Society of Hospital Medicine Glycemic Control Task Force summary: practical recommendations for assessing the impact of glycemic control efforts

Feasibility and Performance of Continuous Glucose Monitoring to Guide Computerized Insulin Infusion Therapy in Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the feasibility of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for titrating continuous intravenous insulin infusion (CII) to manage hyperglycemia in postoperative individuals in the cardiovascular intensive care unit and assessed their accuracy, nursing acceptance, and postoperative individual satisfaction.

METHODS

Dexcom G6 CGM devices were applied to 59 postsurgical patients with hyperglycemia receiving CII. A hybrid approach combining CGM with periodic point-of-care blood glucose (POC-BG) tests with two phases (initial-ongoing) of validation was used to determine CGM accuracy. Mean and median absolute relative differences and Clarke Error Grid were plotted to evaluate the CGM accuracy. Surveys of nurses and patients on the use of CGMs experience were conducted and results were analyzed.

RESULTS

In this cohort (mean age 64, 32% female, 32% with diabetes) with 864 paired POC-BG and CGM values analyzed, mean and median absolute relative difference between POC-BG and CGM values were 13.2% and 9.8%, respectively. 99.7% of paired CGM and POC-BG were in Zones A and B of the Clarke Error Grid. Responses from nurses reported CGMs being very or quite convenient (n = 28; 93%) and it was favored over POC-BG testing (n = 28; 93%). Majority of patients (n = 42; 93%) reported their care process using CGM as being good or very good.

CONCLUSION

This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility, accuracy, and nursing convenience of adopting CGM via a hybrid approach for insulin titration in postoperative settings. These findings provide robust rationale for larger confirmatory studies to evaluate the benefit of CGM in postoperative care to improve workflow, enhance health outcomes, and cost-effectiveness.

Glucometrics: Where Are We Now?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Inpatient glucose data analysis, or glucometrics, has developed alongside the growing emphasis on glycemic control in the hospital. Shortcomings in the initial capabilities for glucometrics have pushed advancements in defining meaningful units of measurement and methods for capturing glucose data. This review addresses the growth in glucometrics and ends with its promising new state.

RECENT FINDINGS

Standardization, allowing for benchmarking and purposeful comparison, has been a goal of the field. The National Quality Foundation glycemic measures and recently enacted Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) electronic quality measures for hypo- and hyperglycemia have allowed for improved integration and consistency. Prior systems have culminated in an upcoming measure from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's National Healthcare Safety Network. It is poised to create a new gold standard for glucometrics by expanding and refining the CMS metrics, which should empower both local improvement and benchmarking as the program matures.

Early intervention model of inpatient diabetes care improves glycemia following hospitalization

Admission to hospital provides an opportunity to optimize long-term diabetes management, but clinical inertia is common. We previously reported the randomized study of a proactive inpatient diabetes service (RAPIDS), investigating an early intervention model of care and demonstrated improved in-hospital glycemia and clinical outcomes. This follow-up study assessed whether proactive care in hospital improved postdischarge HbA1c. In a subgroup of 298 RAPIDS trial participants with type 2 diabetes, age <80 years, and admission HbA1c ≥ 7.0%, diabetes treatment intensification occurred more often in early intervention versus usual care groups (37% vs. 19% [p = .001]), adjusted odds ratio 3.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7-6.0). There was a greater change in HbA1c in the early intervention group (mean -0.9% [95% CI -1.3 to -0.4]) versus the usual care group (-0.3% [-0.6 to -0.1]), p = .029. The value of acute care by dedicated inpatient diabetes teams can extend beyond improving inpatient clinical outcomes and can lead to sustained improvement in glycemia.

Update on the management of diabetes in long-term care facilities

The number of patients with diabetes is increasing among older adults in the USA, and it is expected to reach 26.7 million by 2050. In parallel, the percentage of older patients with diabetes in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) will also rise. Currently, the majority of LTCF residents are older adults and one-third of them have diabetes. Management of diabetes in LTCF is challenging due to multiple comorbidities and altered nutrition. Few randomized clinical trials have been conducted to determine optimal treatment for diabetes management in older adults in LTCF. The geriatric populations are at risk of hypoglycemia since the majority are treated with insulin and have different levels of functionality and nutritional needs. Effective approaches to avoid hypoglycemia should be implemented in these settings to improve outcome and reduce the economic burden. Newer medication classes might carry less risk of developing hypoglycemia along with the appropriate use of technology, such as the use of continuous glucose monitoring. Practical clinical guidelines for diabetes management including recommendations for prevention and treatment of hypoglycemia are needed to appropriately implement resources in the transition of care plans in this vulnerable population.

Managing Patients Undergoing Orthopedic Surgery to Improve Glycemic Outcomes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Persons with diabetes are more likely to require orthopedic surgery and are at an increased risk of developing postoperative complications. Recognizing the impact of diabetes on musculoskeletal health provides an opportunity to educate healthcare professionals in standardizing the perioperative approach of persons with diabetes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Elevated hemoglobin A1C, fructosamine, and blood glucose levels have been associated with increased risk for complications in the orthopedic population. These risks can be mitigated by the early identification and optimization of these patients in the perioperative period. Intraoperative and postoperative glycemic management should support efforts to maintain glucose at safe levels while avoiding hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. This paper considers factors surrounding diabetes care in the orthopedic surgical patient. Perioperative care discussed includes optimization, hospitalization to discharge, and special considerations such as steroids and diabetes wearable technology. Hospitals should consider these strategies towards enhancing the care of persons with diabetes requiring musculoskeletal care.

Liraglutide hospital discharge trial: A randomized controlled trial comparing the safety and efficacy of liraglutide versus insulin glargine for the management of patients with type 2 diabetes after hospital discharge

AIM

To compare a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist with basal insulin at hospital discharge in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes in a randomized clinical trial.

