i am extremely nervous i am a diabetic type 2 and just recuperating from a total left knee replacement and am very nervous about the extractions i don't know what is going to happen. I know the oral surgeon will instruct me post op but i am alone so don't know since i am diabetic i have to eat something so why i am healing what to know what would be my diet.

very scared i am 78 years of age and if anyone can give me advice would appreciate it

Hi Hon.

How are you doing today? I'm also a type 2 diabetic. Are you on meds, insulin, anything? or do you control it just with food? These are important questions.

If you are going to the oral surgeon and if you are going to be put out, then of course you know you can't eat anything after 12 midnight.

If you are NOT going to be put out, then you can eat breakfast.

Your primary doctor should be told about your upcoming extractions, and should advise you on what you can eat, (post op also).

Soft stuff I would imagine.

It all depends on the severity of your type 2 diabetes and how well you control it.

So let's start with first things first. Are you going to be put out for the whole procedure?

Once we know this, we can discuss your eating plan AFTER the extractions.

Take care

Melody

Hi della,

Welcome to neurotalk!!

One thing I'm sure your dentist told you was that you will need to be premedicated with an antibiotic prior to the oral surgery because of your recent knee replacement. The American Heart Association recommends this be done for two years following an artificial joint replacement.

Secondly, it is important to make your dentist and oral surgeon completely aware of ALL of your health problems and ALL of your medications, vitamins, and herbs you take daily prior to having any surgery.

Thirdly, your pre and post op diet is VERY important. It is imperative to drink several glasses of water throughout the day to keep yourself hydrated and to help with the elimination of toxins and bacteria. It is also best to stick to complex carbohydrates and definitely avoid simple carbs (refined sugars)... and try to add protein and healthy fats within the meal as often as possible. It helps to make a meal plan ahead of time so that during your recovery, you don't have to fuss or think about making something to eat because it is either already made or simple to put together.

Your diet will need to be of soft foods, nothing hard, chewy, sticky, spicy, salty, fatty or with sugar in it. However, there are many great foods you can eat.......:

.....Make a variety of home made soups in a crock pot. Use a variety of fresh or salt free frozen veggies cut up very small. Avoid canned veggies or wash them really well before cooking them to remove the salt. You could add cooked brown rice or cooked beans for fiber (make the rice or beans ahead of time and add it to the initial start of making the soup so it gets very soft). Use low sodium chicken stock as your base or low sodium beef or vegetable stock. You could add small pieces of skinless cooked chicken or beef at the onset of making the soup so it becomes very soft. Add freshly diced parsley and basil for flavor. Freeze dinner size servings in plastic containers in the freezer so you can just pop them out, heat them up and eat!
.....Make a stew with similar ingredients as above.
.....Non-fat plain yogurt or cottage cheese for snacks.
.....One or two eggs per day.
.....Dry cereal like bran, rice or whole grain soaked in skim milk.
.....Make protein shakes in a blender with skim or low fat milk or almond milk and alternate the fruit with each one.... banana, blueberries, strawberries.
.....Baked or broiled fish with baked potato or yam (only eat the soft inside) and cooked peas or green beans or some other soft veggie.
.....Drink sugar free vegetable juice.
.....Sugar free popsicles, fat free ice cream or frozen yogurt for a treat!

Will you have someone with you on the day of the oral surgery? Is there someone taking care of you now while you recuperate from your knee replacement?

Please keep in touch with us here.... we want to be of help to you as much as possible =)

Bryanna