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I am type 1 diabetic seeking more information leading up to getting an implant. I want to know what other type 1's experience has been with getting an implant. Which one did you opt for and why? And what was your A1C prior to surgery?

Hey merknaut

I’m a 37 year old T1 diabetic and had a Titan installed in feb this year.

Our biggest worry is infection; being three times more likely than a non diabetic.

I made sure my HBA1c was good - I was 55 pre surgery which I think is around 7mml in old terms. Truth is, yiur control actually has little bearing on your infection risk but it does effect healing.

I was back at work after three weeks although it took me 6 to comfortably sit on a chair. Now, nearly 5 months out I don’t notice it, although I am en route as I type to see another surgeon as I have been really undersized. I have to now decide if a revision is worth it or to live with what I have for the next 5-10 years. As a diabetic I think the infection ruin risk for a revision is 8-10%.

I ate lots of pineapple a few weeks prior to surgery, the bromine helps with healing and used ant bac body wash before and after.

I gave up smoking 6 months pre surgery, alcohol 2 months pre surgery and tried to keep as fit as possible.

Lots of good info, thanks for your reply. I'm sorry that things didn't turn out all well.
So why a Titan, was that your choice or the doctor's choice? And being undersized, is that something that happened during surgery, a decision by the surgeon?

I have read some information I think you might find useful. A well-known NYC implant doctor published this on his web site: Diabetics are prone to infection and/or long healing process. Is this condition troubling in the prosthesis procedure?

In our hands diabetic men have fewer infections than non-diabetics. The reason for this observation is unknown. One explanation is perhaps that diabetics have decreased blood flow to the penis and therefore bleed less during surgery. Collection or accumulation of blood (hematoma) in the cavity of the scrotum increases the risk of infection and this is less likely to occur in patients with poor circulation.

I have also read that a certain % of men have infection in the biofilm that surrounds the device. It is sealed off and not a problem until the biofilm is broken to removed the device. That is why the risk of infection is higher with a revision. And the information I read indicated that diabetics have a higher risk of having this infection in the biofilm.

I watched a video of a conference of urologists talking about implants. Diabetic cases were talked about for a few minutes. Two of the three panel members liked to see A1C numbers as low as possible. Ideally under 7. The third dr, very well known was less interested in a normal, less than 7, A1C. He liked to see a low resting glucose level at the time of surgery.
My suggestion is to try for 7 or less with few spikes is the glucose during the day of surgery.
Best advice I can offer.

Gt1956, I saw that same video. Good information there.
I am still curious about which implants other diabetics chose and why.

Merknaut wrote:Gt1956, I saw that same video. Good information there.
I am still curious about which implants other diabetics chose and why.

Just a small piece of advice. Get a pair of headphones & watch it again. Maybe even twice. There are some very important comments made that are very faint. They can easily slip right past you.

A well-controlled glucose level is important for post-op healing. It does not matter how that is achieved. In non-diabetics, it is achieved by a good exercise and diet regimin. In diabetics it is achieved by good exercise and diet regimin combined with good medications up to and including insulin used by type 1 diabetics.

The main (perhaps only) factor is keeping blood glucose well controlled. It does not matter how that control is achhieved.

There are many examples of Type 1 diabetics participating in sports (even extreme sports), flying airplanes, (women) having children, everything non-diabetics do. The key is keeping the glucose normalized.

In other words, no worries. Just take care of your health diligently, which is good advice for anyone.