Perioperative Glycemic Management of Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes has been shown to improve glycemic control and reduce need for glucose-lowering medications. Some of these improvements occur in the early postoperative period prior to any weight loss. These early reductions in circulating glucose can be attributed to primarily perioperative caloric restriction and prolonged fasting. Inpatient glycemic targets for patients undergoing bariatric surgery are similar to those recommended for other surgical procedures as a way of minimizing risk for complications. There is evidence that achieving perioperative and postoperative glycemic targets can improve the ability to achieve remission of type 2 diabetes following gastric bypass surgery. This review provides recommendations regarding glycemic goals, strategies for achieving these goals with minimal risk for hypoglycemia, and an examination of the data suggesting an association between perioperative glycemic management and diabetes remission following bariatric surgery.