METHODS

A total of 273 patients with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 7%-10% (53-86 mol/mol) were randomized to liraglutide (n = 136) or insulin glargine (n = 137) at hospital discharge. The primary endpoint was difference in HbA1c at 12 and 26 weeks. Secondary endpoints included hypoglycaemia, changes in body weight, and achievement of HbA1c <7% (53 mmol/mol) without hypoglycaemia or weight gain.

RESULTS

The between-group difference in HbA1c at 12 weeks and 26 weeks was -0.28% (95% CI -0.64, 0.09), and at 26 weeks it was -0.55%, (95% CI -1.01, -0.09) in favour of liraglutide. Liraglutide treatment resulted in a lower frequency of hypoglycaemia <3.9 mmol/L (13% vs 23%; P = 0.04), but there was no difference in the rate of clinically significant hypoglycaemia <3.0 mmol/L. Compared to insulin glargine, liraglutide treatment was associated with greater weight loss at 26 weeks (-4.7 ± 7.7 kg vs -0.6 ± 11.5 kg; P < 0.001), and the proportion of patients with HbA1c <7% (53 mmol/mol) without hypoglycaemia was 48% versus 33% (P = 0.05) at 12 weeks and 45% versus 33% (P = 0.14) at 26 weeks in liraglutide versus insulin glargine. The proportion of patients with HbA1c <7% (53 mmol/mol) without hypoglycaemia and no weight gain was higher with liraglutide at 12 (41% vs 24%, P = 0.005) and 26 weeks (39% vs 22%; P = 0.014). The incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events was higher with liraglutide than with insulin glargine (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Compared to insulin glargine, treatment with liraglutide at hospital discharge resulted in better glycaemic control and greater weight loss, but increased gastrointestinal adverse events.

The Association of Diabetes and Hyperglycemia on Inpatient Readmissions

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between inpatient glycemic control and readmission in individuals with diabetes and hyperglycemia (DM/HG).

METHODS

Two data sets were analyzed from fiscal years 2011 to 2013: hospital data using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes for DM/HG and point of care (POC) glucose monitoring. The variables analyzed included gender, age, mean, minimum and maximum glucose, along with 4 measures of glycemic variability (GV), standard deviation, coefficient of variation, mean amplitude of glucose excursions, and average daily risk range.

RESULTS

Of 66 518 discharges in FY 2011-2013, 28.4% had DM/HG based on ICD-9 codes and 53% received POC monitoring. The overall readmission rate was 13.9%, although the rates for individuals with DM/HG were higher at 18.9% and 20.6% using ICD-9 codes and POC data, respectively. The readmitted group had higher mean glucose (169 ± 47 mg/dL vs 158 ± 46 mg/dL, P < .001). Individuals with severe hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia had the highest readmission rates. All 4 GV measures were consistent and higher in the readmitted group.

CONCLUSION

Individuals with DM/HG have higher 30-day readmission rates than those without. Those readmitted had higher mean glucose, more extreme glucose values, and higher GV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of multiple metrics of inpatient glycemic control, including GV, and their associations with readmission.

A Pragmatic Approach to Inpatient Diabetes Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The pandemic of COVID-19 has presented new challenges to hospital personnel providing care for infected patients with diabetes who represent more than 20% of critically ill patients in intensive care units. Appropriate glycemic management contributes to a reduction in adverse clinical outcomes in acute illness but also requires intensive patient interactions for bedside glucose monitoring, intravenous and subcutaneous insulin administration, as well as rapid intervention for hypoglycemia events. These tasks are required at a time when minimizing patient interactions is recommended as a way of avoiding prolonged exposure to COVID-19 by health care personnel who often practice in settings with limited supplies of personal protective equipment. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide guidance for clinicians for reconciling recommended standards of care for infected hospitalized patients with diabetes while also addressing the daily realities of an overwhelmed health care system in many areas of the country. The use of modified protocols for insulin administration, bedside glucose monitoring, and medications such as glucocorticoids and hydroxychloroquine that may affect glycemic control are discussed. Continuous glucose monitoring systems have been proposed as an option for reducing time spent with patients, but there are important issues that need to be addressed if these are used in hospitalized patients. On-site and remote glucose management teams have potential to provide guidance in areas where there are shortages of personnel who have expertise in inpatient glycemic management.

Glycaemic Control in Critically Ill Adult Patients: Is intensive insulin therapy beneficial?

OBJECTIVES Glycaemic control with intensive insulin therapy and its impact on patient outcomes have always been contentious in an intensive care setting. This study aims to assess the patterns of glycaemic control in critically ill patients at a tertiary care institution in Trinidad and its relationship to outcomes. METHODS All adult patients admitted to a multidisciplinary intensive care unit (ICU) for a period of two years were enrolled for a retrospective chart review. Data collected included demographics, admission blood glucose, mean morning blood glucose (MBG), the trend of glucose control, number of hypoglycaemic episodes, admission Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II, ICU and hospital length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, anaemia, renal replacement therapy and hospital outcome. RESULTS A total of 104 patients were studied. Four different patterns of insulin therapy were practised at the ICU. The median age of patients was 55.5 years, the mean SAPS II was 49.3, the mean predicted mortality was 45.5% and the overall observed mortality was 38.5%. The majority of admissions had cardiovascular illnesses (25%), followed by sepsis (20.2%). Patients with multiple hypoglycaemic episodes had an increased mortality (p<0.01). Patients had a better outcome with a higher MBG (>100 mg/dL) (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in mortality among the four patterns of glycaemic control (p<0.001). Admission blood glucose, length of time of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay and renal replacement therapy were not found to be associated with adverse outcomes. CONCLUSION Intensive insulin therapy (IIT) may not benefit ICU patients but can be probably associated with higher mortality. Avoidance of hypoglycaemia as well as persistent hyperglycaemia may lead to a better outcome in critically ill patients.

