Diabetes

[kemo46 82]

I knew a lot of the risks of being obese including high blood pressure, risk of stroke and heart attacks. I just found another one and new for me, I was diagnosed with Diabetes today when I went in for my physical. My last blood panel was 5 years ago, it was not great but things have really changed for the worse over the last five years. I have not been on any medication for anything, ever. I talked with my primary about my upcoming surgery and we discussed medication. I have decided to hold off on the medication until after my surgery, i have read that the surgery has really helped people's blood sugar levels get back to normal. I am really hoping with eating properly and having the surgery, i will not have to go on the medication for Diabetes.

I would like to hear from anyone out there that has some input about this or has gone through it. Did the surgery cure your diabetes or at least make it manageable with diet after the surgery? I have talked with my coordinator for my sleeve surgery and I have to get my glucose number down before my surgery on the 25th. If you have any input on the best way or options on how to do this, I would appreciate it. I know the main things such as cut out the sugar, carbs, starches and things like that will help my numbers. Will the pre-op liquid diet lower this number significantly or must I do more?

I should have not been surprised by my numbers today but I was. When you hear your doctor tell you you have Diabetes , it is scary. It makes my decision to have this surgery much more important and urgent.

I would encourage all people to have a blood panel if they have not had one recently. I DID NOT have ANY of the symptoms of diabetes. I had risk factors such as weight but that was all.

Please give me your input, i would really appreciate it.

[Youngandwildresa93 1]

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in October of 09. I was taking three medicines. Metformin for over 5 years, Lantis once a day and Humolog before every meal. So in total I was taking over 5 shots a day. The doctor said that if I had the sleeve procedure there was no guarantee that the diabetes would go away immediately but he said eventually in a few months or so it could but he said if I got the who gastric bypass surgery it would go away right away. I went with the sleeve because he thought it suit my medical needs better and since i was so young he thought it was the better choice. (18 years old) After two days in the hospital my blood sugars were in the 115-120 everyday when on a normal day my blood sugars were in the high 200's sometimes 300's. I left the hospital off all insulin's and medicines and haven't been on them since. My blood sugars are around 112 every morning and I'm not diabetic free!! Since you are on no medicines and diagnosed so recently I strongly believe that once you come out of surgery you will also be diabetes free! Good luck!!!

(I was sleeved on 3/15)

[Raine 170]

To get your numbers down by the time you go for surgery, make sure you do the pre-op liquid diet to the letter. I was on the pre-op diet for 2 weeks and when I did and my sugars on the morning of they were 77 which is great for me. I'm hoping for the same thing to happen, no more diabetic medicines. I dont think it will happen over night for me but in time I believe it will get better. I have been T2 Diabetic for 14 years and am already seeing a difference. It is very scary to be diagnosed and to have to deal with all of it, but think of it like this, you are on the right road to making it all better! Good Luck!

[Youngandwildresa93 1]

Depending on your surgeon (most) wont operate on you if your A1C levels are above a 9. My blood sugars were off the charts before surgery and a week before my original surgery date (2/15) they did blood tests and my A1C was a 12. They had to reschedule my surgery for another month. I got my A1C to around a 9 by doing the liquid diet and really sticking to my medicines.

[klus263 9]

Before I started my prep diet I was taking 500 mg of Metformin twice a day. My sugar levels was still around 140 in the morning. I worked closely with my pcp for my preop diet and my sugar levels dropped so drastically that I had to stop taking the medication prior to surgery. While I was in the hospital I did get one dose of insulin but since then I have not taken any medication. I go this friday for my lab work before my 6 month appointment. I am hoping that my A1c is low enough that I may not be considered diabetic. I still test occaisionly but now my levels are between 80-110. Good Luck.

[Jennywren 42]

I was diagnosed in my early thirties and as my diabetes progressed over the last decade I was put on Metformin, Lantis, Symlin and glimeparide and my blood sugars were still out of control... I've been medication free since two days before my surgery! My sugars test 108-120 most days.

Exercise helps lower sugars as does cutting carbs. The surgery has saved the quality of my life and even if one day I have to take some meds again it will never be as bad as it was. Love my sleeve!

[Rootman 1,101]

I was never diagnosed as diabetic, in fact most of the blood sugar tests I've had indicated that I was the opposite - hypoglycemic. I took many sugar tests, including a month long study suggested by my PCP, they showed my fasting blood sugar would plunge down into the 50's (!!!) sometimes. Most say that you should get concerned when they hit the 70's, VERY concerned in the 60's and the 50's are way, way too low. I would get light headed and visibly shake till I drank some juice or ate a lot of carbs.

Anyways, after the sleeve I still took my blood sugar regularly and it's almost always been spot on. Maybe 95 or so far a fasting test and never above 120 after a meal. The sleeve also seems to of helped me regulate my sugar.

Whatever the reason, better nutrition, fewer carbs or some mysterious unknown side effect of the sleeve itself I have not felt this good an DECADES.

[KellyL 173]

Sorry about your diagnoses of diabetes. I just found out about mine a yr ago. Mine significanrly improved just by going sugarfree lower carb. If and when I have bread ot Pasta it's whole wheat. I've seen a lot of info that the sleeve will help put it into remission. I'm hoping for all of us, that it will!

Kelly

[kellyw74 258]

I was diagnosed as T2 diabetic a year ago. VERY SCARY to say the least. I was only 34 and that was the BIGGEST factor in my decision to get this surgery. I knew that if I did not change my life, I would not have one!

I take 500mg of Metformin 2x's a day. I have noticed that since losing 60 lbs, my levels have MUCH improved!! My A1C's were 8 last year and now are 6. I had glucose readings in high 180-220's everyday and now are in low 100's. I really do not need to take the medication so much, but do still. I will take it until I have my surgery next week and then see how everything goes.

I do contribute my success with the diabetes control to weight loss and exercise. So, I know, if I would have waited to do this when I got my sleeve, it would have helped too. I just opted to do it before hand. I was scared!!!

Any weight loss, no matter how you acheive it will help with your diabetes. Exercise and diet are the best way to acheive this and if the sleeve is going to help you do this, then GO FOR IT!!!

Best of luck to you !!

Kelly

[tntransplant06 20]

Diagnosed as Type 2 diabetic in 2001. On Insulin ever since, gradually increasing dose. Switched to Lantus in 2010. Was taking 50 units in the evening. Surgeon here said I may not get off insulin completely as I've been on it for so long. Surgeon in another state that did my surgery said if anything I'd prob be on Metformin after surgery. I have not taken ANY diabetes medication since 3 days after surgery. My fastings are in the 80-90 range. Have to have my A1C this month, I'm expecting it to be below 6. This surgery was mainly to have my diabetes improved, so it is a success already. The weightloss is just icing on the cake.