PATIENT INFORMATION
Diabetes medicines
Diabetes medicines need a specific perioperative plan because fasting changes your risk of low blood sugar, while surgery and illness can raise blood sugar. The plan depends on whether you use tablets, insulin, an insulin pump, an SGLT2 inhibitor, a GLP-1 medicine or a combination.
SGLT2 inhibitors are a particularly important group to identify early because they are usually stopped several days before scheduled surgery to reduce the risk of perioperative ketoacidosis. Insulin usually needs adjustment rather than simply being stopped.
Ask for the plan before the day of surgery, especially if you have type 1 diabetes or use insulin. Do not arrive after independently omitting all diabetes treatment.