Mini-pump: method of diabetic control during minor surgery under general anaesthesia.

A simple method for maintaining diabetic control during and after minor surgery requiring a general anaesthetic was studied in 20 insulin-treated diabetics. Long-acting insulin was omitted on the night before the operation, and a mini-pump delivering insulin at a rate of 0.5 units/h was strapped to the arm early on the morning of the operation regardless of the time of operation. Insulin was infused at this rate throughout the day, the usual evening dose of insulin given and followed by supper, and the pump then stopped. In all 20 patients studied blood glucose concentrations fell steadily throughout the day. Hypoglycaemia did not occur. The mini-pump is simple to use and with the same standard insulin dose for all patients maintains satisfactory blood glucose concentrations throughout the day of operation.