Surgery Preparations

Checklist | Surgery Preparations | Before the surgery | Overnight Stays | Diabetic patients | Anesthesia | Following Surgery

Diabetic patients

Diabetic patients need to pay particular attention to their diet and medication on the day of surgery. Individual management of each diabetic patient is necessary to provide a safe surgical experience. Prior to the day of surgery, patients should contact the physician who manages their diabetes. This will allow a specific plan for their diabetic management on the evening before the day of surgery and the day of surgery.  It is always best if this is coordinated with your surgeon and diabetic management physician.

All diabetic patients should continue to monitor their blood sugars before and after their surgery. Blood sugars will be monitored during your stay by the Surgery Center of Reno staff. Because anesthesia and surgery is a stressful time, blood sugars may fluctuate and require more frequent monitoring during the first few hours after surgery.

We recommend most adult patients with diabetes not eat anything after midnight before surgery.

The parents of children with diabetes should contact their physician for individual instructions.

General Guidelines Suggested for diabetic patients:

Type 1, juvenile or insulin dependent diabetics

• Patients on insulin pumps should continue using their pumps up to, during and after surgery using a basal rate only. Their routine use may be resumed after they commence their usual diet.
• Patients on long acting insulin such as NPH, Lente or Ultralente should take their evening dose as usual but reduce any morning doses by 1/3 if the surgery is in the morning, or by 1/2; if surgery is in the afternoon. Regular insulin should be held until a regular diet is resumed.
• Patients on long acting insulin such as Lantus should reduce their evening dose prior to surgery by 50%. Regular short acting insulin should be withheld until diet is resumed after their surgery.

Type 2, adult onset diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetics

• Patients should avoid taking their oral diabetic medication the night before surgery. This medication may be resumed the night after their surgery once they have resumed their diet.
• Patients with type 2 diabetes who take insulin should follow the guidelines for type 1 diabetes.
• Fasting guidelines are the same for diabetic or non-diabetic patients.