Your diabetes before your surgery

Your child is due to attend hospital for surgery and will be need to have a period of fasting before their procedure.

It is also important, that your child has normal levels of hydration and blood sugars. They can have sips of clear fluids and low sugar squash as needed.

What does fasting mean?

Fasting means not eating or drinking (except clear fluids like water and low sugar squash) before a surgery. This is important to help reduce complications during the operation.

What we should bring?

You should bring your child’s usual diabetes medicines and equipment, such as blood glucose and ketone monitors, insulin and pens or pump.

We advise you also bring dextrose tablets and a sugary drink in case your child has hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose).

Blood glucose targets

Aim to keep your child’s blood sugar between 5 to 11 millimoles per litre (mmol/L). Check this every hour when fasting.

The target HbA1C for your child is less than 53 millimoles per mole (mmol/mol) to reduce the chance of complications.

What if my child is on an insulin pump?

If your child is on an insulin pump, continue your child’s basal rate and adjust as needed to maintain a blood glucose of 5 to 11 millimoles per litre (mmol/L).

If your child’s procedure is in the morning, do not give them breakfast, or the breakfast bolus of insulin.

If your child’s procedure is in the afternoon, give them a light breakfast at 7am with their insulin bolus.

What about major surgery?

If your child has a major surgery, they will be admitted the day before their procedure.

What about minor surgery?

A short surgery usually last less than 30 minutes.

Morning surgery

If your child has a morning surgery, do not give them their morning dose of rapid acting and multiple daily injections insulins. Instead, give them their morning dose with a late breakfast after the operation. Continue giving them their long acting (once daily) insulins at their normal doses and times.

Afternoon surgery

If your child has an afternoon surgery, give them their normal dose of morning rapid acting insulin with a light breakfast at 7am. Continue to give them their long acting (once daily) insulins at their normal doses and times.

If your child has a premixed insulin regime, give half their morning dose.

If your child takes Metformin or another oral medication to treat diabetes, stop giving this to them 24 hours before their surgery.

Other important points

If bowel prep is required, your child may need pre admission.

If your child is on an insulin pump or glucose monitor these can not be taken into the MRI scanner.