Preparing for Surgery with Diabetes: What You Need to Know

If you have diabetes, you know a surgical procedure comes with some extra considerations. When you’re gearing up for surgery, stress isn’t just a mental hurdle—it impacts your body on a chemical level too. The physical stress surrounding surgery triggers hormone releases, which can lead to blood sugar spikes or dips. 

Managing blood sugar, adjusting your diet, and staying hydrated is key to reducing your risk of complications and setting yourself up for a smoother recovery. Here’s what you need to know to prepare for surgery with confidence and control.

1. Blood Sugar Control: Your Top Priority

High or fluctuating blood sugar can increase the chance of infections and slow healing, while low blood sugar can complicate the surgery itself. In the weeks before your procedure, work closely with your medical team to fine-tune your medication and monitor your glucose levels more frequently. Aim for the target ranges your doctor sets, adjusting your insulin as needed. This will help your body handle the stress of surgery better.

2. Fine-Tune Your Pre-Surgery Diet

Diet plays a critical role when you’re preparing for surgery, and it’s especially important when you’re living with diabetes. Lean proteins, high-fiber veggies, and whole grains provide steady energy without causing your blood sugar levels to fluctuate wildly. Avoid processed foods and simple carbs, which can cause spikes and dips in glucose levels. Smaller, more frequent meals can also help keep your blood sugar stable. 

3. Hydrate Smartly and Adjust Your Medications

Staying hydrated is another way to help maintain a healthy balance as part of your pre-surgery routine. It supports your circulation and kidney function, which aids in your recovery. Stick to diabetic friendly, clear liquids to avoid disrupting your blood sugar levels.

4. Post-Surgical Infections 

For people with diabetes, post-surgery recovery often means extra time in the hospital compared to those without the condition. The risk of post-surgical infection is also higher. Key nutrients like protein, vitamin C, and zinc are vital to tissue repair and immune support, which is why boosting your immune system with targeted pre-surgery nutrition can give you a stronger foundation for a quicker, safer recovery.

5. Consider Vis: a Diabetes-Friendly Pre-Surgery Drink

Diet alone sometimes isn’t enough to ensure your body’s fully prepared. That’s where Vis, a specially formulated, pre-surgery drink, comes in. Designed with diabetes-friendly ingredients, Vis includes a complex carbohydrate to help stabilize blood sugar and gut-supporting fiber to promote glycemic stability.

Unlike sports drinks, which are often recommended by physicians but originally created for athletes, Vis is purpose-built for surgical needs. Many sports drinks contain table sugar, salt, and food coloring, which can be harmful before surgery. Even sugar-free options lack essential nutrients like selenium, zinc, and Vitamin C, which are critical for your body during surgery preparation.

At the very minimum, stay hydrated with 64 ounces of water and bone broth the day before surgery to maintain hydration and stable blood pressure. Avoid soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee, fruit juices, or any beverages with sugar, maltodextrin, dextrose, or high-fructose corn syrup, as these can spike blood sugar and negatively impact surgical outcomes.

Before adding any new drink such as Vis to your regimen, however, get the green light from your doctor. Prepping for surgery with diabetes doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Embrace this process—you’ve got the power to make a positive difference in your surgical journey.

References:

1. Cleveland Clinic. (2018). Diabetes Guidelines Before Surgery. 
2. National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus, (2023) Preparing for surgery when you have diabetes
3. American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). Treatment & Care. Retrieved from https://diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-care