Colonoscopy prep for diabetics requires some additional considerations. If you have diabetes and are scheduled for a colonoscopy, here are some guidelines to help ensure safe and effective colon cleansing for your procedure while maintaining adequate blood sugars.
Your doctor will instruct you to follow a clear liquid bowel cleansing regimen the day before your procedure. Drinking only clear liquids ensures your colon will be empty for the exam. If you are diabetic, drinking both sugar-free and sugar-containing drinks on preparation day is recommended to help control your blood sugars.
If you have diabetes, you should replace your usual meals with 45 to 60 grams of liquid carbohydrates on preparation day. Some examples of sugar-containing clear liquids that contain carbohydrates include:
It is also recommended to incorporate sugar-free liquid options, including fat-free broth, clear diet soda, seltzer or flavored water, black, coffee or tea, and Resource Breeze. Remember that all liquids must be clear and should not contain red, purple, or dark dyes.
If you have diabetes, you may need to adjust your medication according to your blood sugar levels. While doing your bowel preparation, your doctor may suggest taking half your usual insulin dose on your prep day to avoid low blood sugars.
If you take oral medications for your diabetes, continue to take them as you usually would while prepping for a colonoscopy. On the day of your colonoscopy, do not take any diabetic medication to avoid low blood sugars during your procedure.
When scheduling your colonoscopy, schedule your appointment early in the day. By scheduling your appointment first thing in the morning, you can eat soon after the procedure and take your medication as close to your regular time as possible.
On preparation day and the morning of your colonoscopy, make sure to check your blood sugar if you feel that it may be too high or too low. If you do not commonly experience high or low blood sugar symptoms, you should check your blood sugar every two to three hours on preparation day and the morning before your test to ensure your blood sugars are well controlled.
On the day of your procedure, you may have carbohydrate-containing clear liquids up until three hours before your scheduled arrival time. If you experience low blood sugar during the three hours before your exam, you can use glucose tablets to raise your blood sugar or call the office to arrange to come in early for your exam.
You can resume eating a regular diet after you’ve recovered from the anesthesia. Once you have started eating regular food, it is OK to restart your home medication schedule. However, you should not take extra doses of medicine to make up for any missed doses during the exam.
If you are diabetic and require a colonoscopy, consult your doctor for individualized recommendations to ensure your procedure goes smoothly and your blood sugars remain stable.
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