High Blood Sugar Complicates Surgery, Increases Death

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Have your blood sugar levels tested prior to invasive surgery. Dr. Mraovic says that as many as 25 percent of all surgery patients come to the hospital with diabetes or high blood sugar, some unaware. "Many people that come into the hospital via an ambulance and need emergency surgery don't even know they are diabetic," said Dr. Mraovic. He added because the study was retrospective, drawing firm conclusions can sometimes be difficult.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: Ivanhoe interview with Boris Mraovic, M.D, assistant professor of anesthesiology in the Artificial Pancreas Center at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia