70 nondiabetic and diabetic patients undergoing elective total hip replacement were randomly allocated to undergo spinal or general anesthesia in preparation for surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine if spinal anesthesia offered improved glucose homeostasis compared to general anesthesia. Results revealed both nondiabetic and diabetic patients in the spinal anesthesia group had significantly lower intraoperative and postoperative glucose levels compared to general anesthesia, and two patients in the general anesthesia group required insulin after surgery.