GLUCOSE PHYSIOLOGY AND FLUID IMPLICATIONS
Close Monitoring
Glucose is a crucial fuel source, and insulin facilitates glucose
movement into cells in a process that also requires potassium and phosphate. RBCs,
healing wounds, the brain, and the adrenal medulla require glucose for fuel,
totaling approximately 2 mg/kg/min. When controlling blood glucose, close monitoring
is crucial. Reagent strips containing glucose oxidase, used in conjunction with
glucometers, provide rapid and reliable results. It is imperative to know the insulin
regimen or oral hypoglycemic agent of each patient and then measure the blood glucose
preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively. The degree of end-organ damage,
coronary artery disease, and autonomic neuropathy can contribute to the risk of aspiration,
myocardial infarction, and peripheral neuropathy.
