Instructions for Patient Preparation

Morning Appointments

 Insulin-treated patients 

● On the day before the examination when you are not permitted solid food, more carbohydrate rich drinks and monitor your blood glucose regularly. Halve your teatime dose of insulin. 

● You should have nothing to eat after midnight but may have drinks until 6.00am. 

● Inform the endoscopy unit that you have insulin treated diabetes so the appointment is at the beginning of the list. 

● Have a suitable drink equivalent to 20 gm carbohydrate (see above) to avoid the risk of hypoglycaemia between 6 and 7am. 

● Omit normal morning dose of insulin prior to the procedure. 

Inform the nurse immediately of any symptoms of hypoglycaemia,(sweating, shaking, blurred vision, extreme hunger, tiredness and difficulty in thinking, light-headedness). Nurses will give morning dose of insulin as soon as you are able to eat and drink safely after the procedure followed by breakfast (bring your insulin with you). 

You should be aware that blood sugar levels may be disturbed by the change in your routine but should return to normal within 24-48 hours.

Diet and Tablet Treated Patients

● On the day before the examination when you are not permitted solid food, take more carbohydrate rich drinks and monitor your blood glucose regularly. Halve evening tablet dose. 

● Ensure the endoscopy unit is aware that you have diabetes so that the appointment can be made early on the list. 

● Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) is unlikely to be a problem except if fasting is prolonged for patients treated with sulphonylurea tablets e.g. Gliclazide, Glibenclamide. 

● Omit morning diabetic tablets. 

● Take your morning tablets as soon as soon as you are able to eat and drink safely after the procedure followed by breakfast. 

Be aware that blood sugar levels may be disturbed by the change in routine but should return to normal within 24–48 hours.