DIABETIC COLONOSCOPY PATIENT ADVICE
Information for insulin or tablet controlled diabetic colonoscopy patients
Read carefully the instructions for bowel preparation.
The necessary change in your diet may upset your diabetes. However, do not worry as this will not do you any long term harm. An example of a light diet is given overleaf, which you may find helpful. You may on the days leading up to your colonoscopy be at risk of having a 'hypo' (too low blood sugar). On the day of clear fluids only, you should take sweet drinks or glucose tablets (see list below) every 2-3 hours during the day to avoid this problem.
Symptoms of 'hypo' are sweating, shakiness, blurred vision, extreme hunger, tiredness, light headedness. If you experience any of these feelings, drink a sugar drink or take 3 glucose tablets immediately. It is important that you continue taking your Insulin (but reduce short acting insulin by half) or tablets during the bowel preparation. Please bring your tablets or insulin to hospital with you. If you test your blood to monitor your diabetes, please bring your testing kit with you. On arrival at hospital, you can test your blood sugar and discuss with the nurse when more tests are required.
Examples of suitable sweet drinks for patients on insulin or diabetic tablets (each item represents one exchange/one line/l0g carbohydrate).
If you are unsure of your usual carbohydrate intake, ensure that you have a minimum of 2 items from this list every 2-3 hours during the day.
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| Endoscopy patient recovery |
The necessary change in your diet may upset your diabetes. However, do not worry as this will not do you any long term harm. An example of a light diet is given overleaf, which you may find helpful. You may on the days leading up to your colonoscopy be at risk of having a 'hypo' (too low blood sugar). On the day of clear fluids only, you should take sweet drinks or glucose tablets (see list below) every 2-3 hours during the day to avoid this problem.
Symptoms of 'hypo' are sweating, shakiness, blurred vision, extreme hunger, tiredness, light headedness. If you experience any of these feelings, drink a sugar drink or take 3 glucose tablets immediately. It is important that you continue taking your Insulin (but reduce short acting insulin by half) or tablets during the bowel preparation. Please bring your tablets or insulin to hospital with you. If you test your blood to monitor your diabetes, please bring your testing kit with you. On arrival at hospital, you can test your blood sugar and discuss with the nurse when more tests are required.
Examples of suitable sweet drinks for patients on insulin or diabetic tablets (each item represents one exchange/one line/l0g carbohydrate).
| Lucozade | 55 mls | 3.5 tablespoons |
| Grape Juice | 50 mls | 3 tablespoons |
| Sparkling Apple Juice | 100 mls | 6.5 tablespoons |
| Unsweetened Fruit Juices | 120 mls | 8 tablespoons |
| Sweetened Fruit Juices | 80 mls | 5 tablespoons |
| Coke or Pepsi | 100 mls | 6.5 tablespoons |
| Lemonade or similar fizzy drink | 200 mls | 13 tablespoons |
| Tonic Water | 180 mls | 12 tablespoons |
| Bitter Lemon | 120 mls | 8 tablespoons |
| Ginger Ale (American) | 140 mls | 9 tablespoons |
| Squash/Barley Water | 35 mls | 2 tablespoons |
| Ribena or Blackcurrant Syrup | 15 mls | 1 tablespoon |
| Sparkling Ribena | 70 mls | 4.5 tablespoons |
| Sugar | 2 tsp | |
| Glucose Tablets | 3 tablets |
If you are unsure of your usual carbohydrate intake, ensure that you have a minimum of 2 items from this list every 2-3 hours during the day.
