Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Perioperative Glycemic Management of Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery

  • Hospital Management of Diabetes (GE Umpierrez, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Diabetes Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Snel M, Jonker JT, Schoones J, et al. Ectopic fat and insulin resistance: pathophysiology and effect of diet and lifestyle interventions. Int J Endocrinol. 2012;2012:983814.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Mechanick JI, Youdim A, Jones DB, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for the perioperative nutritional, metabolic, and nonsurgical support of the bariatric surgery patient—2013 update: cosponsored by American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, The Obesity Society, and American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Obesity. 2013;21 Suppl 1:S1–27. These guidelines provide a level of evidence-based recommendations, including perioperative diabetes management, agreed upon by three leading international societies.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Ardestani A, Rhoads D, Tavakkoli A. Insulin cessation and diabetes remission after bariatric surgery in adults with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2015;38:659–64.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Perna M, Romagnuolo J, Morgan K, et al. Preoperative hemoglobin A1c and postoperative glucose control in outcomes after gastric bypass for obesity. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2012;8:685–90. This analysis demonstrates the association between pre-op glycemic control, hospital hyperglycemia, and postoperative complications in bariatric surgery patients.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Scheen AJ, Letiexhe M, Rorive M, et al. Bariatric surgery: 10-year results of the Swedish Obese Subjects Study. Rev Med Liege. 2005;60:121–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Arterburn DE, Bogart A, Sherwood NE, et al. A multisite study of long-term remission and relapse of type 2 diabetes mellitus following gastric bypass. Obes Surg. 2013;23:93–102.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Mingrone G, Panunzi S, De Gaetano A, et al. Bariatric surgery versus conventional medical therapy for type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2012;366:1577–85.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Courcoulas AP, Belle SH, Neiberg RH, et al. Three-year outcomes of bariatric surgery vs lifestyle intervention for type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Surg. 2015;150:931–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Pories WJ, Swanson MS, MacDonald KG, et al. Who would have thought it? An operation proves to be the most effective therapy for adult-onset diabetes mellitus. Ann Surg. 1995;222:339–50. discussion 50-2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Pories WJ, Caro JF, Flickinger EG, et al. The control of diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in the morbidly obese with the Greenville Gastric Bypass. Ann Surg. 1987;206:316–23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Kwon S, Thompson R, Dellinger P, et al. Importance of perioperative glycemic control in general surgery: a report from the Surgical Care and Outcomes Assessment Program. Ann Surg. 2013;257:8–14. This large multicenter study quantifies the associated effects of inpatient hyperglycemia after bariatric surgery and demonstrates the amelioration of those effects when patients receive insulin treatment in the hospital.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Queale WS, Seidler AJ, Brancati FL. Glycemic control and sliding scale insulin use in medical inpatients with diabetes mellitus. Arch Intern Med. 1997;157:545–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Frisch A, Chandra P, Smiley D, et al. Prevalence and clinical outcome of hyperglycemia in the perioperative period in noncardiac surgery. Diabetes Care. 2010;33:1783–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Umpierrez GE, Smiley D, Jacobs S, et al. Randomized Study of Basal-Bolus Insulin Therapy in the Inpatient Management of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Undergoing General Surgery (RABBIT 2 Surgery). Diabetes Care. 2011;34:256–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Letourneau J, Bui H, Schricker T, et al. HbA1c: a prognostic biomarker in the surgical and critically ill patient population. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2013;27:760–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Chuah LL, Miras AD, Papamargaritis D, et al. Impact of perioperative management of glycemia in severely obese diabetic patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2015;11:578–84. The first and only RCT studying the effect of attempting pre- and postoperative glycemic control on short-term and 1-year outcomes. The study is small with confounders but demonstrates that many questions remain unanswered and will require larger well-designed trials comparing interventions to current standard practices.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Moghissi ES, Korytkowski MT, DiNardo M, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American Diabetes Association consensus statement on inpatient glycemic control. Endocr Pract. 2009;15:353–69.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Umpierrez GE, Hellman R, Korytkowski MT, et al. Management of hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients in non-critical care setting: an endocrine society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2012;97:16–38.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. DiNardo M, Donihi AC, Forte P, et al. Standardized glycemic management and perioperative glycemic outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus who undergo same-day surgery. Endocr Pract. 2011;17:404.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Rubin DJ, Rybin D, Doros G, et al. Weight-based, insulin dose-related hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients with diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2011;34:1723–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Datta S, Qaadir A, Villanueva G, et al. Once-daily insulin glargine versus 6-hour sliding scale regular insulin for control of hyperglycemia after a bariatric surgical procedure: a randomized clinical trial. Endocr Pract. 2007;13:225–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Heinemann L, Linkeschova R, Rave K, et al. Time-action profile of the long-acting insulin analog insulin glargine (HOE901) in comparison with those of NPH insulin and placebo. Diabetes Care. 2000;23:644–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Plank J, Bodenlenz M, Sinner F, et al. A double-blind, randomized, dose-response study investigating the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of the long-acting insulin analog detemir. Diabetes Care. 2005;28:1107–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Sobel SI, Augustine M, Donihi AC, et al. Safety and efficacy of a peri-operative protocol for patients with diabetes treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion who are admitted to same day surgery. Endocr Pract. 2015;21(11):1269–76.

