Management of patients with diabetes mellitus referred for elective surgery from primary care: the challenge of the 18 weeks pathway.

A retrospective audit of diabetes glycaemic control optimisation in one primary care practice prior to elective surgery was undertaken. Collected data included: demographics, glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) records, evidence of diabetes related glycaemic control optimisation. Of the 82 patients in this study only 46 had an HbA1c measured pre-operatively and only 8 had a review with the practice nurse to optimise glycaemic control. Actions arising from quality improvement programmes are needed to optimise glycaemic control in diabetic patients undergoing elective surgery.