Perioperative Management of the Diabetic Patient: A Brief Review

As the worldwide prevalence of diabetes in the general population continues to rise, an increasing number of patients with poorly controlled diabetes are scheduled for surgery. Management of these patients in the perioperative period is one of the most important safety issues that clinicians confront. There is a significant amount of evidence in the literature that shows an association between perioperative hyperglycemia and adverse clinical outcomes. Primary Care Physicians can play a pivotal role in optimizing blood glucose control in patients prior to surgery, thereby positively impacting perioperative morbidity and mortality. These ten facts summarize “best practices” in the management of blood glucose in the diabetic patient scheduled for surgery to improve perioperative outcomes. While they do not replace individual clinical judgment, they provide a framework to optimize the care of diabetic patients and their surgical outcome.