The effect of anti‐emetic doses of dexamethasone on postoperative blood glucose levels in non‐diabetic and diabetic patients: a prospective randomised controlled study

Summary There are few data regarding postoperative hyperglycaemia in non‐diabetic compared with diabetic patients following postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis with dexamethasone. Eighty‐five non‐diabetic patients and patients with type‐2 diabetes were randomly allocated to receive intravenous dexamethasone (8 mg) or ondansetron (4 mg). Blood glucose levels were measured at baseline and then 2, 4 and 24 h following induction of anaesthesia. In non‐diabetic patients, the mean (SD) maximum blood glucose was higher in those who received dexamethasone compared with ondansetron (9.1 (2.2) mmol.l−1 vs. 7.8 (1.4) mmol.l−1, p = 0.04). In diabetic patients, the mean (SD) maximum blood glucose was also higher in those who received dexamethasone compared with ondansetron (14.0 (2.5) mmol.l−1 vs. 10.7 (2.4) mmol.l−1, p