Too risky to do heart operation after heart attack?

[TyneSoft 10]

Hi all.

 

Apparently the doctors told us it's too risky to do a heart operation re. a heart attack. The heart itself is too weak and the patient (elderly female, mid 60s) also has heart failure.

 

They said the only alternative would be medicines as well as a healthy lifestyle to prevent another heart attack.

 

The patient also has type 2 diabetes. The question is, the doctors told the patient not to drink liquid like Lucozade but the diabetes nurse said it's fine if her blood sugar levels started to cause problems.

 

It seems there's a lot of non-communication between nurses and doctors from different departments.

 

So is Lucozade really not recommended for someone who recently suffered a heart attack and who's also type 2 diabetic?

 

Thanks.

[Fogey 10]

If anybody on here gives you medical advice please go and discuss it at length with a proper medical professional before you act on it.

[Agent Orange 11]

Does the patient really need lucozade? Regardless of the advice, surely it wont hurt to cut out the high sugar drinks.

[francypants 441]

The way I would interpret this advice is ......

 

Doctor : Avoid drinking Lucozade regularly as it contains Caffeine.

Diabetes Nurse : Occasionally for low blood sugar, where a quick boost is needed, one glass is ok.

 

Only my interpretation though.

[medusa 16]

If the specialists tell you that it's too risky to undertake then they are the specialists and nothing that anybody else can tell you can take the individual circumstances into account I'm afraid.

 

As far as the Lucozade thing goes, nobody should be drinking that sort of sugar unless they're either a world class athlete doing something amazing or in the middle of a hypo and trying to bring their sugars back up.

 

When the nurse says that it's fine if her blood sugars are causing problems she means that it's OK in an emergency. That quantity of glucose will never be fine to be drunk routinely for someone with diabetes (of any type), whether or not they have heart problems.

 

If this lady has issues with keeping food intake up after the heart attack then there are drinks which can be prescribed, like Fortisip and similar, which can include the full calories of a meal but without the ridiculous amounts of sugar contained in Lucozade. If in any doubt about whether this is suitable in this instance, please talk to the doctors. I'm sure that they would prescribe some of these drinks for temporary use if they are suitable and necessary.

 

One extra bit of advice btw. Please consider ALL energy drinks as unsuitable for this lady. Not only are they high in sugar but they're also likely to contain a huge amount of caffeine which could be dangerous for someone with such heart problems.

 

Water, tea and low sugar squash are all preferable to sugary drinks.

[El Cid 210]

The way I would interpret this advice is ......

 

Doctor : Avoid drinking Lucozade regularly as it contains Caffeine.

Diabetes Nurse : Occasionally for low blood sugar, where a quick boost is needed, one glass is ok.

 

Only my interpretation though.

 

Here is a different opinion ...

 

Doctor : Avoid drinking Lucozade as sugar intake is one of the things that causes type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be cured in many cases with a good diet alone.

 

Diabetes Nurse : If you fail to control your blood sugar using well planned diet, Lucozade or similar can be used.

 

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diet/newcastle-study-600-calorie-diet.html

Edited February 21, 2018 by El Cid

[cgksheff 44]

"mid-sixties" should not be assumed to be "elderly"!

[medusa 16]

Here is a different opinion ...

 

Doctor : Avoid drinking Lucozade as sugar intake is one of the things that causes type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can but cured in many cases with a good diet alone.

 

Diabetes Nurse : If you fail to control your blood sugar using well planned diet, Lucozade or similar can be used.

 

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diet/newcastle-study-600-calorie-diet.html

 

Where on that page does it say that Diabetes UK consider it OK to use Lucozade to control your sugars? Everything I've ever read from Diabetes UK (and I've read a lot) says that all sugary drinks, including normal fizzy pop, should be regarded as either a very occasional thing or an emergency blood sugar boost.

[El Cid 210]

Where on that page does it say that Diabetes UK consider it OK to use Lucozade to control your sugars? Everything I've ever read from Diabetes UK (and I've read a lot) says that all sugary drinks, including normal fizzy pop, should be regarded as either a very occasional thing or an emergency blood sugar boost.

 

You have answered your own question; lots of information for the OP to take in - and discuss with a doctor.