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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
Long-term glucose control and risk of perioperative complications
Alison A Acott1, Sue A Theus, Lawrence T Kim
1Department of Surgery, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Background:
The impact of long-term preoperative glucose control on short-term surgical complications is unclear. We investigated whether preoperative hemoglobin A1c (HA(1c)) levels correlated with the risk of postoperative complications.
Methods:
A database of 38,989 patients undergoing major surgical procedures from October 1996 to May 2007 was reviewed. Of these patients, 2,960 were diagnosed diabetic with a HA(1c) level within 30 days before their operation. National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) definitions were used in determining postoperative complications.
Results:
Of 36,039 nondiabetic patients, 5,095 experienced 1 or more complications (14.1%). In 2,960 diabetic patients, 780 diabetic patients had 1 or more complications (26.4%) (P
Conclusions:
Although our data show an increased risk of surgical complications in diabetics, there was no detectable correlation between risk of complication and HA(1c) level. This suggests that poor long-term glucose control may not play a major role in determining short-term surgical morbidity.
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