Information for Patients with Diabetes with an HbA1c 69mmol/mol and Above

Poor diabetes control is linked to increased risks and complications during, as well as after, any operation. We identified that your diabetes was not under good enough control to proceed with your surgery by looking at a blood test called “HbA1c”. This is a useful marker of long term diabetes control. It should be under 69mmol/mol in order for us to safely proceed with surgery. As a result of this, your operation is being postponed until your HbA1c is below 69mmol/mol.

What to do next?

Please make contact with your usual health care professional that supports you with your diabetes (e.g. your GP, practice nurse, diabetes nurse or hospital diabetes team). We have already sent them details about you and explained that your diabetes needs optimising prior to your planned surgery.

Once your HbA1c is below 69mmol/mol we will proceed with your surgery.

It is your responsibility to contact the Pre-operative Assessment Unit on 01305 254222 to have your surgery reinstated once your HbA1c is below 69mmol/mol.

Your operation has been postponed and not cancelled. However, if after six months your diabetes control has not improved, we will discuss with you how to proceed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Pre-Assessment Unit for more information on 01305 254222.

Useful websites

Diabetes UK
diabetes.org.uk

About this leaflet

Author: Dr Claire Joannides, Consultant Anaesthetist
Written: July 2019
Approved: June 2020
Review date: June 2023
Edition: v1

If you have feedback regarding the accuracy of the information contained in this leaflet, or if you would like a list of references used to develop this leaflet, please email patientinformation.leaflets@dchft.nhs.uk