Preoperative Continuation Versus Interruption of Oral Hypoglycemics in Type 2 Diabetic Patients Undergoing Ambulatory Surgery

The diabetes patient for ambulatory surgery

Perioperative management of blood glucose is vital to the recovery and return to normal life for patients with diabetes undergoing ambulatory surgery. Important aspects of the preoperative assessment include the evaluation of the patient's usual level of control and self-management skills and the occurrence of hypoglycemia. There are disputes on the perioperative administration of diabetes medications, insulin, and certain other drugs. This article will provide information on current recommendations for ambulatory surgery and anesthesia for diabetic patients. It will address controversies and reemphasize important points of optimal care. New drugs and technologies for diabetes patients that may impact the perioperative period will be described.

Current practice in the perioperative management of patients with diabetes mellitus: a narrative review

The prevalence of diabetes is increasing, and patients with diabetes mellitus have both an increased likelihood of requiring surgery and of developing postoperative complications when they do. We summarise available evidence underpinning current guidelines on preoperative assessment and optimisation, perioperative management of prescribed insulin and oral hypoglycaemic medication, intraoperative glycaemic control, and postoperative patient care.

[Position statement: surgery and diabetes mellitus (Update 2023)]

This position statement reflects the perspective of the Austrian Diabetes Association concerning the perioperative management of people with diabetes mellitus based on the available scientific evidence. The paper covers necessary preoperative examinations from an internal/diabetological point of view as well as the perioperative metabolic control by means of oral antihyperglycemic and/or insulin therapy.

Sevoflurane-induced hyperglycemia is attenuated by salsalate in obese insulin-resistant mice

PURPOSE

Perioperative hyperglycemia is common and is associated with significant morbidity. Although patient characteristics and surgery influence perioperative glucose metabolism, anesthetics have a significant impact. We hypothesized that mice that were obese and insulin-resistant would experience greater hyperglycemia in response to sevoflurane anesthesia compared with lean controls. We further hypothesized that sevoflurane-induced hyperglycemia would be attenuated by salsalate pre-treatment.

METHODS

Lean and obese male C57BL/6J mice were anesthetized with sevoflurane for 60 min with or without pre-treatment of 62.5 mg·kg^-1 salsalate. Blood glucose, plasma insulin, and glucose uptake into different tissues were measured.

RESULTS

Under sevoflurane anesthesia, obese mice had higher blood glucose compared to lean mice. Increases in blood glucose were attenuated with acute salsalate pre-treatment at 60 min under anesthesia in obese mice (mean ± standard error of the mean [SEM], delta blood glucose; vehicle 5.79 ± 1.09 vs salsalate 1.91 ± 1.32 mM; P = 0.04) but did not reach statistical significance in lean mice (delta blood glucose, vehicle 4.39 ± 0.55 vs salsalate 2.79 ± 0.71 mM; P = 0.10). This effect was independent of changes in insulin but associated with an approx. 1.7-fold increase in glucose uptake into brown adipose tissue (vehicle 45.28 ± 4.57 vs salsalate 76.89 ± 12.23 µmol·g^-1 tissue·hr^-1; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

These data show that salsalate can reduce sevoflurane-induced hyperglycemia in mice. This indicates that salsalate may represent a new class of therapeutics that, in addition to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, may be useful to reduce perioperative hyperglycemia.

Perioperative Evaluation and Management of Endocrine Disorders

Evaluation of endocrine issues is a sometimes overlooked yet important component of the preoperative medical evaluation. Patients with diabetes, thyroid disease, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression are commonly encountered in the surgical setting and require unique consideration to optimize perioperative risk. For patients with diabetes, perioperative glycemic control has the strongest association with postsurgical outcomes. The preoperative evaluation should include recommendations for adjustment of insulin and noninsulin diabetic medications before surgery. Recommendations differ based on the type of diabetes, the type of insulin, and the patient's predisposition to hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. Generally, patients with thyroid dysfunction can safely undergo operations unless they have untreated hyperthyroidism or severe hypothyroidism. Patients with known primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency require supplemental glucocorticoids to prevent adrenal crisis in the perioperative setting. Evidence supporting the use of high-dose supplemental corticosteroids for patients undergoing long-term glucocorticoid therapy is sparse. We discuss an approach to these patients based on the dose and duration of ongoing or recent corticosteroid therapy. As with other components of the preoperative medical evaluation, the primary objective is identification and assessment of the severity of endocrine issues before surgery so that the surgeons, anesthesiologists, and internal medicine professionals can optimize management accordingly.

