Elective admissions

1. Inform your Diabetes Team as soon as possible when you know the date for admission. If it is to a different hospital ask them to contact the appropriate team.

2. It is easier but not essential if the surgery can be done first thing in the morning. The anaesthetist will be informed about the diabetes and will need to know about your insulin.

3. Bring insulin, injection devices and blood glucose testing kit with you to hospital.

4. The appropriate surgery team will advise you about eating and drinking and when they will have to starve. Remind them you have diabetes.

5. Your insulin dose may need modifying over this period. As a general principal you will probably need slightly less (about10-15% reduction) in insulin the night before. If you are to have minor surgery we usually withhold the morning insulin and give it after your surgery when you are awake. If the surgery is more major then a drip may be required with the insulin be given in the drip.

6. Ask them to inform the diabetes team that you are in hospital.

7. It is better for you to stay with your child and monitor blood glucose every hour from the time of starvation to when he/she is eating again. Check with medical and nursing staff over this.

8. Do not be afraid to ask if you are uncertain what to do or are worried about the diabetes.

9. If you are on an insulin pump you may be able to wear this throughout the procedure in selected cases.. It is possible you will have to put a 10% reduction on the pump during the surgery. Make sure you know how to do this. If you are asked to remove the pump, keep it save BUT it is vital that the insulin is given another way and the diabetes team should be informed.

10. If your child has a symptomatic hypo or blood sugar is dropping it may be necessary to treat, inform the nursing staff immediately.