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Real members of DiabetesTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Can having back to back Spinal surgery cause your A1c to rise??

A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question 💭
Eugene, OR

Had a Discectomy in Jan, then a Spinal Fusion in July, which was a two part procedure. Currently going to PT on a weekly basis.

October 18
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Reactions
A DiabetesTeam Member

@A DiabetesTeam Member Thank you. I have been doing physical therapy, but it isn't helping.

October 18
A DiabetesTeam Member

Oh no…. Spine surgery is no joke! I’m looking at a two year recovery plan at this point. I’ll be sending prayers for you and a very successful surgery & recovery.

October 18
A DiabetesTeam Member

I'm sorry about that. I had lower back surgery in 2023. Recently I had nerve block shots in my neck. I am looking at spinal fusion on lower back and neck. Waiting on approval from my insurance company. I'm sending hugs and best wishes to you 💓
Surgery does effect those blood sugar numbers. Try drinking more water, if you don't have kidney disease. I drank more water after the nerve block shots and it helped those spikes.

October 18
DiabetesTeam

That's a lot to go through — back-to-back spinal surgeries are no small thing, and it makes complete sense to wonder how all of that has affected your diabetes management.

Yes, surgery can absolutely contribute to a rise in A1c. Here's why: Pain and stress on the body play a big role. When the body is under physical stress — Show Full Answer

That's a lot to go through — back-to-back spinal surgeries are no small thing, and it makes complete sense to wonder how all of that has affected your diabetes management.

Yes, surgery can absolutely contribute to a rise in A1c. Here's why: Pain and stress on the body play a big role. When the body is under physical stress — like recovering from surgery — it releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones signal the liver to release stored glucose into the bloodstream, which raises blood sugar levels.

Reduced physical activity during recovery also matters. Less movement means the body may not use glucose as efficiently, which can push blood sugar higher over time.

Slower healing is another factor. Diabetes can make recovery take longer, and prolonged recovery means the body stays in a stressed state for an extended period — keeping blood sugar elevated. The good news is that physical therapy, which is already being done, can genuinely help. Regular movement and exercise are known to support better blood sugar control and can help bring A1c levels down over time.

It's worth bringing this up with the care team so they can review the diabetes management plan with recovery in mind. They may want to adjust medications or monitor blood sugar more closely during this period.

October 18

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