AFTER SURGERY INFECTIONS, BEING A TYPE 1

[Shropshire Lass]

Hi, just had surgery and being Type 1 am concerned about infections and sepsis, everyone keeps telling me that Diabetics are more prone to infections.
No one has actually explained why it is, I presume its being clean and keeping a good level, but my question is Why, is the blood any different to a person with-out Diabetes or something else.
As a new Diabetic it sounds a stupid question but I need to know after having surgery.
I am over whelmed that health professionals don't know either having asked this question many times.

 

[Robin]

I think statistically, people with diabetes are more infection prone, but the statistics must include all the poorly controlled ones, and ones where people have complications. High blood sugar, I assume, gives bacteria more to work on, and poor blood supply in people with neuropathy must make it harder for their body to clear bacteria. I'd have thought with well controlled diabetes, you'll have minimised the risk.

 

[malturn]

Hi Last year I had major heart surgery and the hospital did everything possible to minimise infections including giving me a special shampoo and body wash to use before and during my stay in hospital. Although I am type 2 I am on insulin and during my stay in hospital during the opperation and for 3 days after they controlled my BG levels with pumped insulin and glucose, after that I was able to do my own monitoring, and I have had no problems with infection at all.Hope this has been helpful .

 

[Amigo]

Hi, just had surgery and being Type 1 am concerned about infections and sepsis, everyone keeps telling me that Diabetics are more prone to infections.
No one has actually explained why it is, I presume its being clean and keeping a good level, but my question is Why, is the blood any different to a person with-out Diabetes or something else.
As a new Diabetic it sounds a stupid question but I need to know after having surgery.
I am over whelmed that health professionals don't know either having asked this question many times.

This is a very good article explaining this phenomenon Shropshire Lass. Having cancer of the immune system, it’s a subject close to my heart especially as type 2 diabetes compounds my particular risks (I’ve had sepsis). Prior to my diabetes diagnosis, it’s clear now that the undetected hyperglycaemia at that time was fuelling the infection I had. However, I appreciate my situation and risks are slightly different.

https://www.sepalika.com/type-2-diabetes/diabetes-and-infections/

‘High blood sugar levels compromise how immune cells work. Our immune system produces special proteins called “antibodies.” These antibodies attach to bacterial cells that cause diseases. And they “mark” these cells for destruction by other cells of the immune system. When blood glucose levels are high, these antibodies get “glycated.” In other words, they are literally “stuck” to glucose molecules, making them ineffective.

Hyperglycemia also hampers the production of “cytokines.” Cytokines are the chemical messengers of the immune system. Cytokines play a vital role in communication between cells. This communication is crucial for fighting off infections quickly. High blood sugar also hampers other immune cells called “phagocytes,” which are responsible for destroying bacterial cells. High blood sugar also feeds viruses and bacteria, helping them multiply faster.’

Hope this helps.

 

[trophywench]

It's absolutely normal for us to have higher BG after operations, even if the stress of worrying about the procedure and outcome didn't increase it beforehand. After the event the body has to recover from the trauma of the operation for starters - even keyhole ops are traumatic so don't be fooled into assuming because these days you don't get a 12 inch incision that your body won't be affected. Brilliantly level 'normal' BG after the procedure means we heal much more successfully - exactly the same applies for little injuries though - if eg a paper cut takes ages to heal then that's most likely because the person's BG is too high for too long.

I highly recommend you go into hospital armed with your own BG meter and plenty of strips and also your own blood ketone meter and strips. All wards have BG meters to hand but may have to scrat round other wards and departments to find a ketone meter - as happened with me last October. I've never before bothered getting such a meter, even after planned ops (gynae procedures finishing with a hysterectomy) my BG has been good so never ever needed testing - but apparently a broken patella behaves differently! LOL The DSN from the Diabetes clinic was summoned, bearing such a meter for me all new in the box. It got used a lot for about a fortnight and gallons of water got drunk (and bedpans used LOL) Been OK since but BG still higher and using more insulin, cos 4 months later there is still swelling and pain.

6 months ago I'd still have been saying Oh don't worry - it will be a breeze!

Plan for it not to be a breeze - then anything better will be a bonus! Good luck with whatever it is.

 

[trophywench]

PS I've never had a post-op infection though.

 

[mikeyB]

High blood sugar doesn’t feed viruses because they don’t consume energy. They are inert outside of a cell, and can’t multiply outside of a cell. Bacteria, of course, love a high sugar level.

 

[Shropshire Lass]

This is a very good article explaining this phenomenon Shropshire Lass. Having cancer of the immune system, it’s a subject close to my heart especially as type 2 diabetes compounds my particular risks (I’ve had sepsis). Prior to my diabetes diagnosis, it’s clear now that the undetected hyperglycaemia at that time was fuelling the infection I had. However, I appreciate my situation and risks are slightly different.

https://www.sepalika.com/type-2-diabetes/diabetes-and-infections/

‘High blood sugar levels compromise how immune cells work. Our immune system produces special proteins called “antibodies.” These antibodies attach to bacterial cells that cause diseases. And they “mark” these cells for destruction by other cells of the immune system. When blood glucose levels are high, these antibodies get “glycated.” In other words, they are literally “stuck” to glucose molecules, making them ineffective.

Hyperglycemia also hampers the production of “cytokines.” Cytokines are the chemical messengers of the immune system. Cytokines play a vital role in communication between cells. This communication is crucial for fighting off infections quickly. High blood sugar also hampers other immune cells called “phagocytes,” which are responsible for destroying bacterial cells. High blood sugar also feeds viruses and bacteria, helping them multiply faster.’

Hope this helps.

Thank you for the first time having read the article you recommended I am informed of the risk of infection, thank you again.

 

[Shropshire Lass]

It's absolutely normal for us to have higher BG after operations, even if the stress of worrying about the procedure and outcome didn't increase it beforehand. After the event the body has to recover from the trauma of the operation for starters - even keyhole ops are traumatic so don't be fooled into assuming because these days you don't get a 12 inch incision that your body won't be affected. Brilliantly level 'normal' BG after the procedure means we heal much more successfully - exactly the same applies for little injuries though - if eg a paper cut takes ages to heal then that's most likely because the person's BG is too high for too long.

I highly recommend you go into hospital armed with your own BG meter and plenty of strips and also your own blood ketone meter and strips. All wards have BG meters to hand but may have to scrat round other wards and departments to find a ketone meter - as happened with me last October. I've never before bothered getting such a meter, even after planned ops (gynae procedures finishing with a hysterectomy) my BG has been good so never ever needed testing - but apparently a broken patella behaves differently! LOL The DSN from the Diabetes clinic was summoned, bearing such a meter for me all new in the box. It got used a lot for about a fortnight and gallons of water got drunk (and bedpans used LOL) Been OK since but BG still higher and using more insulin, cos 4 months later there is still swelling and pain.

6 months ago I'd still have been saying Oh don't worry - it will be a breeze!

Plan for it not to be a breeze - then anything better will be a bonus! Good luck with whatever it is.

Thanks Jenny, looks like I will be next for major surgery, so good advice about the ketone meter haven't got one. Thank you again for the advice.