None of the trials examined the effects of the interventions in terms of costs .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS The included trials did not demonstrate significant differences for most of the outcomes when targeting intensive perioperative glycaemic control compared with conventional glycaemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus .
However , posthoc analysis indicated that intensive glycaemic control was associated with an increased number of patients experiencing hypoglycaemic episodes .
BACKGROUND Patients with diabetes mellitus are at increased risk of postoperative complications .
Data from r and omised clinical trials and meta-analyses point to a potential benefit of intensive glycaemic control , targeting near-normal blood glucose , in patients with hyperglycaemia ( with and without diabetes mellitus ) being su bmi tted to surgical procedures .
However , there is limited evidence concerning this question in patients with diabetes mellitus undergoing surgery .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of perioperative glycaemic control for diabetic patients undergoing surgery .
Insulin subcutaneous application vs. continuous infusion for postoperative blood glucose control in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
BACKGROUND Frequently , the use of insulin is considered for metabolic control in postoperative patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus ( NIDDM ) . We sought to determine the best method for control of glucose in NIDDM non-insulin patients during postoperative care . METHODS Two algorithms were developed : subcutaneous administration of insulin ( SC ) , and continuous intravenous infusion ( IV ) . A r and omized , controlled clinical trial was design ed . In addition , both experimental groups were compared with a non-concurrent routinely managed group ( RM ) with insulin administration under no predetermined algorithm .  Eligible patients were those subjected to major surgery under general anesthesia or spinal blockade . They were followed for 48 h after surgery . Target variables were capillary and central blood glucose , insulin dose administered , urine glucose and ketone strip determination , and development of hyper- or hypoglycemia . RESULTS A total of 62 patients were studied ( RM = 25 , SC = 19 , IV = 18 ) . Results for both experimental algorithms were similar except for the IV group that required less insulin per hour compared to SC ( 0.64 vs. 0.34 U/h ; p = 0.0003 ) . The RM control group showed poor control in all capillary glucose measurements ( 194.9 + /- 26.8 mg/dL ) compared with the two experimental algorithms ( SC = 129.9 + /- 21 ; IV = 131.6 + /- 20.4 ) ( p < 0.05 ) . More hyperglycemia events appeared in the RM group ( p = 0.016 ) . Only one hypoglycemia event occurred in the IV group . CONCLUSIONS Postoperative control of NIDDM is similar with both tested methods . The use of any of the algorithms studied improves metabolic control substantially because it st and ardizes postoperative management of the diabetic patient with timely determination of capillary blood glucose and insulin administration . However , IV administration has the advantage of accomplishing adequate control with a smaller insulin dose
None of the trials examined the effects of the interventions in terms of costs .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS The included trials did not demonstrate significant differences for most of the outcomes when targeting intensive perioperative glycaemic control compared with conventional glycaemic control in patients with diabetes mellitus .
However , posthoc analysis indicated that intensive glycaemic control was associated with an increased number of patients experiencing hypoglycaemic episodes .
BACKGROUND Patients with diabetes mellitus are at increased risk of postoperative complications .
Data from r and omised clinical trials and meta-analyses point to a potential benefit of intensive glycaemic control , targeting near-normal blood glucose , in patients with hyperglycaemia ( with and without diabetes mellitus ) being su bmi tted to surgical procedures .
However , there is limited evidence concerning this question in patients with diabetes mellitus undergoing surgery .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of perioperative glycaemic control for diabetic patients undergoing surgery .