Arthroscopic surgery leads to elevated blood sugar levels

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A new study shows that diabetics undergoing joint replacement surgery are at high risk of blood sugar after surgery, which increases the risk of infection and other complications.

Researchers at Surgeon's Hospital in Washington, DC, reported that patients with insulin-dependent diabetes had a five-fold higher risk of diabetes.

"If the patient has diabetes and the treatment depends on daily doses of insulin, he should be more aware of blood glucose control during the perinatal period because it presents an increased risk to health," said the Dr. Bradford Wadele.

For the present study, presented at the 2019 annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the team examined the clinical outcomes of more than 773 men and women having undergone total hip replacement surgery or knee between 2011 and 2016. Insulin-dependent diabetes included 437 people, including diabetics controlled by insulin and compared to diabetics who did not need insulin.

Patients requiring insulin could be considered to have a higher risk of elevated blood glucose levels during surgery, the researchers said.

Patients with hyperglycemia during the three months prior to surgery were more likely to develop postoperative hypoglycemia.