DiABETES - A1C too high for bypass surgery

[bReNz79 0]

So I had my last bariatric appointment early January. I was asked by the diabetic nurse to get my A1C down from 10.2! I decided to give myself 8 weeks from January 1st, but so far have not been consistent. I was told to leave 8-12 weeks before going back to the lab for the A1C test. Life is crazy right now and I'm so not focused on the weight loss surgery or managing my sugars right now. I'm so unfocused, I feel like I should be on an insulin pump. Just venting, but if anyone has experience, please feel free to share with me.

[miiasan 370]

A1C is an average of your blood sugars over a 3 month period. It takes awhile to get it down. Mine was 8.8 when I had my first appt and I was told that I had to get it down to below 8 or the surgeon wouldn't operate. I was able to get it down to 7.8 in three months just in time for my surgery. Are you on insulin? I was on Lantus and Novalog and was put on Victoza to help get mine down. I also cut out sodas, Pasta, rice, potatoes - started logging everything I ate and cut down to 1200 calories a day. That, with increased exercise did the trick. I also managed to lose about 29 lbs before surgery, so it was a two-fer.

It won't be easy for sure! A pump could help, but they are awfully expensive. Do you check your blood sugar in the am, before meals and a couple hours after meals? That really helps your Endocrinologist to adjust your meds so you can get tighter control.

The better your A1C, the less chances of complications with the surgery and the faster your recovery the best of luck to you. You can do this - just keep your mind focused on the benefits long term

[1sttime 42]

Try to cut out as many carbs as you can possibly stand. Eat more Protein if you are hungry. drinks lots of Water and walk everyday. Try to do a little more each week and you will get there.

[Pedro Valle-Inclan 275]

Okay, I was told the operation was off until I could get A1C down. It was 11 and I was 274, well I went on Atkinns diet, basically just knocking down their shakes and some meat here and there and even a lot of spinach and two months later I'm 250 with an A1C of 4.5 so my surgery is Feb 10th -can't wait

[animallover1247 249]

I had read some posts on here about surgeons wanting people to lower their A1cs before surgery so I asked my surgeon if my A1C had to be a certain number; he said no, He stated he's operated on people with A1cs as high as 12 and 13%. I suppose it is the surgeons particular preference as to how low they want it to be before surgery. Mine was 5.9, the lowest it has EVER been. I quit eating fast food and ate mainly Protein (didn't quit carbs completely but significantly lowered them). I also exercised some but not to any large extent.

[coletha 17]

I'm in the same boat, I started my journey on June 17th at the time my A1c was 13. My Doctor put me on Levimer and Humalog along with taking Metformin and Juanvia. My A1c went down to 11 but I still have to get it to 10 or below before surgery. So Im like oh goodness. I completed all my requirements so this is my only hold up. I choose to be referred to an endroinlogst and that appointment is next week.

[bReNz79 0]

good luck Coletha, well I am getting there, just hope its where they want it by the time I go to test (end of Feb) I'm taking Novo Rapid 25-35 units with B/L/D and Lantus 65 Units at bed time Plus metformin, Januvia and Diamicron! Trying to follow the diabetic eating plan I got which is 30-45g carbs for B/ 45-60g carbs for L and dinner and 15g snack between meals and bedtime 15-30g. I recently got news that my parathyroid is high with Calcium high and vit D low...could be a sign of renal failure or a parathyroid growth....i just need to get that surgery to start losing some weight then I can deal with some of the other stuff!