Final answer:
Perioperative hyperglycemia in diabetic patients should be managed by keeping blood glucose levels within a target range of 80-180 mg/dL to prevent complications associated with hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Careful insulin therapy monitoring is essential, and the maintenance of normal blood glucose is critical for brain health due to its reliance on glucose for energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
When managing perioperative hyperglycemia in diabetic patients, it is crucial to maintain blood glucose levels within a safe range. For the majority of adult patients, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends a perioperative blood glucose target of 80-180 mg/dL. This range helps to minimize the risk of both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, which can lead to complications.
During insulin therapy, careful monitoring is essential to avoid hypoglycemia due to excessive insulin dosage. It is important to note that individuals with diabetes may exhibit elevated fasting blood glucose levels and have a significant rise in glucose levels after oral glucose intake, which does not return to normal levels within 2½ hours, indicating glucose intolerance.
Therefore, the aim of diabetes management in the perioperative period is to keep blood glucose levels within the normal physiological range, avoiding the risk of hypoglycemia and its severe outcomes, which include convulsions, sweating, weakness, fainting, and potentially coma or death. This care is imperative as the brain relies exclusively on glucose for energy, highlighting the necessity for balanced blood sugar regulation.