Glycemic control via preoperative glycated hemoglobin levels can enhance risk assessment for postoperative complications in elective colorectal surgery.

• Patients with poorly controlled diabetes had a 23% increased risk of any complication and a 20% higher risk of serious complications compared to those without diabetes.
• Well-controlled diabetes did not significantly change the risk for any complication or surgical site infection compared to non-diabetic patients.

For surgical decision-making, incorporating glycated hemoglobin into evaluations may help better identify at-risk patients undergoing elective procedures.

• Overall, 32,578 patients were analyzed across multiple centers, highlighting a significant sample size for validation.