Eating and drinking before surgery
Eating and drinking the right things before surgery helps your body get ready for surgery, stay hydrated and have energy after surgery. Follow these instructions for eating and drinking to help us keep you safe.
If you eat or drink past the time limits below we may have to reschedule your surgery. When food is in your stomach too close to your surgery time, you can vomit. If this happens, vomit could go into your lungs and affect your breathing, hurt your lungs or cause death.
If you have questions about eating or drinking, call 780.735.2764 to speak with someone in the labour and delivery unit.
24 hours before your surgery time
Do not drink alcohol for at least 24 hours before your surgery time.
Eight hours before your surgery time
You may eat an optional final snack at least eight hours before your surgery time.
Final snacks are either:
- 1 small piece of fruit and 1 cup of cereal with ½ milk, or
- 1 small piece of fruit and 1 slice of toast with jam and ½ cup yogurt
Stop eating after your final snack. You cannot eat again until after your surgery.
Foods to avoid for your final snack
- meat
- eggs
- fried food
- margarine or butter
- peanut butter
- other nut butters
Medications
If you usually take medication in the morning, ask your doctor if you should take it with a sip of water.
Up to three hours before your surgery time
Non-diabetic patients
Drink clear fluids until three hours before your surgery time. Clear fluids are:
- water
- apple juice
- cranberry cocktail
- black coffee
- plain tea
Do not add milk or cream to your coffee or tea. You should also avoid other dairy products and orange juice or juice with pulp.
Diabetic patients
Drink sugar-free clear fluids until three hours before surgery time. Sugar-free, clear fluids are:
- water
- black coffee
- plain tea
Do not add milk or cream to your coffee or tea.
Three hours before surgery time
Non-diabetic patients
Drink an optional 500 ml (2 cups) of clear apple juice or cranberry cocktail three hours before your surgery time. Do not drink a diet, sugar-free, low-calorie or energy drink.
Stop drinking after you finish the clear juice or cocktail. You cannot drink again until after your surgery.
Diabetic patients
Stop drinking three hours before your surgery time. You cannot drink again until after your surgery.
Exception: Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
If you have low blood sugar, continue testing your blood sugar as you normally do, or as instructed by your health care provider.
- Treat blood sugar below 4.0 mmol/L with four dextrose tablets or 2/3 cup clear sugary fluids (apple juice or regular soda pop) and re-test in 15 minutes.
- If your blood sugar is still below 4.0 mmol/L, repeat step one.
- Tell your health care provider about your low blood sugar.