Cutting-Edge Technology in Perioperative Blood Glucose Monitoring

Diabetes mellitus is one of the top 10 causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Additionally, annual worldwide health care expenditure due to diabetes is $726 billion or more (Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2019;157:107843). Advancements in technologies that support diabetes management have greatly increased in recent years (Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2018;7:657). Hardware and software developments offer patients and physicians tools to better facilitate glycemic control, decrease hypoglycemia, and reduce the everyday burden of diabetes self-management in patients' lives. Perioperative insulin management can now happen at the touch of a button! Innovations revamping the field include smart insulin pens, newer and smaller insulin pumps with wireless technology and closed loop systems, and even smartwatch apps. These technical advances make frequent pinpricks to check blood glucose levels redundant while providing a wealth of information that can be correlated in real time to stressors and therapeutic interventions. Better glycemic control...