IV dexamethasone increases blood sugar only for short duration in diabetics after knee surgery: Study

South Korea: The administration of IV dexamethasone after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in diabetes patients exerts transient effects on increasing the blood sugar levels, a recent study has found. However, regardless of IV dexamethasone administration, there is a need for patients with a preoperative HbA1c level of ≥7.05% to change their diabetic medication after TKA. The study findings appear in The Journal of Arthroplasty.

To determine whether administrations of IV dexamethasone jeopardize blood sugar control, increase rates of postoperative complications, and diabetic medication change after TKA, Hyung Jun Park, Seoul National University College of Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea, and colleagues conducted a retrospective study including 427 patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent TKA.

According to the use of IV dexamethasone, the patients were divided into two groups (Dexa and No Dexa). For the Dexa, IV dexamethasone (5mg) was administered twice (surgery day, postoperative day 1). The researchers also analyzed blood glucose levels until postoperative day 5, whether the mean blood glucose level was ≥200 mg/dL or not, the rate of a diabetic medication change, and postoperative complications (surgical site infection, delayed wound healing). 

"Our findings showed that IV dexamethasone has transient effects on increasing the blood glucose level after TKA in patients with DM," wrote the authors. "However, patients with a preoperative HbA1c level of ≥7.05% may need to change their diabetic medication after TKA, regardless of IV dexamethasone administration."

Reference:

The study titled, "Effects of Intravenous Dexamethasone on Glycemic Control in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus After Total Knee Arthroplasty," is published in The Journal of Arthroplasty.

DOI: https://www.arthroplastyjournal.org/article/S0883-5403(21)00640-9/fulltext