Planned Hospital Admission
If you know you are going into hospital, tell your Diabetes Team as soon as you can. If you need to go to a hospital that you don’t usually visit, ask the Forth Valley team to contact the diabetes specialists at the hospital you will be going to.
Preparation for Procedures
It’s usually easier if your hospital procedure is in the morning, but it is not essential. When you arrive, talk to the medical team about whether you need to fast (not eat or drink for a while) and remind them you have diabetes. Ask them to let the hospital’s diabetes team know that you are there.
Local Anaesthetic Procedures
If you are having a procedure with a local anaesthetic you can usually keep your insulin pump on. It’s a good idea to have a venflon (cannula) put in your hand or arm just in case. To help stop your blood sugar from dropping too low, set your pump to “temporary target”, “exercise” or “activity mode” about one or two hours before the procedure.
Preparing Your Pump and Supplies
Before you go into hospital, make sure your insulin pump has a new battery, a full cartridge, and a new infusion set. Bring extra supplies with you in case you need them.
Imaging Procedures (Scans)
If you are having a CT or MRI scan, you need to take off your insulin pump while you are being scanned. These scans can affect your pump and sensor accuracy. Put your pump back on when you have finished the scan.
General or Spinal Anaesthetic
If you are having a procedure with a general or spinal anaesthetic, your insulin will be given through a drip (IV insulin) and you will need to turn off your pump. Write down your usual pump settings before you go, in case the pump data is lost while you are in hospital.
Resuming Pump Therapy
Once you feel well after your procedure, you can start using your insulin pump again. If you were having insulin through a drip, keep both the drip and the pump running for an hour before stopping the drip.