# Digital Decision Support for Perioperative Care of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Call to Action

## TL;DR

Digital tools can help manage blood sugar in diabetic patients during surgery, but challenges remain in their use.

## Contribution

This paper advocates for the use of clinical decision support systems in perioperative diabetes care.

## Key findings

- CDSS can improve perioperative glucose management by providing real-time data and recommendations.
- Technical and integration challenges hinder the adoption of CDSS in clinical settings.
- Perioperative hyperglycemia increases complications and mortality in diabetic patients.

## Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus affects over 500 million people globally, with 10%‐20% requiring surgery. Patients with diabetes are at increased risk for perioperative complications, including prolonged hospital stays and higher mortality, primarily due to perioperative hyperglycemia. Managing blood glucose during the perioperative period is challenging, and conventional monitoring is often inadequate to detect rapid fluctuations. Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) are emerging tools to improve perioperative diabetes management by providing real-time glucose data and medication recommendations. This viewpoint examines the role of CDSS in perioperative diabetes care, highlighting their benefits and limitations. CDSS can help manage blood glucose more effectively, preventing both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. However, technical and integration challenges, along with clinician acceptance, remain significant barriers.