Sitagliptin for the prevention of stress hyperglycemia in patients without diabetes undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery

AIMS

To determine if treatment with sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, can prevent stress hyperglycemia in patients without diabetes undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

METHODS

We conducted a pilot, double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized trial in adults (18-80 years) without history of diabetes. Participants received sitagliptin or placebo once daily, starting the day prior to surgery and continued for up to 10 days. Primary outcome was differences in the frequency of stress hyperglycemia (blood glucose (BG) >180 mg/dL) after surgery among groups.

RESULTS

We randomized 32 participants to receive sitagliptin and 28 to placebo (mean age 64±10 years and HbA1c: 5.6%±0.5%). Treatment with sitagliptin resulted in lower BG levels prior to surgery (101±mg/dL vs 107±13 mg/dL, p=0.01); however, there were no differences in the mean BG concentration, proportion of patients who developed stress hyperglycemia (21% vs 22%, p>0.99), length of hospital stay, rate of perioperative complications and need for insulin therapy in the intensive care unit or during the hospital stay.

CONCLUSION

The use of sitagliptin during the perioperative period did not prevent the development of stress hyperglycemia or need for insulin therapy in patients without diabetes undergoing CABG surgery.

Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Educational Strategy Promoting Basal-Bolus Insulin Therapy Improves Glycemic Control and Reduces Length of Stay for Inpatients With Diabetes

IN BRIEF "Quality Improvement Success Stories" are published by the American Diabetes Association in collaboration with the American College of Physicians, Inc. (ACP), and the National Diabetes Education Program. This series is intended to highlight best practices and strategies from programs and clinics that have successfully improved the quality of care for people with diabetes or related conditions. Each article in the series is reviewed and follows a standard format developed by the editors of Clinical Diabetes. The following article describes an initiative to increase the use of basal-bolus insulin therapy for hyperglycemia in an inpatient setting and to evaluate its effects on patient outcomes compared to sliding-scale insulin therapy.

What Can We Learn From Point-of-Care Blood Glucose Values Deleted and Repeated by Nurses?

BACKGROUND

Hospitals rely on point-of-care (POC) blood glucose (BG) values to guide important decisions related to insulin administration and glycemic control. Evaluation of POC BG in hospitalized patients is associated with measurement and operator errors. Based on a previous quality improvement (QI) project we introduced an option for operators to delete and repeat POC BG values suspected as erroneous. The current project evaluated our experience with deleted POC BG values over a 2-year period.

METHOD

A retrospective QI project included all patients hospitalized at two regional academic medical centers in the Pacific Northwest during 2014 and 2015. Laboratory Medicine POC BG data were reviewed to evaluate all inpatient episodes of deleted and repeated POC BG.

RESULTS

Inpatient operators choose to delete and repeat only 0.8% of all POC BG tests. Hypoglycemic and extreme hyperglycemic BG values are more likely to be deleted and repeated. Of initial values <40 mg/dL, 58% of deleted values (18% of all values) are errors. Of values >400 mg/dL, 40% of deleted values (5% of all values) are errors. Not all repeated POC BG values are first deleted. Optimal use of the option to delete and repeat POC BG values <40 mg/dL could decrease reported rates of severe hypoglycemia by as much as 40%.

CONCLUSIONS

This project demonstrates that operators are frequently able to identify POC BG values that are measurement/operator errors. Eliminating these errors significantly reduces documented rates of severe hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, and has the potential to improve patient safety.

Perioperative Management of Hyperglycemia and Diabetes in Cardiac Surgery Patients

Perioperative hyperglycemia is common after cardiac surgery, reported in 60% to 90% of patients with diabetes and in approximately 60% of patients without history of diabetes. Many observational and prospective randomized trials in critically-ill cardiac surgery patients support a strong association between hyperglycemia and poor clinical outcome. Despite ongoing debate about the optimal glucose target, there is strong agreement that improved glycemic control reduces perioperative complications.

How Low Can You Go? Reducing Rates of Hypoglycemia in the Non-critical Care Hospital Setting

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to discuss strategies to reduce rates of hypoglycemia in the non-critical care setting.

RECENT FINDINGS

Strategies to reduce hypoglycemia rates should focus on the most common causes of iatrogenic hypoglycemia. Creating a standardized insulin order set with built-in clinical decision support can help reduce rates of hypoglycemia. Coordination of blood glucose monitoring, meal tray delivery, and insulin administration is an important and challenging task. Protocols and processes should be in place to deal with interruptions in nutrition to minimize risk of hypoglycemia. A glucose management page that has all the pertinent information summarized in one page allows for active surveillance and quick identification of patients who may be at risk of hypoglycemia. Finally, education of prescribers, nurses, food and nutrition services, and patients is important so that every member of the healthcare team can work together to prevent hypoglycemia. By implementing strategies to reduce hypoglycemia, we hope to lower rates of adverse events and improve quality of care while also reducing hospital costs. Future research should focus on the impact of an overall reduction in hypoglycemia to determine whether the expected benefits are achieved.

Efficacy of sitagliptin for the hospital management of general medicine and surgery patients with type 2 diabetes (Sita-Hospital): a multicentre, prospective, open-label, non-inferiority randomised trial

BACKGROUND

The role of incretin-based drugs in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to hospital has not been extensively assessed. In this study, we compared the safety and efficacy of a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (sitagliptin) plus basal insulin with a basal-bolus insulin regimen for the management of patients with type 2 diabetes in general medicine and surgery in hospitals.

