Objective To evaluate the effect of different oral doses of carbohydrate solution (Shuneng) administered at postoperative 2‒4 h on insulin resistance (IR) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods A total of 150 patients, aged 18‒65 years, with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grades Ⅰ or Ⅱ, and body mass index (BMI) of 18‒30 kg/m2 who underwent LC surgery under general anesthesia were selected. According to the random number table method, they were divided into three groups (n=50): a fasting control group (group C), an oral 200 ml Shuneng group (group P1), and an oral 400 ml Shuneng group (group P2). All three groups of patients were fasted at 22:00, without drinking at 24:00 one night before operation. Patients in group P1 and group P2 were orally taken Shuneng at 200 ml and 400 ml 2‒4 h before operation, respectively, while those in group C did not drink any liquid. Then, their general information were recorded. The concentrations of fasting glucose (FG) and fasting insulin (FINS) were measured 10 min before anesthesia induction (T1) and 10 min after extubation (T2). The homeostatic model assessment‑insulin resistance (HOMA‑IR) and homeostatic model assessment‑insulin sensitivity index (HOMA‑ISI) were calculated by the homeostatic model assessment method. The gastric sinus cross‑sectional area (CSA) was measured at T1 by bedside gastric ultrasound with the patient in right lateral recumbent position. The gastric volume (GV), gastric volume‑to‑weight ratio (GV/W), the incidence of GV/W>1.5 ml/kg and Perlas classification were assessed to observe the incidence of regurgitation and aspiration. Their Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for hunger, thirst and anxiety were recorded at T1 and T2. The changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate of patients at admission (t1), anesthesia induction (t2), skin incision (t3), pneumoperitoneum (t4) and withdrawal of the tube (t5) were recorded. Results There was no statistical difference in general information among the three groups (all P>0.05). Group C showed lower blood glucose than group P2 at T1 (P<0.05). Compared with those at T1, group C presented increased blood glucose at T2 (P<0.05), and decreased insulin level, HOMA‑IR and HOMA‑ISI were seen in the three groups (all P<0.05). There were no statistical differences in insulin level, HOMA‑IR and HOMA‑ISI among the three groups at T1 and T2 (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in blood glucose level among 3 groups at T2 (all P>0.05). Furthermore, group P2 showed higher CSA than group C in right lateral recumbent position (P<0.05), with a higher incidence of Perlas classification grade 1 than group C and group P1 (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of Perlas classification grade 1 between group C and group P1 (P>0.05). There were no statistical differences in the incidences of GV, GV/W, and GV/W>1.5 ml/kg among the three groups (all P>0.05). No Perlas classification grade 2 or regurgitation aspiration occurred in the 3 groups. Compared with group C, the VAS scores for thirst and hunger decreased in group P2 at T1 (all P<0.05); hunger scores decreased in groups P1 at T2 (P<0.05), and thirst and hunger scores decreased in group P2 (all P<0.05). Group P2 presented lower VAS scores for thirst and hunger than group P1 at T2 (all P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in anxiety scores at T1 and T2 (all P>0.05), and no statistically significant differences in MAP and heart rate at t1 to t5 in the three groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions Oral administration of Shuneng at 200 ml or 400 ml 2‒4 h before surgery can relieve patients' thirst and hunger, without significant effect on intraoperative IR in LC patients. However, oral administration of 400 ml of Shuneng has the risk of increased gastric volume.