DefinePK

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus increases surgical complications risk, necessitating effective management before and after surgery to minimize postoperative complications and enhance surgical recovery. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a tailored approach to medication, nutrition, and diabetic self-management education and support (DSMES) activity on postoperative outcomes in diabetic patients undergoing surgery at a tertiary care hospital, Malappuram, Kerala.
A prospective interventional trial with 138 diabetic patients from orthopaedic and general surgery involved data collection on post-operative adverse events, medication use, nutritional control, and DSMES activities, including patient counselling, patient education handouts, individualized diet charts, and routine follow-up.
The study found that a significant portion of diabetic patients (55.8%) required multiple medications to control their blood sugar. A total of 14.5% of patients experienced adverse events, including delayed extubation (25%), delayed wound healing (40%), wound site infections (30%) and other site infections (5%). Strict adherence to a tailored diet plan was associated with shorter hospital stays (p = 0.035, chi square=10.325), less severity of adverse events (p=0.000, chi square=30.21), lower grade according to Calvien-Dindo classification with (p=0.000, chi square=30.21) and improved surgical recovery (p = 0.000, chi square=49.865).
Diabetes surgery patients may benefit from tailored medicine, nutrition, and DSMES activities because they will receive tight glycemic control and specialized diabetes diet, both of which are essential for a quicker and better surgical recovery. Additional investigation is required to ascertain and evaluate the DSMES program's efficacy as well.