“My husband is getting surgery soon. How should we prepare?”
My husband has a growth around his ankle which the doctor says needs to be operated on. My husband is a diabetic and I am wondering if the surgery will have any repercussions on his body. How should we prepare?
9 Answers
Control his diabetes as much as you can and lose weight.
Depends a lot on the type of surgery and IF the surgery is necessary. IF it is definitely necessary, everything should be done to prevent infection as this can be disastrous at times with the diabetes going astray and causing poor wound healing and sometimes worse!
It's best for the doctor to see the patient to asses the growth. The doctor may recommend radiology, or be able to make a surgical recommendation while discussing the ramifications of the the specific surgery vs. diabetic care.
It is very important for his blood sugars to be well controlled before surgery to give him the best chances for healing. If it has. It already been discussed you should also be prepared for a more drastic operation like an amputation which can be life changing. Other than those specific ways to prepare, you should also not eat after midnight, take meds as directed by your physician, keep the area clean and dry to prevent infection, do not smoke, and stay in good health before the surgery.
The answer depends on size, location and involved tissues of the area. In general, these questions should be addressed by the surgeon before surgery, but optimal preparation by the patient is to get his or her health in optimal condition, such as getting glucose tightly controlled (diabetes), clean the area with soap such as Hibiclens night before surgery, stop smoking at least 2 weeks before surgery if smoker.
Depending upon the extent of surgery he may or may not be weight bearing so you have to arrange for that . Most importantly work with your primary care doctor to have his diabetes optimized prior to surgery to help with wound healing.
The key is to make sure that his blood sugars are very well controlled to limit infection. Can prep the day before by washing / shower and making sure the area is clean with soap. Optimize his nutrition with good healthy protein that helps healing. Speak with the surgeon.
Every diabetic patient who goes for surgery follows the instructions give by the surgeon prior to the admission. Strictly follow the preoperative assessment and instructions.
Best of luck.
Best of luck.
He has to control his sugar levels; he doesn't have to get surgery if his sugar level is better than 180 mg/dl. If his sugar levels are kept under control, there is no worry of complications. He has to keep a good diet.