METHODS

We did a multicentre, prospective, open-label, non-inferiority randomised clinical trial (Sita-Hospital) in five hospitals in the USA, enrolling patients aged 18-80 years with type 2 diabetes and a random blood glucose concentration of 7·8-22·2 mmol/L who were being treated with diet or oral antidiabetic drugs or had a total daily insulin dose of 0·6 units per kg or less, admitted to general medicine and surgery services. We randomly assigned patients (1:1) to receive either sitagliptin plus basal glargine once daily (the sitagliptin-basal group) or a basal-bolus regimen with glargine once daily and rapid-acting insulin lispro or aspart before meals (the basal-bolus group) during the hospital stay. All other antidiabetic drugs were discontinued on admission. The randomisation was achieved by computer-generated tables with block stratification according to randomisation blood glucose concentrations (ie, higher or lower than 11·1 mmol/L). The primary endpoint of the trial was non-inferiority in mean differences between groups in their daily blood glucose concentrations during the first 10 days of therapy (point-of-care measurements; non-inferiority was deemed a difference <1 mmol/L). The safety endpoints included hypoglycaemia and uncontrolled hyperglycaemia leading to treatment failure. All participants who received at least one dose of study drug were included in the analysis. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01845831.

FINDINGS

Between Aug 23, 2013, and July 27, 2015, we recruited 279 patients, and randomly assigned 277 to treatment; 138 to sitagliptin-basal and 139 to basal-bolus. The length of stay in hospital was similar for both groups (median 4 days [IQR 3-8] vs 4 [3-8] days, p=0·54). The mean daily blood glucose concentration in the sitagliptin-basal group (9·5 mmol/L [SD 2·7]) was not inferior to that in the basal-bolus group 9·4 mmol/L [2·7]) with a mean blood glucose difference of 0·1 mmol/L (95% CI -0·6 to 0·7). No deaths occurred in this trial. Treatment failure occurred in 22 patients (16%) in the sitagliptin-basal group versus 26 (19%) in the basal-bolus group (p=0·54). Hypoglycaemia occurred in 13 patients (9%) in the sitagliptin-basal group and in 17 (12%) in the basal-bolus group (p=0·45). No differences in hospital complications were noted between groups. Seven patients (5%) developed acute kidney injury in the sitagliptin-basal group and six (4%) in the basal-bolus group. One patient (0·7%) developed acute pancreatitis (in the basal-bolus group).

INTERPRETATION

The trial met the non-inferiority threshold for the primary endpoint, because there was no significant difference between groups in mean daily blood glucose concentrations. Treatment with sitagliptin plus basal insulin is as effective and safe as, and a convenient alternative to, the labour-intensive basal-bolus insulin regimen for the management of hyperglycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to general medicine and surgery services in hospital in the non-intensive-care setting.

FUNDING

Merck.

Prevalence of dysglycaemic events among inpatients with diabetes mellitus: a Singaporean perspective

INTRODUCTION

As the effectiveness of intensive glycaemic control is unclear and recommended glycaemic targets are inconsistent, this study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of dysglycaemia among hospitalised patients with diabetes mellitus in an Asian population and evaluate the current standards of inpatient glycaemic control.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was conducted at a secondary hospital. Point-of-care blood glucose (BG) values, demographic data, medical history, glycaemic therapy and clinical characteristics were recorded. Dysglycaemia prevalence was calculated as proportions of BG-monitored days with at least one reading exceeding the cut points of 8, 10 and 15 mmol/L for hyperglycaemia, and below the cut point of 4 mmol/L for hypoglycaemia.

RESULTS

Among the 288 patients recruited, hyperglycaemia was highly prevalent (90.3%, 81.3% and 47.6% for the respective cut points), while hypoglycaemia was the least prevalent (18.8%). Dysglycaemic patients were more likely than normoglycaemic patients to have poorer glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels (8.4% ± 2.6% vs. 7.3% ± 1.9%; p = 0.002 for BG > 10 mmol/L) and longer lengths of stay (10.1 ± 8.2 days vs. 6.8 ± 4.7 days; p = 0.007 for BG < 4 mmol/L). Hyperglycaemia was more prevalent in patients on more intensive treatment regimens, such as basal-bolus combination therapy and the use of both insulin and oral hypoglycaemic agents (100.0% and 96.0%, respectively; p < 0.001 for BG > 10 mmol/L).

CONCLUSION

Inpatient glycaemic control is suboptimal. Factors (e.g. type of treatment regimen, discipline and baseline HbA1c) associated with greater prevalence of dysglycaemia should be given due consideration in patient management.

Statistical transformation and the interpretation of inpatient glucose control data

OBJECTIVE

To introduce a statistical method of assessing hospital-based non-intensive care unit (non-ICU) inpatient glucose control.

METHODS

Point-of-care blood glucose (POC-BG) data from hospital non-ICUs were extracted for January 1 through December 31, 2011. Glucose data distribution was examined before and after Box-Cox transformations and compared to normality. Different subsets of data were used to establish upper and lower control limits, and exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control charts were constructed from June, July, and October data as examples to determine if out-of-control events were identified differently in nontransformed versus transformed data.

RESULTS

A total of 36,381 POC-BG values were analyzed. In all 3 monthly test samples, glucose distributions in nontransformed data were skewed but approached a normal distribution once transformed. Interpretation of out-of-control events from EWMA control chart analyses also revealed differences. In the June test data, an out-of-control process was identified at sample 53 with nontransformed data, whereas the transformed data remained in control for the duration of the observed period. Analysis of July data demonstrated an out-of-control process sooner in the transformed (sample 55) than nontransformed (sample 111) data, whereas for October, transformed data remained in control longer than nontransformed data.

CONCLUSION

Statistical transformations increase the normal behavior of inpatient non-ICU glycemic data sets. The decision to transform glucose data could influence the interpretation and conclusions about the status of inpatient glycemic control. Further study is required to determine whether transformed versus nontransformed data influence clinical decisions or evaluation of interventions.

