Keeping your blood sugar (glucose) in a healthy range is very important when you are getting ready for surgery. This means not too high and not too low. It matters most if you have diabetes or trouble with blood sugar control.
Getting your blood sugar into a healthy range before surgery helps your stay safer and heal faster.
Healthy blood sugar levels:
- Help your wounds heal faster
- Decrease your chance of infections
- Support a faster recovery
- Keep your immune system strong
How Do We Check Blood Sugar?
Your health care team may order a blood test to check your blood sugar if you are in one of two groups:
- You are being screened for diabetes or pre-diabetes
- You already have diabetes or pre-diabetes
You may be screened for diabetes or pre-diabetes if:
- You are over the age of 40
- You have a family history of diabetes
- You have had high blood sugar in the past
- You have other risk factors
By checking your blood sugar early, your health care team can make the best decisions to keep you safe and support a smooth recovery.
What Can You Do Before Surgery?
If you have diabetes, pre-diabetes, or higher blood sugar, there are steps you can take to help your body get ready for surgery.
What is the goal?
- Target: A hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) below 7 is best for safe recovery.
- Flexibility: For some people, this target may not be realistic - and that is okay. Your health care team will help you find a safe and reasonable plan.
- Risk: If your HbA1c is above 8.5, some surgeries may need to wait until your blood sugar is better controlled.
To help you reach your goal, your health care team may refer you to your primary care provider or a diabetes educator to help you with medication changes, nutrition, and lifestyle planning.
Even a few weeks of better blood sugar control can make a difference. Try to:
- Take your medications as prescribed and follow your diabetes treatment plan
- Eat balanced meals with fewer sugary foods and more vegetables, fibre, and protein (refer to the Nutrition section for more information)
- Stay active - walking can help blood sugar control (refer to the Getting Active Before Surgery section for more information)
- Avoid smoking and alcohol, which can slow healing and blood affect blood sugar
- Track your blood sugars (if you can) and share your readings with your health care provider
If you need help or are not sure what steps to take, talk to your health care team.
Where to Learn More
Healthlink BC - Diabetes
First Nations Health Authority - Health Living with Diabetes