On the morning of the surgery, diabetes tablets should not be taken. If treatment includes a long-acting sulfonylurea, it should not be taken on the day before surgery either. If the treatment includes an SGLT2 inhibitor, the medication should be paused 3 days before the surgery.
On the morning of the surgery, intravenous fluid drip is started, and blood sugar levels are monitored during and after the surgery every 1-2 hours. The stress reaction associated with surgery and immobility can raise blood sugar levels and may necessitate insulin treatment during or after the surgery. If blood glucose levels rise above 10 mmol/L, rapid-acting insulin is usually administered by subcutaneous injection or alongside the intravenous drip.
Once the person is able to eat normally again and the insulin requirement is below 20 units per day, they can return to their previous medication regime.