The Emory University Perioperative Algorithm for the Management of Hyperglycemia and Diabetes in Non-cardiac Surgery Patients

Hyperglycemia is a frequent manifestation of critical and surgical illness, resulting from the acute metabolic and hormonal changes associated with the response to injury and stress (Umpierrez and Kitabchi, Curr Opin Endocrinol. 11:75-81, 2004; McCowen et al., Crit Care Clin. 17(1):107-24, 2001). The exact prevalence of hospital hyperglycemia is not known, but observational studies have reported a prevalence of hyperglycemia ranging from 32 to 60 % in community hospitals (Umpierrez et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 87(3):978-82, 2002; Cook et al., J Hosp Med. 4(9):E7-14, 2009; Farrokhi et al., Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 25(5):813-24, 2011), and 80 % of patients after cardiac surgery (Schmeltz et al., Diabetes Care 30(4):823-8, 2007; van den Berghe et al., N Engl J Med. 345(19):1359-67, 2001). Retrospective and randomized controlled trials in surgical populations have reported that hyperglycemia and diabetes are associated with increased length of stay, hospital complications, resource utilization, and mortality (Frisch et al., Diabetes Care 33(8):1783-8, 2010; Kwon et al., Ann Surg. 257(1):8-14, 2013; Bower et al., Surgery 147(5):670-5, 2010; Noordzij et al., Eur J Endocrinol. 156(1):137-42, 2007; Mraovic et al., J Arthroplasty 25(1):64-70, 2010). Substantial evidence indicates that correction of hyperglycemia reduces complications in critically ill, as well as in general surgery patients (Umpierrez et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 87(3):978-82, 2002; Clement et al., Diabetes Care 27(2):553-97, 2004; Pomposelli et al., JPEN J Parented Enteral Nutr. 22(2):77-81, 1998). This manuscript reviews the pathophysiology of stress hyperglycemia during anesthesia and the perioperative period. We provide a practical outline for the diagnosis and management of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care of patients with diabetes and hyperglycemia.

Carbohydrate Counting in the Acute Care Setting: Development of an Educational Program Based on Cognitive Load Theory

The care of noncritically ill hospitalized patients with diabetes mellitus requiring insulin administration is multidisciplinary and complex. Evidence indicates that staff nurses may benefit from additional training in the nutritional management of patients with diabetes. In addition, unlicensed assistive personnel may be involved in the feeding and point-of-care testing of diabetic patients and thus play an important role in nursing care of such patients. Cognitive load theory assists educators in the identification of specific cognitive challenges that learners may face when presented with new material, but it also presents solutions to such challenges by way of specific instructional design methods to help overcome them. An educational program was piloted on a mixed audience of registered nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel at a community hospital; satisfaction with the program was found to be high.

Clinical nurse specialists lead teams to impact glycemic control after cardiac surgery

PURPOSE

The purpose of this evidence-based practice improvement project was to improve patients' blood glucose control after cardiac surgery, specifically aiming to keep blood glucose levels less than 200 mg/dL.

BACKGROUND/RATIONALE

Glycemic control is essential for wound healing and infection prevention. Multiple factors including the use of corticosteroids and the stress of critical illness put cardiac surgery patients at greater risk for elevated blood glucose levels postoperatively. A Surgical Care Improvement Project measure related to infection prevention calls for the morning blood glucose level (closest to 6:00 AM) to be less than 200 mg/dL on postoperative days 0 to 2. Patients on our cardiothoracic surgery unit were experiencing blood glucose levels greater than benchmark goals.

DESCRIPTION

A practice improvement effort was designed to decrease the number of blood glucose results greater than 200 mg/dL after cardiac surgery. The clinical nurse specialists for diabetes and cardiac surgery worked with nursing staff and the interdisciplinary team to implement a 4-pronged approach to improve efficiency in care processes: (1) increase frequency of glucose monitoring, (2) improve accessibility of insulin orders, (3) develop delegation protocol to facilitate nurse-initiated insulin infusion, and (4) implement revised insulin infusion protocol.

OUTCOMES

Hyperglycemia was identified more quickly, and a nurse-initiated protocol prompted more timely use of revised insulin infusion orders and involvement of the diabetes specialty team. Clinically significant improvement in postoperative glycemic control was achieved.

CONCLUSIONS

Empowering nurses to initiate hyperglycemia treatment and consultation by diabetes specialists may greatly improve efficiency in care processes and clinical outcomes for cardiac surgery patients.

IMPLICATIONS

Clinical nurse specialists are well positioned to plan and implement interventions that facilitate an evidence-based approach to glycemic management after cardiac surgery.

BASAL-BOLUS REGIMEN WITH INSULIN ANALOGUES VERSUS HUMAN INSULIN IN MEDICAL PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL IN LATIN AMERICA

OBJECTIVE

Few randomized studies have focused on the optimal management of non-intensive care unit patients with type 2 diabetes in Latin America. We compared the safety and efficacy of a basal-bolus regimen with analogues and human insulins in general medicine patients admitted to a University Hospital in Asunción, Paraguay.

METHODS

In a prospective, open-label trial, we randomized 134 nonsurgical patients with blood glucose (BG) between 140 and 400 mg/dL to a basal-bolus regimen with glargine once daily and glulisine before meals (n = 66) or Neutral Protamine Hagedorn (NPH) twice daily and regular insulin before meals (n = 68). Major outcomes included differences in daily BG levels and frequency of hypoglycemic events between treatment groups.

RESULTS

There were no differences in the mean daily BG (157 ± 37 mg/dL versus 158 ± 44 mg/dL; P = .90) or in the number of BG readings within target <140 mg/dL before meals (76% versus 74%) between the glargine/glulisine and NPH/regular regimens. The mean insulin dose in the glargine/glulisine group was 0.76 ± 0.3 units/kg/day (glargine, 22 ± 9 units/day; glulisine, 31 ± 12 units/day) and was not different compared with NPH/regular group (0.75 ± 0.3 units/kg/day [NPH, 28 ± 12 units/day; regular, 23 ± 9 units/day]). The overall prevalence of hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL) was similar between patients treated with NPH/regular and glargine/glulisine (38% versus 35%; P = .68), but more patients treated with human insulin had severe (<40 mg/dL) hypoglycemia (7.6% versus 25%; P = .08). There were no differences in length of hospital stay or mortality between groups.

