Basal Insulin Strategies Before Surgery

A Comparison of the Impact of Basal Insulin Dosing Strategies on Next-day Surgery Blood Glucose Control

Many patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) are currently being managed with Basal Insulin (BI). However, there is little evidence to support guidelines on dosing adjustments in the preoperative period. The Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia does not advise a reduction in the dose of BI preoperatively, unless there is a specific history of hypoglycemia. The Endocrine Society suggests a 50% reduction in BI dose the evening before surgery. The authors hypothesized that a 25% reduction in BI dose the evening before surgery will result in better perioperative blood glucose control compared with our institutional 50% decrease.

A total of 40 subjects diagnosed with T2DM taking once-daily evening BI, scheduled to undergo elective surgery under general anesthesia will be consented and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to received either 50% or 25% reduction of their regular evening BI dose on the evening before surgery. Blood glucose levels (BGL) will be recorded perioperatively according to institutional guidelines.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects who have volunteered and consented to participation in the study during their outpatient preoperative anesthesia appointment.
• Type II Diabetics taking once-daily evening basal insulin (glargine or detemir)
• Patients that will undergo general anesthesia
• Patients who have been on basal insulin for ≥ 3months

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to read, comprehend, and sign informed consent
• Patients with Type I Diabetes
• Patients who take short-acting insulin boluses which make up greater than 20% of their total daily insulin dose
• Patients who have been on chronic steroids ≥ 5 mg/dl prednisone daily or equivalent for ≥ 1 month within the past 12 months
• Pregnant patients
• Patients on twice-daily dosing of basal insulin
• Patient who take basal insulin in the morning
• Patients with a history of severe hypoglycemia, defined as any event in the previous year requiring assistance of another person to actively administer carbohydrate, glucagons, or other resuscitative actions
• Patients that will undergo cardiac, transplant, or brain surgeries
• Prisoners