Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a well-liked medical expertise used to diagnose ailments and monitor the effectiveness of medical remedy.
Docs use MRI scans to assist precisely picture components of the physique to find out the basis reason for signs.
This text will define what folks with diabetes must know earlier than getting an MRI.
What’s an MRI?
MRI scanners are machines that use highly effective magnets, radio waves, and computer systems to generate detailed pictures of the physique.
The MRI machine itself appears like a big tube or doughnut with each ends open. A bed-like platform for the affected person slides out and in of the open area within the center.
One other sort of MRI is an open MRI. Moderately than a tube for the affected person, there’s a wider opening, which some folks discover much less confining or claustrophobic.
A diagnostic radiologist will usually learn the outcomes. The radiologist will then relay the data from the scan to the medical supplier who first ordered the take a look at.
More often than not, getting an MRI will final half-hour to at least one hour. The quickest scans are about quarter-hour, whereas the longest scans are about 90 minutes.
Why would somebody want an MRI?
Getting an MRI is protected. It doesn’t expose you to ionizing radiation or to X-rays.
MRI pictures play an necessary function in serving to medical professionals to diagnose a illness or damage. They will additionally assist monitor the progress of a course of remedy.
A physician might order an MRI to diagnose a large number of points, together with:
- Issues with circulation and the vascular system
- Digestive tract points which can be tough to diagnose
- Coronary heart or lung points
- Points with the organs within the stomach
- Tumors or lots
- Bone situations, spinal points, and sports activities accidents
- Mind abnormalities
What’s the distinction between an MRI and a CT scan?
MRI scans and computerized tomography (CT) scans are two frequent kinds of medical imaging.
MRI scans use sturdy magnetic fields to develop pictures of areas contained in the physique.
CT scans are a collection of X-ray footage taken in fast succession. These footage are mixed to create cross-sectional pictures.
Usually talking, an MRI supplies higher decision and distinction when imaging delicate tissues, together with the mind and a few of the organs within the stomach.
CT scans are a lot quicker than an MRI and are sometimes higher at resolving points with the lungs and bones.
Are you able to get an MRI in case you have diabetes?
Folks with diabetes can get an MRI.
Let your medical group know that you’ve got diabetes in case there are particular issues or precautions wanted.
What ought to folks with diabetes know earlier than an MRI?
Communication is essential! Ask your medical supplier if there’s something particular you should do to arrange due to your diabetes. You also needs to ask the radiologist or MRI tech questions earlier than the scan begins.
Managing your blood sugar can also be an necessary a part of getting ready for an MRI.
Some folks with diabetes discover it simpler to have an MRI within the morning. Often, blood sugar ranges are typically larger as a result of Daybreak Phenomenon.
Schedule your MRI throughout a time of day when your blood sugar tends to be larger than common. It is a good method to keep away from needing to cease the scan to deal with a low throughout an MRI.
For a similar cause, it’s additionally greatest to keep away from scheduling an MRI over a mealtime should you might help it.
You’ll need to take away any insulin pump or steady glucose monitor (CGM) you might be sporting.
Most insulin pumps and CGMs are thought-about “MRI unsafe” as a result of they include metals. The highly effective magnets within the MRI machine can injury or destroy these units.
Should you use an implantable CGM just like the Eversense, additionally be sure you inform your MRI tech and medical supplier. It’s doubtless the implant will have to be eliminated earlier than a scan.
Additionally, you will be requested to take away any electronics or metallic that you’ve got—this consists of metallic medical alert bracelets.
An MRI tech will probably be readily available to educate you on respiratory and provide help to keep nonetheless. It’s necessary to allow them to know should you really feel like your blood sugar ranges are getting critically out of vary.
Don’t be afraid to talk up in case your blood sugar could be very excessive or low. If you should, you must have the ability to exit the MRI room to get a snack or take a correction dose of insulin.
Do I must quick earlier than an MRI?
Your physician or radiologist will let you know if you should quick on your MRI. It’s a good suggestion to ask to make sure.
Usually, you’ll not be requested to quick for a very long time earlier than an MRI. A brief quick between two and 4 hours earlier than a scan is a little more frequent.
Whether or not or not a quick will probably be wanted typically is dependent upon the a part of your physique being imaged.
It’s more likely {that a} fasting MRI will probably be ordered if you’re having a scan of your gastrointestinal tract or adjoining organs within the stomach.
Moreover, many individuals want to not drink too many liquids earlier than an MRI to keep away from needing to go to the lavatory throughout the scan.
Can an MRI affect blood sugar?
Whereas at the least one examine has linked receiving an MRI to a slight drop in common blood glucose, there are at the moment no medical system warnings that relate to hypoglycemia.
There may be additionally no proof that receiving an MRI will make your blood sugars excessive.
Regardless of this, it’s all the time a good suggestion to make sure the individual performing your MRI is aware of that you’ve got diabetes.
It’s additionally good to know your individual blood sugar ranges earlier than your MRI begins.
Conclusion
An MRI scan performs an necessary function in serving to medical suppliers to diagnose ailments and accidents, in addition to monitor the progress of a course of remedy.
MRI scans are very protected, together with for folks with diabetes.
Nevertheless, it’s necessary to inform your medical supplier and the individual performing the MRI that you’ve got diabetes in order that they’re conscious of any particular issues.
In case your MRI is pre-scheduled, it’s additionally a good suggestion to consider what time of day to get an MRI to dodge lows or highs you routinely expertise.
Just be sure you’ve instructed your physician and the individual performing the MRI in case you have any medical gear like pumps or CGMs, as these will typically have to be eliminated.
It’s also a good suggestion to ask if you should quick or change something about your meals or water consumption on the day of your MRI.
Hopefully, with the following tips, you’ll really feel higher figuring out that getting an MRI is nothing to fret about in case you have diabetes!
