Perioperative Considerations in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Narrative Review

Consideraciones perioperatorias en el paciente con diabetes tipo 2: Revisión narrativa

Authors

  • Danuil Julián Melo-Ascanio Universidad Metropolitana. Barranquilla, Colombia.
  • Maria Alejandra Palacios-Rodríguez Universidad de Manizales. Manizales, Colombia.
  • Lesly Giovanna Maldonado-Burbano Fundación Universitaria San Martin. Pasto, Colombia.
  • Juan Camilo Arias-Pérez Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia. Medellín, Colombia.
  • Valentina Bravo-Echeverry Universidad Santiago de Cali. Cali, Colombia.
  • Ivonne Lorena Reina-Fonseca Fundación Universitaria Juan N. Corpas. Bogotá, Colombia.
  • Brayan Franchesco Nocua-Martínez Universidad de Santander (UDES). Bucaramanga, Colombia.
  • Ricardo Andrés Castillo-Rojas Universidad del Valle. Cali, Colombia.
  • Antonio José Carvajal-Mazuera Fundación Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas. Pereira, Colombia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22258/hgh.v10i3.475

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses increasing perioperative challenges due to the widespread use of modern antidiabetic therapies with cardiometabolic, renal, and weight-related benefits, but also specific anesthetic and metabolic safety implications. This narrative review integrated clinical, pharmacological, and perioperative evidence on glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). GLP-1RA and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists are associated with delayed gastric emptying and increased residual gastric content, although their relationship with clinically significant pulmonary aspiration remains uncertain. Gastric ultrasound may support individualized risk stratification in selected settings. Conversely, SGLT2i are linked to euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis, particularly during fasting, surgery, infection, dehydration, or carbohydrate restriction, requiring preoperative discontinuation, metabolic surveillance, and delayed reinitiation until clinical stability, euvolemia, and oral tolerance are achieved. Perioperative care in T2DM should move beyond a glucose-centered approach and incorporate medication reconciliation, multidisciplinary assessment, and individualized decision-making based on anesthetic, metabolic, and surgical risk. Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Perioperative Care; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists; Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors; Diabetic Ketoacidosis (Source: MeSH, NLM).

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Author Biographies

Danuil Julián Melo-Ascanio, Universidad Metropolitana. Barranquilla, Colombia.

Médico, Universidad Metropolitana. Barranquilla, Colombia.

Maria Alejandra Palacios-Rodríguez, Universidad de Manizales. Manizales, Colombia.

Médico, Universidad de Manizales. Manizales, Colombia. 

Lesly Giovanna Maldonado-Burbano, Fundación Universitaria San Martin. Pasto, Colombia.

Médico, Fundación Universitaria San Martin. Pasto, Colombia.

Juan Camilo Arias-Pérez, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia. Medellín, Colombia.

Médico, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia. Medellín, Colombia.

Valentina Bravo-Echeverry, Universidad Santiago de Cali. Cali, Colombia.

Médico, Universidad Santiago de Cali. Cali, Colombia.

Ivonne Lorena Reina-Fonseca, Fundación Universitaria Juan N. Corpas. Bogotá, Colombia.

Médico, Fundación Universitaria Juan N. Corpas. Bogotá, Colombia.

Brayan Franchesco Nocua-Martínez, Universidad de Santander (UDES). Bucaramanga, Colombia.

Médico, Universidad de Santander (UDES). Bucaramanga, Colombia.

Ricardo Andrés Castillo-Rojas, Universidad del Valle. Cali, Colombia.

Médico, Universidad del Valle. Cali, Colombia.

Antonio José Carvajal-Mazuera, Fundación Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas. Pereira, Colombia.

Médico, Fundación Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas. Pereira, Colombia.

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Published

2026-09-15

How to Cite

Melo-Ascanio, D. J., Palacios-Rodríguez, M. A., Maldonado-Burbano, L. G., Arias-Pérez, J. C., Bravo-Echeverry, V., Reina-Fonseca, I. L., … Carvajal-Mazuera, A. J. (2026). Perioperative Considerations in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Narrative Review: Consideraciones perioperatorias en el paciente con diabetes tipo 2: Revisión narrativa . Peruvian Journal of Health Care and Global Health, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.22258/hgh.v10i3.475

Issue

Section

Reviews