Perioperative glucose management: Current status and future directions

Hyperglycemia in surgical patients is common and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Optimal perioperative care includes pre-surgery evaluation of glucose control, adequate preoperative management of glucose-lowering therapies, and repeated blood glucose monitoring on the day of surgery. There is consensus regarding the maintenance of intraoperative glucose levels below 10.0 mM through the use of subcutaneous or intravenous insulin, and over the avoidance of aggressive strategies in order to minimize the risk of hypoglycemia. As staffing levels are stretched and prevalence and complexity of cases increase, novel diabetes technologies such as continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pumps and closed-loop glucose control systems can potentially address unmet needs in the provision of perioperative diabetes care. This potential calls for well-designed clinical trials covering various aspects of perioperative glucose management in order to establish evidence-based and standardized practices. This long-term goal relies heavily on communication and collaboration in multidisciplinary teams that include anesthesiologists, surgeons, and endocrinologists.