Cataract Surgery

[JMyrtle]

Hi everyone

I had my second cataract operation on the 12th and this time my blood glucose readings are starting to become very high.

I am usually somewhere between 7.0 and 7.5 0n waking, 6.0 to 6.5 before meals and between 7.0 and 8.0 two hours later.

Now my waking reading is somewhere about 8.0, doesn't go down much before eating dinner and is then about 9.0 two hours later and then down again to 8.0 before going to bed. .

I am on very low carbs, one small slice of wholemeal toast at breakfast and no carbs at all with dinner.

However I am Maxitrol eye drops for two weeks which I believe are a cortisone and antibiotic mixture so could that be the problem although I was on them last time and my readings actually went down!

Eye clinic says I cannot stop the Maxitrol for another week because the effects of doing so would be worse but they don't deal with diabetes so can't help with the blood sugar problem and my GP has no diabetic nurse to ask either so I'm a bit stuck.

Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm just scared in case my beta cells have finally died and I'm heading for the dreaded Metformin.

 

[Drummer]

I do find it hard to equate very low carb and eating toast even if it is just one slice.
My low carb first meal is something like steak and mushrooms - maybe a huge salad and eggs and cheese or a tin of tuna. Bread is so low in nutrients that fighting off the physical shock of even a smallish operation could be a problem - perhaps?
Don't go writing off your pancreas when there's quite a bit of stuff going on, or in - but to do repair work and fuel itself for the whole 24 hours, protein and fat are the ideal materials to have on hand.

 

[grovesy]

I would think it is possible the steroid in the drops is not helping.
Is it possible you are coming down with something.

 

[Northerner]

Hi everyone

I had my second cataract operation on the 12th and this time my blood glucose readings are starting to become very high.

I am usually somewhere between 7.0 and 7.5 0n waking, 6.0 to 6.5 before meals and between 7.0 and 8.0 two hours later.

Now my waking reading is somewhere about 8.0, doesn't go down much before eating dinner and is then about 9.0 two hours later and then down again to 8.0 before going to bed. .

I am on very low carbs, one small slice of wholemeal toast at breakfast and no carbs at all with dinner.

However I am Maxitrol eye drops for two weeks which I believe are a cortisone and antibiotic mixture so could that be the problem although I was on them last time and my readings actually went down!

Eye clinic says I cannot stop the Maxitrol for another week because the effects of doing so would be worse but they don't deal with diabetes so can't help with the blood sugar problem and my GP has no diabetic nurse to ask either so I'm a bit stuck.

Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm just scared in case my beta cells have finally died and I'm heading for the dreaded Metformin.

I would say - don't worry. Although your levels are a little higher than you have been used to they are not hugely so, and a short period of elevated levels like this is very unlikely to cause and lasting harm 🙂 I would imagine that there are a number of factors at play - maybe the drops, but also your body will be on 'heightened alert' after the operation, and perhaps raising your stress levels a little (whether you are aware of it or not), also the fact you are concerned may be an additional factor. Stick with the course of drops and see where you are when you have finished them a couple of weeks 🙂 I know it is difficult to see higher numbers when you are used to a pretty stable run of very good numbers, but I think you will be back on track before too long 🙂

 

[trophywench]

I didn't experience that with either of my cataract ops except very temporarily afterwards.

Think there could be a chance that you're coming down with something as Northie suggested - I don't think it's scientifically possible that the drops could cause it.

 

[AJLang]

Whenever I’ve had cortisone (steroid) eye drops for different reasons, not always surgery, they’ve put my BG levels up and they’ve returned to normal quite soon after I’ve stopped them. Fortunately I was able to deal with mine with extra insulin but I wouldn’t worry about the levels you’re getting whilst on the drops.

 

[mikeyB]

I didn't experience that with either of my cataract ops except very temporarily afterwards.

Think there could be a chance that you're coming down with something as Northie suggested - I don't think it's scientifically possible that the drops could cause it.

Of course it is scientifically possible. It’s the likeliest cause, in fact. I’m sure it will settle down once the drops are stopped. It’s much easier for us T1s to up the basal slightly, but T2s just have to wear it. The levels aren’t dangerously high on a temporary basis.

I know that’s what Amanda just posted, but there you are. One experienced user, one medically trained, two strong votes for the drops🙂

 

[trophywench]

Thanks Mike - I sit corrected!

 

[JMyrtle]

Thanks everyone, I should of explained that I also have to have pressure lowering drops at the same time so it's probably a mixture of them both.

I also expect it's stress, pain ( this one is much more painful than the last) and probably the cold weather as the last one was done in October when it was warmer, my readings always go up when it's cold and the weather changed here to much colder a few days ago and then got warmer again today.

Happily the levels are starting to creep down again now, mid seventies first thing in the morning, low sixes before eating and going to bed and high sixes two hours after eating, not as good as it has been but better than it was.

Sorry Drummer, should have explained that breakfast is egg and bacon plus one very small slice of high protein toast and marmite to keep my encologist happy, apparently its the best source of B complex vitamins there is, which I need to take with the hormone chemo l have to stick with for the next couple of years..