Glucose Management Important During Hospital Stay

Whether you are planning a surgery or find yourself hospitalized with an acute condition, one of the most important questions to ask your surgeon or doctor is “Who is taking care of my blood glucose?” If you take care of someone with diabetes, write the answer to this question down and put it in your wallet for when you need it. Also add, “What have my friend’s blood glucose levels been running? How close is this to his/her target value?”

Blood glucose may seem like the least of your worries if you have had a heart attack, stroke, or surgery of any kind. However, many research studies have found that well managed pre- and post-operative or inpatient blood glucose was associated with better outcomes.

Many larger medical centers will have a diabetes team that
includes an endocrinologist, a nurse, a pharmacist, and a dietitian to prescribe the correct medications and monitor the patient’s blood glucose, while the primary doctor or surgeon focuses on the reason for the hospitalization. Make sure you are referred to this team if your hospital has one.

If your medical center doesn’t have a diabetes team or if your insurance won’t cover the costs associated with the team, talk to the person who will be monitoring your diabetes. Ask what target blood glucose ranges are best during your hospitalization, and how often your blood glucose will be checked.

Remember, better blood glucose control and frequent monitoring can help you recover more quickly!

Medication Update

Many people have several prescription medications. They may have these prescriptions from different doctors or even get them through different pharmacies or supply services. It is difficult for the pharmacist and doctor if they don't know everything the patient is taking.

At least once a year, update your doctor and pharmacist on all your medications. Include any over-the-counter drugs or
supplements you may be taking. Giving your pharmacist and doctor this list will help them decide if any drug-drug or drug-supplement interactions are possible.

One might make your blood glucose look higher than it really is, or they may work in opposition to each other.
If you have several doctors, like your podiatrist, general doctor, and your optometrist, they should all have a complete list of your medications. Even your dentist should have this list!

Make a list now and mark your calendar to update your medication list next year at this time.

The Scoop on Carbs

Carbohydrates are often talked about as good or bad; diets may be low or high in carbs. But, what is a carbohydrate anyway?

A carbohydrate is a macro-nutrient, meaning it is a nutrient found in large quantities in food. The name carbohydrate comes from its chemical make-up. “Carbo” means carbon, and “hydrate” means water, which is hydrogen and oxygen.

Carbohydrates can be simple or complex. These categories are based on how easily they are digested. Either way,
carbohydrates are your body’s main source of energy.

Most foods have at least some carbohydrates. Foods with large amounts of carbohydrate include foods from the bread and starch group, fruits and fruit juices, and many foods from the dairy group such as milk, yogurt, and ice cream.

Carbohydrates have a big influence on blood glucose levels. You need to know which foods have carbohydrates in them. Check your plate and check food labels. Identifying carbohydrate-rich foods will help you manage your blood glucose.


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