Diabetic complications with special anaesthetic risk

Diabetes mellitus leads to acute and chronic complications. Acute complications include hypoglycaemia, diabetic keto-acidosis, hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar non-ketotic syndrome and lactic acidosis. Chronic complications are neuropathies, nephropathy, retinopathy, peripheral arterial disease, cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, infection, delayed wound healing and stiff joint disease. End-organ pathology is in part responsible for the increased morbidity and mortality seen in diabetic patients in the peri-operative period. A thorough pre-operative search for end-organ pathology is essential to optimise patient management. Relevant diabetic complications and their anaesthetic risk are discussed.