I have never met anyone who was happy about going to the hospital, but people with diabetes are, sadly, no strangers to hospitals. In the past 22 years my hospital stays have presented some of the most difficult times in caring for my diabetes. Diabetes always seemed to take a backseat as the surgeons, heart doctors and other hospital staff focused on the main reason for my being there.
My at home treatment plan was almost never followed and my blood glucose numbers would go up and down, completely out of control. Not only did this upset and at times frighten me, it seriously could have hurt my chances for a speedy and full recovery.
This past year, I once again went to the hospital for surgery; but this time it was totally different. I think I figured it out and the results were better than I expected! First, I insisted before the surgery that my regular diabetes provider be kept in the loop. With the help of my diabetes care team, we developed a care plan that was similar to the one I had been following at home. This made it easier for everyone, especially me. Of course, I knew that my plan might need to change while I was in the hospital. My plan also included receiving intravenous insulin during the surgery and while I was in the intensive care unit.
I also found it helpful to keep my own glucose meter and plenty of strips with me in my hospital room. The hospital staff checked my blood glucose levels regularly, but not always at a time that matched when my food arrived. I was careful to keep records of my readings, the food I ate and my activity level, so I could review these records with my diabetes specialists. They would be sure then to add this information to my hospital chart for others to see and make any treatment plan changes that were needed.
As anyone who takes insulin or certain diabetes pills knows, blood glucose lows sometimes cannot be avoided. It is a good idea to keep a supply of glucose tablets or other sugar nearby just in case this happens to you. The hospital usually has these things on the nursing floor, but you may not always get them quickly enough. Be sure to let your nurse know when a low happens and what you did to treat it. Another important thing is to remind every hospital staff person that you have diabetes and how it is being treated. This information will always be in your chart, but the staff members may not check your chart each time they see you. If possible, have a family member or friend who can be there for you when you are not able to speak or act for yourself.
It is also a good idea to have a living will or advance directive on file that names a family member or friend to make medical decisions for you when you are unable to due to anesthesia or other reasons. The hospital will usually have a form that you can use.
5 TIPS TO HELP YOU CREATE YOUR OWN DIABETES HOSPITAL GUIDE:
- Work with your diabetes care provider to develop a diabetes care plan to use during your hospital stay. You also can ask your other heath care providers to consult with your diabetes care specialist while you are in the hospital.
- Keep your own blood glucose meter and other supplies with you and record your readings to review daily with your diabetes specialist.
- Keep glucose tablets or other sugar with you in case your blood glucose level goes too low.
- Remind everyone on the staff about your diabetes and the treatment plan you are using.
- Have a friend or family member with you who can speak or act for you when you cannot and have a living will that gives them the power to make care decisions for you when you are not able to do so yourself.
By following these steps, your stay is sure to be much easier. They worked for me!
