Insulin treatment of the insulin-dependent diabetic patient undergoing minor surgery: continuous intravenous infusion compared with subcutaneous administration

• Published in: Anaesthesia 1988-07, Vol.43 (7), p.533-537
• Main Authors: CHRISTIANSEN, C. L, SCHURIZEK, B. A, MALLING, B, KNUDSEN, L, ALBERTI, K. G. M. M, HERMANSEN, K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anesthesia; Anesthesia depending on patient's condition; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - analysis; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - drug therapy; Female; Glucose - administration & dosage; Glucose - therapeutic use; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Injections, Subcutaneous; Insulin - administration & dosage; Insulin - therapeutic use; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Minor Surgical Procedures; Potassium - administration & dosage; Potassium - therapeutic use; Prospective Studies; Random Allocation
• ISSN: 0003-2409; 1365-2044
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1988.tb06681.x

In a prospective randomised study in 20 insulin-dependent diabetics who had minor surgery under general anaesthesia we compared the metabolic responses to intravenous glucose-insulin-potassium infusion with those who had conventional subcutaneous insulin administration. The former treatment resulted in lower blood glucose levels both during the infusion period (p less than 0.05) as well as the entire observation period (operative, first and second postoperative days; p less than 0.01). More blood glucose values were within the intended range of 5 to 10 mmol/litre in the glucose-insulin-potassium as compared to the conventional group (48% versus 24%; p less than 0.01). The levels of lactate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, glycerol, alanine, glucagon, insulin and growth hormone did not differ between the two groups. The infusion regimen resulted in better glycaemic control both peri-and postoperatively than the conventional subcutaneous insulin regimen in insulin-dependent diabetic patients who have minor surgery.