Diabetes Mellitus And Perioperative Outcomes: The Importance Of Coordinated Nursing And Anesthesia Care

Abstract

Background:
Diabetes mellitus is a common and clinically significant comorbidity among surgical patients and is strongly associated with adverse perioperative outcomes. Metabolic instability, impaired wound healing, and increased susceptibility to infection place patients with diabetes at higher risk during the perioperative period, necessitating coordinated and vigilant clinical management.

Aim:
This article aims to examine the relationship between diabetes mellitus and perioperative outcomes, with a particular focus on the importance of coordinated nursing and anesthesia care in optimizing surgical safety and patient recovery.

Methods:
A narrative clinical review approach was adopted, synthesizing current evidence from guidelines and peer-reviewed literature related to perioperative diabetes management, nursing practice, and anesthesia care. The review focuses on perioperative risk factors, clinical outcomes, and interprofessional roles across the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases.

Results:
The evidence indicates that poor perioperative glycemic control is associated with increased rates of surgical site infections, delayed wound healing, cardiovascular complications, and prolonged hospital stay. Nursing interventions—including preoperative assessment, glucose monitoring, patient education, and postoperative surveillance—play a critical role in early risk identification and complication prevention. Anesthesia care contributes significantly through pre-anesthetic evaluation, intraoperative glucose and hemodynamic management, and mitigation of anesthesia-related risks. Coordinated nursing–anesthesia collaboration was consistently associated with improved glycemic stability, enhanced patient safety, and better perioperative outcomes.

Conclusion:
Perioperative outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus are strongly influenced by the quality of coordinated nursing and anesthesia care. Integrating structured, team-based approaches and standardized perioperative diabetes management protocols can significantly reduce complications and improve surgical outcomes. Strengthening collaboration between nursing and anesthesia teams