  25. Akhtar S, Barash PG, Inzucchi SE. Scientific principles and clinical implications of perioperative glucose regulation and control. Anesth Analg. 2010;110:478–97.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Joshi GP, Chung F, Vann MA, et al. Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia consensus statement on perioperative blood glucose management in diabetic patients undergoing ambulatory surgery. Anesth Analg. 2010;111:1378–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Lowery JB, Donihi AC, Korytkowski MT. U-500 insulin as a component of basal bolus insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2012;14:505–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Standards of medical care in diabetes—2015: summary of revisions. Diabetes Care. 2015;38 Suppl:S4.

  29. Fenske WK, Pournaras DJ, Aasheim ET, et al. Can a protocol for glycaemic control improve type 2 diabetes outcomes after gastric bypass? Obes Surg. 2012;22:90–6. This is the first study that evaluated the effect of a postoperative glycemic control intervention on diabetes remission rate. This study opens the door to the concept of adjuvant therapy for diabetes remission. Further studies to determine the best glycemic targets and medication/diet regimens to maximize postoperative diabetes remission rate and duration can be justified based on its clear and optimistic findings.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Schauer PR, Bhatt DL, Kirwan JP, et al. Bariatric surgery versus intensive medical therapy for diabetes—3-year outcomes. New Engl J Med. 2014;370:2002–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Schauer PR, Kashyap SR, Wolski K, et al. Bariatric surgery versus intensive medical therapy in obese patients with diabetes. New Engl J Med. 2012;366:1567–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Van Nieuwenhove Y, Dambrauskas Z, Campillo-Soto A, et al. Preoperative very low-calorie diet and operative outcome after laparoscopic gastric bypass: a randomized multicenter study. Arch Surg. 2011;146:1300–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Moize VL, Pi-Sunyer X, Mochari H, et al. Nutritional pyramid for post-gastric bypass patients. Obes Surg. 2010;20:1133–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Parkes E. Nutritional management of patients after bariatric surgery. Am J Med Sci. 2006;331:207–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Sarwer DB, Wadden TA, Moore RH, et al. Preoperative eating behavior, postoperative dietary adherence, and weight loss after gastric bypass surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2008;4:640–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Jackness C, Karmally W, Febres G, et al. Very low-calorie diet mimics the early beneficial effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on insulin sensitivity and β-cell function in type 2 diabetic patients. Diabetes. 2013;62:3027–32. Demonstrating that short-term glycemic and metabolic improvements after gastric bypass can be attributed to diet change alone, this paper reverses the early-held belief that the physiology of the surgical procedure itself was an instant surgical cure for many patients with T2D.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Lingvay I, Guth E, Islam A, et al. Rapid improvement in diabetes after gastric bypass surgery: is it the diet or surgery? Diabetes Care. 2013;36:2741–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Plourde CE, Grenier-Larouche T, Caron-Dorval D, et al. Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch improves insulin sensitivity and secretion through caloric restriction. Obesity. 2014;22:1838–46.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Lim EL, Hollingsworth KG, Aribisala BS, et al. Reversal of type 2 diabetes: normalisation of beta cell function in association with decreased pancreas and liver triacylglycerol. Diabetologia. 2011;54:2506.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Laferrère B, Teixeira J, McGinty J, et al. Effect of weight loss by gastric bypass surgery versus hypocaloric diet on glucose and incretin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2008;93(7):2479–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Vetter ML, Wadden TA, Teff KL, et al. GLP-1 plays a limited role in improved glycemia shortly after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a comparison with intensive lifestyle modification. Diabetes. 2015;64(2):434–46.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Wing RR, Blair EH, Bononi P, et al. Caloric restriction per se is a significant factor in improvements in glycemic control and insulin sensitivity during weight loss in obese NIDDM patients. Diabetes Care. 1994;17(1):30–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Argyropoulos G. Bariatric surgery: prevalence, predictors, and mechanisms of diabetes remission. Curr Diab Rep. 2015;15(4):15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Rometo.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

David Rometo and Mary Korytkowski declare no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article contains references to studies with human subjects performed by Dr. Mary Korytkowski.

Each of these studies was performed following a review by the University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board and/or by the Quality Improvement Committee of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Hospital Management of Diabetes

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rometo, D., Korytkowski, M. Perioperative Glycemic Management of Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery. Curr Diab Rep 16, 23 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-016-0718-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-016-0718-6

Keywords

Navigation