Effect of 0.9% saline and ringer’s lactate on mean change in blood glucose levels under spinal anaesthesia among diabetic patients

Abstract

Aims: The present study aims to determine the effect of 0.9% saline and Ringer’s lactate on blood glucose levels in the fasting diabetic surgical patients receiving spinal anaesthesia. Settings and design: The study is a prospective randomized trial conducted on adult patients aged 30 – 85 years with well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving spinal anaesthesia. Methods and material: 120 patients with well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving spinal anaesthesia were randomized to receive either 1 litre of 0.9% saline or Ringer’s lactate. Blood glucose levels were recorded using a glucometer by the pinprick method before and after infusion of 1 litre of the selected intravenous fluid. Statistical analysis: Data analysis was done using SPSS statistical package-Version 22.0. Student’s unpaired ‘t’ test was used to test the significance of difference between quantitative variables. A 'p' value less than 0.05 was taken to denote statistical significance. Results: Mean change in blood glucose levels after infusion of the intravenous fluid in 0.9% saline and Ringer’s lactate groups were 3.68±15.2 mg/dl and-0.15±16.5 mg/dl, respectively. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant with a 'p' value of 0.188. Conclusions: Ringer’s lactate solution, when compared to 0.9% saline, does not cause significant change in the mean blood glucose levels in fasting diabetic patients receiving spinal anaesthesia.