Wisdom Teeth Extraction

I’ m type 1 and am getting two of my wisdom teeth extracted tomorrow, and another two next week. Is there any advice you may give me regarding such a surgery and its outcomes? I dont quite need solid foods do I? I mean I can eat mashed potatoes and similar foods right? Also, I read somewhere that I might wanna take a little less insulin than usual due to blood loss and the anesthesia, is this correct?



Thanks for your time!

Ummm… Im not sure because I had all of mine taken out before I was diagnosed. I would definitely stay away from solid foods. Try liquid carbs. Try to have someone stay with you until you feel better and dont drive yourself home. Get a friend or family member who HASNT had surgery in the last 30 minutes(: lol! Sorry I didnt have anything regarding sugar and insulin.

Have fun… (:

I honestly can’t remember how my blood sugars were when I had mine out…sorry.



Advice: make sure they know you are a diabetic…if you are using full anesthesia you may be asked to fast for 6-8 hours prior to the extraction…I was asked to do this, and I was concerned about becoming dehydrated (I tend to get dehydrated easily, and my electrolytes get way out of wack)…they told me standard protocol for a diabetic was to give an IV of fluids with anesthesia, so I was rehydrated during my extraction. Also if you are asked to fast, be sure to discuss with the team how you should be handling any potentially low blood sugars.

I found getting my wisdom teeth out pretty tricky. I would definitely find out about lowering your basal insulin as that is where I got into trouble! I also think it’s a great idea to stay very hydrated.

And yep - you can eat lots of soft foods! I remember lots of rice pudding and jello. I think it was a little hard to do milkshakes as they require sucking and that was a no-no by my dr.

I had all 4 extracted three years ago. I was on MDI at the time. The doctor told me to lessen my basal the morning of, that was the only change for me. I did notice I ran a little low, but it wasn’t too bad. I ate a lot of applesauce, pudding, and mashed potatoes for a few days! As always, though, let the doctor know you’re diabetic. Also, be sure to consult your endo or your regular doctor. Best of luck (:

Are you on a basal and bolus insulin or what? If your basal is set too high and therefore you go low rather than stay even, you definitely would do well to lower it to the place where you stay even all day. If you know you stay even throughout the time, there’s no reason to lower it. Why have a high if you don’t need one.
The anesthetist will test your blood glucose if there is an anesthetist. Take your glucose tester. It’s useful to you after you wake up. Take your bolus insulin along to correct highs. If they give you IV glucose, you will be high afterwards. Talk ahead with the anesthetist regarding how much fluids and what kind so you can do your figuring. If they give you 5% glucose, there’s 5 grams every 100 ml they give you.
Mashed potatoes give me highs. How about some scrambled eggs, jello, sugar-free pudding, diabetic-friendly yogurt, mashed less starchy veggies, dare I say low carb baby food! Ha! At least 4 days.
I do feel for you and I guess you’ll be ready to read this after the first two and before the second two. Best wishes above all!

Ok. Food first. You can continue to eat whatever you want or need - just make soup! Blitz any food combinations that you fancy - include some rice or potatoes and this will provide all you need and without having to chew. And some stock or water to make it more liquid and easier on your mouth and do not eat it too hot! For obvious reasons.

You might find it is a good idea to make some batches of soup and freeze them in portion sized boxes so that you do not have to cook afterwards.

Second. Medication. In my experience (and I am speaking personally here, but I gather other diabetes patients have to take this into account too) blood sugar levels can spike to a ridiculous level after general anaesthetics (not sure if it is the anaesthetic or drugs they use as well) and you may find that you need MORE insulin. However, every person is individual and you need to keep checking your sugar levels a bit more often than perhaps you might.

I should not think blood loss will be so significant as to cause problems unless you are very unlucky. I had five teeth out in one go and after the first hour or so I stopped bleeding.

I wish you well.

I’m having mine out this summer too and have never had surgery so any advice is helpful to me too! :slight_smile:

When I knocked two of my teeth in half a couple of years ago the only good part was eating mashed potatoes and ice cream for a couple of days. I love mashed potatoes!

My 22 year old daughter had all 4 out this Monday. She was down for about a day, but by Wednesday was back to work. I think the surgery is a lot better now than 20 years ago when I had mine out.