Could a simple diabetes pill before surgery reduce complications?

NCT ID NCT02571608

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled This study
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jul 10, 2026 · Last updated Jul 10, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether people with type 2 diabetes who take their usual metformin on the morning of surgery have better blood sugar control and fewer problems like infections. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either metformin or a placebo before their operation. The goal is to see if this simple change can improve recovery and shorten hospital stays.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Metformin
What this could lead to
If it works, this could show that continuing metformin before surgery improves blood sugar control and reduces complications like infections.
What could go wrong
This is a small pilot study focused on feasibility, not a large trial. It may not prove clear benefits, and there is a risk of hypoglycemia or other side effects.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Phase 4

Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.

Expected to start

Jan 2022

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Dec 2022

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 75 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * ages 18 - 75, using metformin for control of Type II Diabetes mellitus, American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA) I, II and III, informed consent, surgery in which less than 1000 mL of blood loss is expected. Exclusion Criteria: * renal failure, liver failure, Congestive heart failure (CHF), previous episodes of hypoglycemia, conditions which mask symptoms of hypoglycemia (autonomic neuropathy or chronic high dose beta-blocker usage), low capillary blood sugar (CBG) (≤4.0 mmol/L) at pre-operative appointment date, same day surgery, any patient who received contrast dye within 2 days of the planned surgery or requires intra-operative contrast dye and same day surgery.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Diabetes mellitus, type 2 are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.