Management of the patient with diabetes in the perioperative period

With the ever-increasing number of patients with diabetes undergoing surgical procedures, effective perioperative management of diabetes mellitus has become progressively more important. In this review we discuss a number of strategic approaches to improve perioperative management, where the fine balance between aggressive blood glucose management and prevention of hypoglycaemia must be considered. We also discuss complications of diabetes mellitus, particularly where these directly compromise patient health and interventional outcomes.