Tonsillectomy and Diabetes - Diabetes Message Board

amorvenicito · 11-29-2005, 07:38 AM

I might be getting a tonsillectomy and I was wondering how it would effect my diabetes.
will I have to stay in the hospital for observations?
will this effect my blood sugars?
will the general anesthesia do anything to my blood sugars?
will there be more warning signs because of my diabetes?
will it hurt more because of diabetes?
how much will it hurt?
what are acceptable medications to take with my diabetes?
is there any websites who could help me further?

Thanks

desertdiabetic · 11-29-2005, 08:15 AM

Some of your answers depend on if you take insulin or not - are you insulin dependent or not? It is important for all diabetics going into any surgery where thay get a general to work with your doctor.

Before any surgery they will tell you to eat and drink nothing - which is necessary to prevent serious problems during surgery. I have heard Doctors speak very strongly about taking your insulin as usual before because of the possiblilities of increased blood sugars during surgery. Research out this part for sure.

I have no clue, only opinion, about the rest of your question. It would be better for someone who has experienced this procedure to comment.

sarahcanuck · 11-29-2005, 11:19 AM

I'm type I and I had a tonsillectomy at age 17. They gave me a general anaesthetic, and they kept me in the hospital for about 2 days to ensure my blood sugars were good. Once I could eat semi-normally again I was released. (Looking back, I much would have preferred a local anaesthetic as it took me nearly 2 weeks to recover from the surgery... I wasn't in pain for long, but the general took the wind out of me for a long, long time!!!)

I don't think having diabetes will make the procedure hurt any more or any less. It depends more on the complexity of the procedure and largely on your own pain tolerance. (Will they be taking both tonsils and adenoids? Do you have a chronic tonsil infection? If so, the throat may already be irritated). They prescribed tylenol 3 for me and as long as I took the meds on schedule I was in little or no pain. Your doctor will also decide which medications (OTC and prescribed) will work best for you.

Because of my diabetes, my surgery was slated to be the very first one of the day. I was told to have NO food or liquids (not even water!) after midnight the night before. (This is not diabetes-related, but surgery-related... they can't have you refluxing and choking during the surgery.) So if you happen to get low and need to eat or drink in the hours before the procedure, do let the nurses know as you might have to be rescheduled.

As it turned out, my blood sugar was high that morning (about 11 on my scale) but the nurses did not want me to have any extra insulin in case I got low during the surgery. They cut my basal insulin by about 10%, but your endocrinologist will help you decide what formula to use (if you are type I, that is).

Best of luck -- I hope your surgery goes well!

Enjoy being tonsil-free!

amorvenicito · 11-29-2005, 11:59 AM

btw i forgot to add that im a type 1 on a pump, sorry about that.

thanks for everyone whos helping

sharon1030 · 12-02-2005, 07:50 PM

Hi,

I had my tonsils taken out when I was 27. It was done on an outpatient basis which I wouldn't recommend. Two days after the surgery, I wound up back in the hospital because I couldn't keep anything down. I spent two days in ICU and another in the hospital. I think if I had stayed in that first night after surgery, I probably wouldn't have had to go through what I did. So, my biggest piece of advice (and what I would do if I had do go through it again) is stay in the hospital that first night if at all possible. That way you'll be able to be kept hydrated with an IV in case you can't take too much in by mouth. Good luck.

Sharon