Insight Into the Perioperative Management of Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetic people are at risk of developing acute complications when exposed to stress. Surgery brings a stressful period when the patient is exposed not only to surgical stress but also the effects of medications used during that particular period. The patient’s comorbidities can influence the perioperative management of diabetes. Poorly controlled diabetes can complicate the hospital course.

The literature was searched through PubMed and the articles of the last 5 years, from 2014 to 2019, were looked into. The studies available as a free text, in the English language and related to humans, were included. Inclusion criteria also included adults with type 2 diabetes undergoing surgery.

The perioperative management of diabetes is a challenging one. Apart from the diabetes control; comorbidities, general health, intake, and interaction of medications both anti-diabetic and non-diabetic, type and duration of surgery, are some of the factors that influence the outcome of the surgery. With a variety of options available to manage diabetes currently, it is important to have a good insight into their effects to prevent complications to occur and ensure safe discharge from the hospital. The good control of diabetes is essential in bringing favorable outcomes.

The perioperative management of diabetes should be individualized. Oral anti-hyperglycemic medications, other than sulfonylureas and SGLT2 inhibitors, provide a reasonable alternative to insulin and can be continued safely perioperatively depending upon the type of surgery and the patient is expected to resume oral intake soon postoperatively.

Glycemic Management in the Operating Room: Screening, Monitoring, Oral Hypoglycemics, and Insulin Therapy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review provides a literature update and practical outline for the management of diabetes and stress hyperglycemia for adult surgical patients in the pre- and intraoperative settings.

RECENT FINDINGS

Hyperglycemia in surgical patients has been associated with increased risk of complication in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients in the perioperative setting. While current recommended perioperative blood glucose target is < 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L), optimal outcomes may require different treatment targets for diabetic versus non-diabetic patients. Hemoglobin A1C level is associated with elevated risk of hyperglycemia and adverse outcomes, but there is insufficient evidence to recommend routine preoperative testing or optimal values in elective surgical patients. Day of surgery blood glucose testing and treatment are recommended in the perioperative period, and anesthetic management includes appropriate patient selection for use of subcutaneous insulin, intravenous insulin infusions, and insulin pumps. Additionally, administration of both intravenous and perineural dexamethasone is associated with increased blood glucose levels and clinicians should consider the risk benefit ratio in surgical patients. For enhanced recovery after surgery protocols, further evidence is needed to support routine use of carbohydrate loading in diabetic patients. Optimal perioperative care includes screening at-risk patients, use of preoperative oral hypoglycemics and home insulin, anesthetic type and medication selection, blood glucose testing, and treatment for hyperglycemia in the operating room. Partnerships with surgery and endocrinology teams aid optimal postoperative management and discharge planning.

Recent advances in diabetes treatments and their perioperative implications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The implications for perioperative management of new oral antihyperglycemic medications and new insulin treatment technologies are reviewed.

RECENT FINDINGS

The preoperative period represents an opportunity to optimize glycemic control and potentially to reduce adverse outcomes. There is now general consensus that the optimal blood glucose target for hospitalized patients is approximately 106-180 mg/dl (6-10 mmol/l). Recommendations for the management of antihyperglycemic medications vary among national guidelines. It may not be necessary to cease all antihyperglycemic agents prior to surgery. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are associated with higher rates of ketoacidosis especially in acutely unwell and postsurgical patients. The clinical practice implications of new insulin formulations, and new systems for insulin delivery, are not clear. The optimal perioperative management of these will vary depending on local institutional factors such as staff skills and existing clinical practices. Improved hospital care delivery standards, quality assurance, process improvements, consistency in clinical practice, and coordinated multidisciplinary teamwork should be a major focus for improving outcomes of perioperative patients with diabetes.

SUMMARY

Sulfonylureas and SGLT2i should be ceased before moderate or major surgery. Other oral antihyperglycemic therapies may be continued or ceased. Complex patients and/or new therapies require specialized multidisciplinary management.