Glycaemic stability and length of stay: Tight versus conventional intraoperative glycaemic control protocols among patients with diabetes mellitus undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Background Intraoperative glycaemic stability and control among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery have been a major concern. The current study aimed to compare the effect of tight glycaemic control and conventional glycaemic control on glycaemic stability and length of stay (LOS) among diabetic patients undergoing CABG surgery. Methods This study utilised a randomised control trial design among a convenience sample of 144 patients. Participants were randomly assigned to either the tight or conventional glycaemic control groups. The repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and an independent samples t test were used to assess the variations in blood glucose (BG) level and LOS based on insulin therapy type. Results Patients who received the tight glycaemic control protocol had significantly more consistent and lower mean intraoperative BG levels than did patients who received the conventional glycaemic control protocol. No statistically significant differences in hospital LOS in days were identified between the two groups. Conclusion Healthcare providers, including physicians and nurses, should consider using tight glycaemic control therapy among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. This may lead to increased BG level consistency and stability and lower mean intraoperative BG level across time.