it is for me to be having a complete understanding of the whole surgery process. It was a lengthy process for me compared to any other patient without other health conditions.

Considerations weeks before surgery

There are specific ways that your doctor or healthcare team will advise you to prepare for surgery if you have type 2 diabetes. Maintaining normal blood sugar levels is essential.

Stabilizing blood sugar

For the doctors to perform the surgery, I had to maintain my blood sugar level within the normal range for 4 weeks before the surgery. My doctors had me check my sugar levels 4 times a day.

This was a tough time. My fingers were pricked all over, and I had trouble finding a spot for the next prick. But it had to be done, and it was painful.

Following a healthy eating plan

My doctors asked me to follow a healthy and nutritious eating plan before the surgery. I needed to foster a robust immune system through nutrients and vitamins for surgery recovery. It was a sensitive time; I was scared, too. Anything could happen during or after the surgery.

Again my doctors and family were very supportive. I was on a strict diet, and my husband was in charge of that. He also has type 2 diabetes, so he was following my dietitian's prescribed meal charts which included a diet rich in fiber with fruits, vegetables, grains, fish, and nuts. My dietitian told him to use a little bit of olive oil if oil was needed in cooking.

A successful surgery

I was eating healthy to ensure my blood sugar remained balanced, and I did not suffer from low sugars or high sugar at any time. In the 4 weeks leading up to the surgery, some of my go-to foods were salad, sauteed vegetables, and boiled grains with low-fat milk.

On surgery day, my blood glucose was well controlled! Through the hard work of my doctors, my surgery went great too. I stayed under observation in the hospital for a few days.

My post-surgery wounds took their time to heal, but with strict monitoring and a healthier eating plan, I could fully heal the wounds without infection. My family, friends, and especially my doctors were there to ensure that my surgery ended successfully, which it did.