Preoperative diabetes mellitus assessment for elective surgery

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is common in surgical patients, with more than 15% of those undergoing surgery in the UK affected. The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death data highlight diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for postoperative complications and longer hospital stays, with high preoperative haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) concentrations linked to worse outcomes. Thus, thorough assessment and management of diabetes mellitus preoperatively are crucial for optimal care. Local prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Croydon exceeds London and national averages, emphasising the importance of meeting recommended standards for care.