What causes elevated blood sugar levels post tooth extraction?
Patient: Hello Dr. Rynne, I have Type II Diabetes and my PCP is with Kaiser Permanente who has a Diabetes class which has a diet that they want you to go by for your food consumption which is 1800 calories a day and 45 - 60 carbohydrates a meal. They also tell your that your dentist in your best friend. So after trying the diet and gaining 10 pounds which I quickly stopped and lost the 10 pounds plus 5 more. So after years of putting off going to the dentist I went back because of a toothache and was told I had advanced periodontitis, after two surgeries on my gums and two extractions my daily glucose reading have gone up. My fasting (a.m.) numbers were always high 120 to 150 and my p.m. numbers were always 105 to 120 now after improving my dental hygiene my numbers went up a.m. 145 to 170 and p.m. 130 to 150. What would cause my numbers to go up? I was and still am walking 2 miles every morning, working out on my Total Gym and stretching 6 days a week. Doctor: Thank you for your questionfirst of all I would request you not to worry for the rise in blood sugars, I agree that your blood sugar values have gone up after the dental procedures. the reason is, any kind of stress to your body will increase the sugar values, dental procedure is  itself a stressor, the anxiety and pain involved in the procedure will cause a rise in blood sugars..these values will get back to normal once the infection and pain subsides. pls do write back to us, if u want any suggestions on ur medications