Undetected diabetes and the plastic surgeon

Plastic surgery candidates are generally healthy. Therefore, major postoperative complications are rare. Should they happen, the surgeon should search for possible causes, one of which is undetected diabetes mellitus. Six patients are presented who, based on the individual or family history or the unusual nature of their complications, were suspected of having diabetic tendencies. This experience necessitated our in-depth search into the role of silent or undetected diabetes. This report emphasizes the importance of positive family history of diabetes and the role of glucose tolerance tests on suspected cases. Even with normal glucose tolerance tests, however, some of these patients with a positive family history of diabetes and history of previous infections suffer from deficiencies in the chemotactic immune system. We recommend full discussion of the increased risk of infection and delayed healing with these patients, conservatism during surgical procedures, and prophylactic use of antibiotics perioperatively.