CONCLUSION

The basal-bolus regimen with insulin analogues resulted in equivalent glycemic control and frequency of hypoglycemia compared to treatment with human insulin in hospitalized patients with diabetes.

Efficacy of a hyperglycemia treatment program in a Vascular Surgery Department supervised by Endocrinology

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the strategy and efficacy of a hyperglycemia treatment program supervised by Endocrinology.

METHODS

All patients with type 2 diabetes hospitalized at the vascular surgery department over a 12 month period were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical characteristics and hyperglycemia treatment during hospitalization, at discharge and 2-6 month after discharge were collected. Glycemic control was assessed using capillary blood glucose profiles and HbA1c at admission and 2-6 months post-discharge.

RESULTS

A total of 140 hospitalizations of 123 patients were included. The protocol to choose the insulin regimen was applied in 96.4% of patients (22.8% correction dose, 23.6% basal-correction dose and 50% basal-bolus-correction dose [BBC]). Patients with BBC had higher HbA1c (7.7±1.5% vs. 6.7 ±0.8%; P<.001) and mean glycemia on the first day of hospitalization (184.4±59.2 vs. 140.5±31.4mg/dl; P<.001). Mean blood glucose was reduced to 162.1±41.8mg/dl in the middle and 160.8±43.3mg/dl in the last 24h of hospitalization in patients with BBC (P=.007), but did not change in the remaining patients. In 22.1% patients with treatment changes performed at discharge, HbA1c decreased from 8.2±1.6 to 6.8±1.6% at 2-6 months post-discharge (P=.019).

CONCLUSIONS

The hyperglycemia treatment protocol applied by an endocrinologist in the hospital, allows the identification of the appropriate therapy and the improvement of the glycemic control during hospitalization and discharge, supporting its efficacy in clinical practice.

Novel approach to inpatient glucometric monitoring and variability in a community hospital setting

Hyperglycemia and glucose variability in the hospital environment are associated with higher rates of complications, longer lengths of stay, and mortality. Standardized metrics are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of glucose management interventions. Glucometric data were collected from 2024 inpatients in a San Diego hospital between 2009 and 2011. As a complementary measure of glucose control, individual patient excursion rates were calculated using counts of distinct excursions from normal to critical glucose ranges >180 or <70 mg/dL. Prediction models for excursion rates were devised, based on patient demographic and clinical characteristics. Patients were predominantly male (51.2%), Caucasian (86.0%), and elderly (median age 72 years). Obesity was prevalent: 32% were overweight and 33% were obese. Median length of hospitalization was 5.0 days (range, 0.8-139.4 days). Unadjusted rate of excursions >180 mg/dL was 0.456 per 24 hours. The proportion of zero excursions decreased as severity of illness decreased, but was unrelated to age. Excursion rates were slightly smaller for major and extreme severity of illness compared to mild or moderate illness severity. Excursion rates did not vary in a monotone fashion with age, although the general pattern reflected a reduction in excursion rates from the first age quartile (19 to 59) through the last age quartile (83 to 100). Using the Akaike information criterion, zero-inflated negative binomial models were identified as appropriate for analyzing glucose excursion rates. Systematic approaches to glucose reporting and management in the hospital environment offer "windows of opportunity" to improve diabetes care.

Point-of-care blood glucose measurement errors overestimate hypoglycaemia rates in critically ill patients

BACKGROUND

Hypoglycaemia is associated with morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients, and many hospitals have programmes to minimize hypoglycaemia rates. Recent studies have established the hypoglycaemic patient-day as a key metric and have published benchmark inpatient hypoglycaemia rates on the basis of point-of-care blood glucose data even though these values are prone to measurement errors.

METHODS

A retrospective, cohort study including all patients admitted to Harborview Medical Center Intensive Care Units (ICUs) during 2010 and 2011 was conducted to evaluate a quality improvement programme to reduce inappropriate documentation of point-of-care blood glucose measurement errors. Laboratory Medicine point-of-care blood glucose data and patient charts were reviewed to evaluate all episodes of hypoglycaemia.

RESULTS

A quality improvement intervention decreased measurement errors from 31% of hypoglycaemic (<70 mg/dL) patient-days in 2010 to 14% in 2011 (p < 0.001) and decreased the observed hypoglycaemia rate from 4.3% of ICU patient-days to 3.4% (p < 0.001). Hypoglycaemic events were frequently recurrent or prolonged (~40%), and these events are not identified by the hypoglycaemic patient-day metric, which also may be confounded by a large number of very low risk or minimally monitored patient-days.

CONCLUSIONS

Documentation of point-of-care blood glucose measurement errors likely overestimates ICU hypoglycaemia rates and can be reduced by a quality improvement effort. The currently used hypoglycaemic patient-day metric does not evaluate recurrent or prolonged events that may be more likely to cause patient harm. The monitored patient-day as currently defined may not be the optimal denominator to determine inpatient hypoglycaemic risk.

Impact of a hypoglycemia reduction bundle and a systems approach to inpatient glycemic management

OBJECTIVE

Uncontrolled hyperglycemia and iatrogenic hypoglycemia represent common and frequently preventable quality and safety issues. We sought to demonstrate the effectiveness of a hypoglycemia reduction bundle, proactive surveillance of glycemic outliers, and an interdisciplinary data-driven approach to glycemic management.

METHODS

POPULATION

all hospitalized adult non-intensive care unit (non-ICU) patients with hyperglycemia and/or a diagnosis of diabetes admitted to our 550-bed academic center across 5 calendar years (CYs).

INTERVENTIONS

hypoglycemia reduction bundle targeting most common remediable contributors to iatrogenic hypoglycemia; clinical decision support in standardized order sets and glucose management pages; measure-vention (daily measurement of glycemic outliers with concurrent intervention by the inpatient diabetes team); educational programs.

