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Published Sep 23, 2023

#1014 Diabetes Pro Tip: Glucagon & Low BGs (Remastered)

Scott Benner and Jenny Smith provide expert insights into managing type 1 diabetes during emergencies, illness, and medical procedures, highlighting preparedness strategies, insulin adjustments, and maintaining blood sugar stability to ensure safety and effective diabetes management under challenging circumstances.
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  • Pre-Surgery

    Pre-surgery planning is crucial for individuals with diabetes to ensure proper insulin and glucose monitoring during medical procedures. emphasizes the importance of discussing diabetes management with medical teams ahead of time, especially for surgeries that may require adjustments to insulin pumps or continuous glucose monitors 1. She notes that many doctors prefer to err on the side of caution, often suggesting significant basal insulin reductions, which may not always be necessary.

    Many doctors will say dial the basal back by 50%, which is a lot.

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    adds that fasting before surgery can complicate diabetes management, highlighting the need for careful planning and communication with healthcare providers 1.

       

    Medical Norms

    Challenging medical norms is often necessary for effective diabetes management during hospital stays. shares a story about a friend who had to secretly manage her insulin doses due to hospital staff's rigid protocols 2. She advises advocating for oneself by involving patient advocates to ensure safe and personalized care.

    Sometimes you just have to be reasonable and talk and say, I get this is what you normally do, but hey, this is what we do.

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    Scott highlights the importance of calm communication to find a middle ground with medical staff, emphasizing that institutional practices may not always align with individual needs 2.

       

    Under Anesthesia

    Managing diabetes under anesthesia requires careful preparation and support. discusses her personal experiences with anesthesia, noting that it can cause nausea and other side effects 3. She stresses the importance of communicating with anesthesiologists about potential issues and having a support person present who understands diabetes management.

    It's really, really, really advantageous if you've got a go-to person to be there after.

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    underscores the need for patients to maintain control over their diabetes devices as much as possible during medical procedures 3.

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