Management of Diabetes Undergoing Elective Surgery

Patient Information Leaflet

These instructions are for patients who are not taking any diabetic medications.

On the day before surgery

Follow any bowel preparations as advised by your surgeon/staff at the pre-assessment clinic.

On the day of surgery

When you arrive at hospital your blood glucose will be tested by finger prick and then monitored regularly. The target for safe surgery is 6 – 10 mmol. You may need insulin treatment to bring down high glucose, or dextrose infusion for treatment of low blood glucose.

After surgery

You will be discharged when you are eating and drinking normally and your blood glucose is at a safe level.

However, if you are unwell with:

• Continuous vomiting/diarrhoea, or high fever
• Unable to keep food down for 4 hours or more
• High blood glucose (>15.0 mmol by finger prick testing)
• High ketones (>0.6 mmol)

You should seek medical help. During office hours contact your usual Diabetes Specialist Nurse or Doctor.

At other times contact your local out-of-hours GP service.

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand about this leaflet, please contact:

The Diabetes and Endocrine Centre on 01384 244399

Russells Hall Hospital switchboard number: 01384 456111

If you have any feedback on this patient information leaflet, please email dgft.patient.information@nhs.net

Originator: Terence Pang, Chris Homer. Date originated: October 2013 Date reviewed: October 2025 Next review date: October 2028 Version: 3 DGH ref: DGH/PIL/00894