Anesthesiologist Questions Anesthesiologist

Is it normal to have high blood sugar after anesthesia?

I had surgery under general anesthesia. After that, I have high blood sugar. Is it normal to have high blood sugar after anesthesia?

5 Answers

Having hyperglycemia after surgery is common and has very little to do with the anesthesia itself. Surgery induces a stress response in the body; this, in turn, increases cortisol which leads to elevated blood sugar.
It is not unusual to have some elevation of your blood sugar because of the stress hormones that are secreted during surgery. It is only a transient phenomenon. It does not make one a diabetic.
Surgery is a stressful event. Despite anesthesia making one not aware of surgery the body reacts to the stress with raising one’s blood sugar.

Barbara Watanabe
No. You should check with a primary doctor.
Any physiological stress (like surgery) will cause elevation of your cortisol levels and elevation of your blood sugar.