High glycemic variability increases risk of postoperative complications.

High glycemic variability on the first postoperative day significantly correlates with increased risk for infection-related complications in gastrointestinal cancer patients undergoing radical surgery. A study of 438 patients identified elevated glycemic levels, high leukocyte counts on the fourth postoperative day, and alcohol consumption as independent risk factors. Utilizing machine learning, researchers developed three effective nomogram prediction models, achieving area under the curve values between 0.78 and 0.82, indicating robust predictive capabilities for these complications.