MEASURES AND ANALYSIS

Pearson chi-square value with relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to compare glycemic control, hypoglycemia, and hypoglycemia management parameters across the baseline time period (TP1, CY 2009-2010), transitional (TP2, CY 2011-2012), and mature postintervention phase (TP3, CY 2013). Hypoglycemia defined as blood glucose <70 mg/dL, severe hypoglycemia as <40 mg/dL, and severe hyperglycemia >299 mg/dL.

RESULTS

A total of 22,990 non-ICU patients, representing 94,900 patient-days of observation were included over the 5-year study. The RR TP3:TP1 for glycemic excursions was reduced significantly: hypoglycemic stay, 0.71 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.79); severe hypoglycemic stay, 0.44 (95% CI, 0.34 to 0.58); recurrent hypoglycemic day during stay, 0.78 (95% CI, 0.64 to 0.94); severe hypoglycemic day, 0.48 (95% CI, 0.37 to 0.62); severe hyperglycemic day (>299 mg/dL), 0.76 (95% CI, 0.73 to 0.80).

CONCLUSION

Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia event rates were both improved, with the most marked effect on severe hypoglycemic events. Most of these interventions should be portable to other hospitals.

Efficacy and feasibility of basal-bolus insulin regimens and a discharge-strategy in hospitalised patients with type 2 diabetes--the HOSMIDIA study

AIMS

Guidelines recommend use of basal-bolus insulin in hospitalised patients with hyperglycaemia, but information about implementation and medication reconciliation at discharge is scarce. The HOSMIDIA study evaluated a management program involving basal-bolus insulin and an algorithm for medication reconciliation at discharge in non-critically ill hospitalised patients with type 2 diabetes in clinical practice.

METHODS

HOSMIDIA was a prospective, observational study performed during routine clinical practice at 15 Spanish hospitals during hospitalisation, with follow-up 3 months postdischarge. Study patients (n = 134) received a basal-bolus regimen with insulin glargine during hospitalisation and treatment at discharge was adjusted according to a simple algorithm. The control group (n = 62) included patients with similar characteristics hospitalised during the month before study initiation and had no follow-up after discharge.

RESULTS

Compared with control subjects, patients in the prospective study achieved lower mean total (167.7 ± 41.1 vs. 190.5 ± 53.3 mg/dl) preprandial (164.2 ± 42.4 vs. 189.6 ± 52.6 mg/dl; p < 0.001) and fasting (137.0 ± 42.2 vs. 165.8 ± 56.5 mg/dl) blood glucose levels while hospitalised, without increased hypoglycaemic episodes (17.7% vs. 19.3% patients). In the prospective study, glycaemic control improved from admission to discharge, with control maintained 3 months after discharge. The main treatment modification at discharge compared with admission was addition of basal insulin, and treatment at discharge was maintained at 3 months in 89% of patients.

CONCLUSION

The HOSMIDIA study confirmed that management of hyperglycaemia with basal-bolus insulin is feasible and effective in routine clinical practice, and that a simple strategy facilitating the reconciliation of medication on discharge can improve glycaemic control postdischarge.

Pharmacotherapy for Hyperglycemia in Noncritically Ill Hospitalized Patients

In Brief Hyperglycemia in the hospital setting affects 38-46% of noncritically ill hospitalized patients. Evidence from observational studies indicates that inpatient hyperglycemia, in patients with and without diabetes, is associated with increased risks of complications and mortality. Substantial evidence indicates that correction of hyperglycemia through insulin administration reduces hospital complications and mortality in critically ill patients, as well as in general medicine and surgery patients. This article provides a review of the evidence on the different therapies available for hyperglycemia management in noncritically ill hospitalized patients.

Best Practices for Interdisciplinary Care Management by Hospital Glycemic Teams: Results of a Society of Hospital Medicine Survey Among 19 U.S. Hospitals

Objective. The Society for Hospital Medicine (SHM) conducted a survey of U.S. hospital systems to determine how nonphysician providers (NPPs) are utilized in interdisciplinary glucose management teams. Methods. An online survey grouped 50 questions into broad categories related to team functions. Queries addressed strategies that had proven successful, as well as challenges encountered. Fifty surveys were electronically distributed with an invitation to respond. A subset of seven respondents identified as having active glycemic committees that met at least every other month also participated in an in-depth telephone interview conducted by an SHM Glycemic Advisory Panel physician and NPP to obtain further details. The survey and interviews were conducted from May to July 2012. Results. Nineteen hospital/hospital system teams completed the survey (38% response rate). Most of the teams (52%) had existed for 1-5 years and served 90-100% of noncritical care, medical critical care, and surgical units. All of the glycemic control teams were supported by the use of protocols for insulin infusion, basal-bolus subcutaneous insulin orders, and hypoglycemia management. However, > 20% did not have protocols for discontinuation of oral hypoglycemic agents on admission or for transition from intravenous to subcutaneous insulin infusion. About 30% lacked protocols assessing A1C during the admission or providing guidance for insulin pump management. One-third reported that glycemic triggers led to preauthorized consultation or assumption of care for hyperglycemia. Institutional knowledge assessment programs were common for nurses (85%); intermediate for pharmacists, nutritionists, residents, and students (40-45%); and uncommon for fellows (25%) and attending physicians (20%). Many institutions were not monitoring appropriate use of insulin, oral agents, or insulin protocol utilization. Although the majority of teams had a process in place for post-discharge referrals and specific written instructions were provided, only one-fourth were supported with written protocols to standardize medication, education, equipment, and follow-up instructions. Conclusion. Inpatient glycemic control teams with NPPs often function in environments without a full set of measurement, education, standardization, transition, and order tools. Executive hospital leaders, community partners, and the glycemic control teams themselves need to address these deficiencies to optimize team effectiveness.

