Medical and Surgical Clinical Outcome Review Programme: Perioperative Diabetes Report 2018

Diabetes is a serious, lifelong condition where blood glucose levels are too high. The care of patients with diabetes is complex and this is particularly true of those undergoing surgery. The care can cross numerous specialties which can compound the issue of diabetes not being managed consistently.

This NCEPOD study was developed with wide, multidisciplinary input. A number of areas for review were identified relating to the interactions that occur with and around the patient, and the quality of care provided to them.

This review includes an assessment of service structure at an organisational level and patient care at a clinical level. Recommendations are formed from data provided by clinicians at the hospital caring for patients and from external peer review of a sample of cases.

The areas for improvements in care raised by this report, and the recommendations made, have the potential to impact a large portion of surgical patients, providing quality improvement goals for hospitals to measure their practice against.