Carbohydrate Loading for Type 2 Diabetes in Colorectal Surgery

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Alberta

Must be taking: Oral hypoglycemics

Must not be taking: Insulin

Disqualifiers: Under 18 years

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial examines the safety of a pre-operative carbohydrate drink (a sugar drink) for people with type 2 diabetes undergoing colorectal surgery. Typically, patients must fast before surgery, but a sugar drink might aid healing and recovery. The study will compare patients who consume this drink to those who follow standard pre-surgery protocols. Individuals with type 2 diabetes managed by diet or pills, and who are planning elective colorectal surgery, may be suitable candidates for this trial. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance surgical recovery for many patients.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it only includes patients treated with diet or oral diabetes medications, not those on insulin.

What prior data suggests that this pre-operative carbohydrate drink is safe for patients with type 2 diabetes?

Research has shown that drinking carbohydrate-rich beverages, like juice, before surgery can be safe for patients. Studies have found that these drinks do not increase risks during or after surgery. In fact, they can help lower blood sugar levels soon after surgery and may lead to shorter hospital stays.

People with type 2 diabetes should exercise caution due to their difficulty processing sugars. However, some research suggests these drinks might still be safe for them. Evidence indicates that these beverages can aid recovery after surgery by reducing insulin resistance, a condition where the body doesn't use insulin effectively.

Overall, findings suggest these drinks are generally well-tolerated, but more studies are needed to confirm this, especially for people with type 2 diabetes. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the pre-operative carbohydrate drink for Type 2 diabetes patients undergoing colorectal surgery because it offers a unique approach to managing blood sugar levels before surgery. Unlike standard care, which might not involve any specific pre-surgical nutrition intervention, this drink provides a precise dose of 40 grams of carbohydrates designed to be consumed three hours before surgery. This timing and composition aim to optimize energy levels and potentially improve surgical outcomes by stabilizing blood sugar, which is crucial for diabetic patients. By focusing on nutritional timing and content, this method could enhance recovery and reduce complications, offering a promising alternative to traditional pre-operative preparations.

What evidence suggests that a pre-operative carbohydrate drink might be an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes in colorectal surgery?

This trial will compare the effects of a pre-operative carbohydrate drink with standard care for patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing colorectal surgery. Research has shown that drinking a carbohydrate drink before surgery can be beneficial, even for those with type 2 diabetes. Studies have found that patients who consume this drink before surgery often leave the hospital sooner and feel better after the operation. Importantly, research suggests that this method does not worsen blood sugar control post-surgery. However, right before surgery, blood sugar levels might be slightly higher in those with type 2 diabetes who have the drink compared to those who do not. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 with type 2 diabetes who are scheduled for elective colorectal surgery at specified hospitals. It's only for those managing their diabetes with diet or oral medications, not insulin.

Inclusion Criteria

Only patients treated with diet or oral hypoglycemic agents will be included.

Exclusion Criteria

Subjects on insulin therapy preoperatively will be excluded.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Pre-operative

Participants consume a carbohydrate drink or receive standard care prior to surgery

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Surgery

Participants undergo elective colorectal surgery

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for diabetes-related complications and other outcomes

30 days

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Pre-operative carbohydrate drink

Trial Overview The study is testing the safety of giving a carbohydrate drink (like juice) to patients with type 2 diabetes before they undergo colorectal surgery, to see if it can reduce complications and hospital stay time.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Carbohydrate drink Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Carbohydrate drink containing 40g of carbohydrate to be consumed three hours prior to surgery

Group II: Standard Care Active Control 1 Intervention

Standard care for patients with diabetes pre-operatively .

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alberta

Lead Sponsor

Trials

957

Recruited

437,000+

Citations

1. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405457721003119

Preoperative carbohydrate loading in surgical patients with ... In summary, preoperative blood glucose was reported to be 12.5–52.4 mg/dL higher in patients with T2DM who consume carbohydrate load than those who do not [40, ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12142891/

Clinical value of preoperative oral carbohydrate loading in ... POCL is effective in reducing glucose levels on the first postoperative day and no significant differences were observed between groups at other ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12366112/

The effect of preoperative oral carbohydrate administration on ... In conclusion, preoperative carbohydrate intake reduces the postoperative glucometabolic response, enhances subjective well-being, and improves ...

4. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-025-00767-z

Preoperative carbohydrate loading reduces length of stay ... This meta-analysis found that preoperative CHO-loading as compared to preoperative fasting or placebo shortened the length of hospital stay in patients ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022480420304984

The Effect of an Enhanced Recovery Protocol on ... Our results suggest that an enhanced recovery protocol and preoperative carbohydrate loading does not lead to poorer postoperative glycemic control overall in ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5137663/

Role of preoperative carbohydrate loading: a systematic review Preoperative carbohydrate drinks significantly improved insulin resistance and indices of patient comfort following surgery, especially hunger, thirst, malaise ...

7. bmcsurg.biomedcentral.com bmcsurg.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12893-025-03093-3

The effect of preoperative oral carbohydrate administration on ... H1: Preoperative oral carbohydrate intake contributes to improved postoperative recovery in patients undergoing colorectal surgery by reducing ...