Understanding high blood sugar levels in surgery patients
Official title: Perioperative Stress Hyperglycemia in General and Vascular Surgery Patients
Funded at Emory University · NIH-10839901 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at why some people have higher blood sugar levels during and after surgery, even if they don't have diabetes, and it aims to find ways to help patients recover better by understanding how stress affects their blood sugar.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $177,301 |
| NIH project number | 5K23DK122199-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10839901 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing general or vascular surgery who are at risk for developing high blood sugar levels.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not undergo surgery or those with well-controlled diabetes may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the phenomenon of stress hyperglycemia, which occurs when patients experience elevated blood sugar levels during and after surgery, even if they have no prior history of diabetes. The study aims to identify clinical and metabolic factors that contribute to this condition by monitoring patients' insulin responses and levels of inflammatory markers. By using continuous glucose monitoring and point-of-care testing, researchers will track blood sugar fluctuations and their relationship to surgical complications. The ultimate goal is to improve patient outcomes by better understanding how stress affects blood sugar regulation in surgical settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved management of blood sugar levels in surgical patients, reducing complications and enhancing recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that understanding stress-related blood sugar changes can lead to better surgical outcomes, suggesting this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davis, Georgia M — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Davis, Georgia M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cardiovascular health in the offspring of pregnancies affected by gestational glucose and weight
This study follows young adults whose mothers had gestational diabetes or related conditions to understand how pregnancy health affects their heart and blood vessel health over time.
-
Hyperglycemia, Leukotriene Pathways, and Severe Infections in Diabetes
A hospital-based research project will explore why high blood sugar makes infections more dangerous for people with diabetes, focusing on inflammatory pathways and a key chemical messenger.
-
Red blood cells and glucose problems after a stroke
This research looks at how red blood cells behave during and after a stroke when blood sugar is high, and what that means for recovery.
-
Intergenerational heart health: studying how a mother's gestational health affects offspring cardiovascular risk
This grant studies how a mother’s health during pregnancy may influence her child’s heart health in young adulthood.
-
How the protein Arrdc4 may link high blood sugar to heart damage in diabetes
This research looks at whether a protein called Arrdc4 causes stress in heart cells when blood sugar is high and so helps explain heart damage in adults with diabetes.
-
Role of a genetic variant in MAFLD and diabetes among African Americans
A study aims to understand how a specific gene variant (rs142619613) may contribute to fatty liver disease and high blood sugar in African American adults.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.