Endocrinologist sheds more light on
new class of diabetic drug
An experienced endocrinologist at Greenslopes Private Hospital is encouraging diabetic
patients to speak to their doctor at least three days before surgery, in case they are
taking a new type of diabetic drug.
Diabetic surgical patients are required
to withdraw from the class of drugs -
known as SGLT2 inhibitors - 72 hours
before surgery and general anaesthesia
to prevent complications.
Associate Professor Greg Hockings
said: “Some people travel from the
country to Greenslopes Private Hospital
to have surgery so we want to make
sure all patients are well prepared.”
SGLT2 inhibitors work by causing
people with diabetes to excrete glucose
through the kidneys.
Traditional diabetic medications
stimulate the pancreas to produce
more insulin or cause the body’s natural
insulin to have a stronger effect.
“It is a matter of selecting the right
types of drugs for each diabetic patient
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depending on their risk of side-effects
as well as the severity of their diabetes,”
A/Professor Hockings said.
The new drug class has been available
in Australia for more than two years and
is reported to have additional benefits
for diabetic patients with heart disease
and kidney disease. But it has also been
known to cause ketoacidosis, especially
in patients who are fasting, causing the
blood to become acidic which can lead
to serious heart issues.
“Most doctors only expect to find
diabetic ketoacidosis in somebody
when the sugar level in the blood is
quite high, but with this class of drug, a
patient can get ketoacidosis when the
blood sugar is only slightly higher than
normal, so doctors aren’t expecting it,”
A/Professor Hockings said.
The Australian Diabetes Society has put
a warning out to its members, as has the
professional body for anaesthetists.
A/Professor Hockings is calling for
additional warnings to be directed to
general practitioners and surgeons, so
they understand the risks.
“More needs to be done. In the trials of
these drugs the risk of ketoacidosis was
said to be very low, but since they’ve
been widely used, there has been quite
a number of reports of episodes of
ketoacidosis, so it appears the risk has
been underestimated,” Dr Hockings
said.
Patients who are on this new class of
drug should stop taking them 72 hours
before surgery and should stay off them
for at least 72 hours following surgery or
longer if they are not eating properly.”
Mum’s the word: dedicated theatre opens to maternity patients
Women who give birth via caesarean section at
Greenslopes Private Hospital will now be able to use a
purpose-built obstetrics operating theatre.
The new family-friendly space has been designed
specifically for expectant mothers, to create a more
seamless transition when relocating from the maternity
ward to the operating room.
Greenslopes Private Hospital CEO Chris Went said: “We
are really pleased to be providing our maternity patients
with their own dedicated theatre. Historically, caesarean
deliveries have occurred in a different operating room
located in the middle of our large theatre complex.”
“The opening of this facility will also streamline
scheduling processes when it comes to c-section
deliveries, which is especially important during
emergency situations.”
“We are delighted to have this new maternity theatre,
which is conveniently located adjacent to the birthing
suites and all of the associated amenities on offer to the
entire family.”
A Greenslopes Private Hospital cardiologist with a
keen eye for photography has helped to beautify the
operating room. A seascape photo, taken by Dr Anders
Taylor, was printed on a wall to ensure a more relaxed,
calming environment for expectant mothers.