Diabetes management in people undergoing metabolic‐bariatric surgery: A guideline from the Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care ( <scp>JBDS</scp> ‐ <scp>IP</scp> ) Group
The global prevalence of obesity and diabetes continues to rise, with metabolic-bariatric surgery recognised as an effective intervention for obesity and type 2 diabetes, offering potential for type 2 diabetes remission and improved glycaemic control. This guideline, developed by the Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care (JBDS-IP), provides recommendations for the management of diabetes in individuals undergoing metabolic-bariatric surgery. It emphasises the importance of multidisciplinary care and individualised treatment plans to optimise outcomes. Key recommendations include pre-operative glycaemic optimisation, targeting HbA1c <69 mmol/mol (<8.5%) where safe to do so, prevention of hypoglycaemia throughout all phases of care and providing a framework for medication adjustments during the liver reduction diet (LRD), peri-operative and post-operative phases. For type 2 diabetes, oral and non-insulin therapies such as metformin, DPP4 inhibitors and GLP-1 based therapies may be continued during LRD, while sulfonylureas, meglitinides and SGLT2 inhibitors should be discontinued to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia. For those with type 2 diabetes on insulin, doses should be reduced by 35%-50% during LRD and adjusted post-operatively based on individual glycaemic control. To prevent diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in those with type 1 diabetes, insulin must never be stopped and careful planning with diabetes teams is essential. Post-operatively, regular glucose monitoring, hypoglycaemia surveillance, medication adjustments, and follow-up with diabetes specialists are recommended. This document serves as a guide for clinicians and service commissioners, aiming to improve inpatient diabetes care and outcomes for individuals undergoing metabolic-bariatric surgery.
Authors
- Alexander Dimitri Miras (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3830-3173)
- Nader Raafat (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6452-1273)
- Andrew J. Beamish (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9170-2195)
- Georgia Noble‐Bell
- Dimitri J. Pournaras
- Jeffrey W. Stephens
- Rachel Cadwallader Buckland
- Ketan Dhatariya
- Omar G. Mustafa
Institutions
- University of East Anglia (GB)
- Swansea Bay University Health Board (GB)
- North Bristol NHS Trust (GB)
- University of Ulster (GB)
- King's College London (GB)
- University of Hull (GB)
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Derry City Council (GB)
- Swansea University (GB)
- King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Diabetic Medicine
- Published
- 2026-03-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.70281
- Primary Topic
- Bariatric Surgery and Outcomes
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00