Going to have to do an endoscopy, any advice on how to set the pump. I’m thinking of putting on exercise mode. What do I need to tell the anesthetist? Do I show them my pump and how it works. If they are reading off my pump, the readings may not be entirely correct when I’m lying down especially if there is a compression low. Feeling a bit nervous.
I need to fast until like 1pm. Also a bit worried what to do if I go low. If I can’t have solids could I have something like a juice or honey?
I have a basal setting I call preop. It is set at 60% of regular basal. My pump is Tandem running C-IQ which will drop basal to zero if BG is low.
That worked well for several outpatient procedures and major surgery.
The odd thing is that all data was blacked out while in the OR.
When I had a short surgery under general anesthesia, the anesthetist had me use sleep mode with my least aggressive profile. She said that CGMs often become very inaccurate under general and she didn’t want any suprise boluses. I would ask the anesthetist what he/she prefers. I had a colonoscopy using a pump about seven years ago and had no problems.
I had a colonoscopy with no anesthesia because being put under was too stressful because of the blood sugar issues you stated. And it was not bad at all. I know some endoscopies also don’t require it.
Also y if you are going under speak to the anesthesiologist, he or she will monitor your blood sugars.
You can disconnect your pump just before you go under. Most procedures are less than an hour. That way there is no way to go low and you might end a little high.
You are allowed to have glucose or sugar during your fast but it can’t be anything with any red in it. Most glucose tabs had red food color.
You can have 7 up if you really need it.
I had surgery on my (second time, both are screwed) ) wrist for arthritis, and after talking to the “crew” in the OR, they just kept my phone in there, and monitored my BG throughout. I was out for almost 5 hours, and they did a great job of keeping me in the safe zone throughout. My Dexcom provided them with the numbers, and they never had to worry. From what I was told I dipped into the 70’s for a bit but came back up to the 90"s and they had to provide no intervention.
Thanks, is it true that anaesthesist are pretty verse to seeing people with insulin pumps these days?
My GP says I’m the only one with a pump that he sees so I’m nervous that it would be new to the anaesthesist as well
I spoke to the anesthesiologist today and she said she wants my sugar running higher on the day, that is 10mmol or 180mg. That seems rather high, she also said previously her other patients would give them their phone to monitor dexcom. I didn’t really want to do this as the pump screen would have the readings and didn’t want another device to complicate things, also, I didn’t really like opening up my phone with no security.
I have a feeling they will only treat lows, if I’m running high, they will let it be.
Endoscopies are usually short procedures and you might be under for only an hour or two. Running high for a couple hours isn’t the end of the world even if it isn’t best. Usually there isn’t much tissue damage during an endoscopy and in the best cases they don’t cut at all so the speed of healing might not be an issue.
If she wants you at 180 for the length of the procedure, you’ll probably have to turn off CIQ since even exercise mode will work to push you lower than that. I would try not to start running high too soon since CIQ will start increasing your basal and you might be sitting with too much insulin on board at the beginning of the procedure with the risk that your blood sugar will start a relatively quick descent at some random time.
Australia? Your GP or endo should have sent a plan as part of the referral. Ask to see a copy. What did they say about what would happen with your pump during the procedure?