Medanta insulin protocols in patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Hyperglycemia is common in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and is associated with poor outcomes. This is a review of the perioperative insulin protocol being used at Medanta, the Medicity, which has a large volume cardiac surgery setup. Preoperatively, patients are usually continued on their preoperative outpatient medications. Intravenous insulin infusion is intiated postoperatively and titrated using a column method with a choice of 7 scales. Insulin dose is calculated as a factor of blood glucose and patient's estimated insulin sensitivity. A comparison of this protocol is presented with other commonly used protocols. Since arterial blood gas analysis is done every 4 hours for first two days after cardiac surgery, automatic data collection from blood gas analyzer to a central database enables collection of glucose data and generating glucometrics. Data auditing has helped in improving performance through protocol modification.

Design and implementation of a web-based reporting and benchmarking center for inpatient glucometrics

Insulin is a top source of adverse drug events in the hospital, and glycemic control is a focus of improvement efforts across the country. Yet, the majority of hospitals have no data to gauge their performance on glycemic control, hypoglycemia rates, or hypoglycemic management. Current tools to outsource glucometrics reports are limited in availability or function. Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) faculty designed and implemented a web-based data and reporting center that calculates glucometrics on blood glucose data files securely uploaded by users. Unit labels, care type (critical care, non-critical care), and unit type (eg, medical, surgical, mixed, pediatrics) are defined on upload allowing for robust, flexible reporting. Reports for any date range, care type, unit type, or any combination of units are available on demand for review or downloading into a variety of file formats. Four reports with supporting graphics depict glycemic control, hypoglycemia, and hypoglycemia management by patient day or patient stay. Benchmarking and performance ranking reports are generated periodically for all hospitals in the database. In all, 76 hospitals have uploaded at least 12 months of data for non-critical care areas and 67 sites have uploaded critical care data. Critical care benchmarking reveals wide variability in performance. Some hospitals achieve top quartile performance in both glycemic control and hypoglycemia parameters. This new web-based glucometrics data and reporting tool allows hospitals to track their performance with a flexible reporting system, and provides them with external benchmarking. Tools like this help to establish standardized glucometrics and performance standards.

Statistical transformation and the interpretation of inpatient glucose control data from the intensive care unit

Glucose control can be problematic in critically ill patients. We evaluated the impact of statistical transformation on interpretation of intensive care unit inpatient glucose control data. Point-of-care blood glucose (POC-BG) data derived from patients in the intensive care unit for 2011 was obtained. Box-Cox transformation of POC-BG measurements was performed, and distribution of data was determined before and after transformation. Different data subsets were used to establish statistical upper and lower control limits. Exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control charts constructed from April, October, and November data determined whether out-of-control events could be identified differently in transformed versus nontransformed data. A total of 8679 POC-BG values were analyzed. POC-BG distributions in nontransformed data were skewed but approached normality after transformation. EWMA control charts revealed differences in projected detection of out-of-control events. In April, an out-of-control process resulting in the lower control limit being exceeded was identified at sample 116 in nontransformed data but not in transformed data. October transformed data detected an out-of-control process exceeding the upper control limit at sample 27 that was not detected in nontransformed data. Nontransformed November results remained in control, but transformation identified an out-of-control event less than 10 samples into the observation period. Using statistical methods to assess population-based glucose control in the intensive care unit could alter conclusions about the effectiveness of care processes for managing hyperglycemia. Further study is required to determine whether transformed versus nontransformed data change clinical decisions about the interpretation of care or intervention results.

The association of hospital characteristics and quality improvement activities in inpatient medical services

BACKGROUND

Quality of U.S. health care has been the focus of increasing attention, with deficiencies in patient care well recognized and documented. However, relatively little is known about the extent to which hospitals engage in quality improvement activities (QIAs) or factors influencing extent of QIAs.

OBJECTIVE

To identify 1) the extent of QIAs in Veterans Administration (VA) inpatient medical services; and 2) factors associated with widespread adoption of QIAs, in particular use of hospitalists, non-physician providers, and extent of goal alignment between the inpatient service and senior managers on commitment to quality.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, descriptive study of QIAs using a survey administered to Chiefs of Medicine (COM) at all 124 VA acute care hospitals. We conducted hierarchical regression, regressing QIA use on facility contextual variables, followed by use of hospitalists, non-physician providers, and goal alignment/quality commitment.

MAIN MEASURES

Outcome measures pertained to use of a set of 27 QIAs and to three dimensions--infrastructure, prevention, and information gathering--that were identified by factor analysis among the 27 QIAs overall.

KEY RESULTS

Survey response rate was 90 % (111/124). Goal alignment/quality commitment was associated with more widespread use of all four QIA categories [infrastructure (b = 0.42; p < 0.001); prevention (b = 0.24; p < 0.001); information gathering (b = 0.28; p = <0.001); and overall QIA (b = 0.31; p < 0.001)], as was greater use of hospitalists [infrastructure (b = 0.55; p = 0.03); prevention (b = 0.61; p < 0.001); information gathering (b = 0.75; p = 0.01); and overall QIAs (b = 0.61; p < 0.001)]; higher occupancy rate was associated with greater infrastructure QIAs (b = 1.05, p = 0.02). Non-physician provider use, hospital size, university affiliation, and geographic region were not associated with QIAs.

CONCLUSION

As hospitals respond to changes in healthcare (e.g., pay for performance, accountable care organizations), this study suggests that practices such as use of hospitalists and leadership focus on goal alignment/quality commitment may lead to greater implementation of QIAs.

Hypoglycemia in Insulin-Treated Adults on Established Nasogastric Feeding in the General Ward: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

This study aimed to address 2 questions: First, what are the existing summary statistics of frequency of hypoglycemia in insulin-treated adults on established nasogastric feeding in the general ward? Second, to what extent does lack of homogeneity in defining, identifying, and reporting hypoglycemia affect these statistics?

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature documenting hypoglycemia in insulin-treated adults on nasogastric feeding for ≥ 3 days in the general ward was carried out. Data sources were PubMed, Embase, ProQuest, Cochrane, Directory of Open Access Journals, and PLoS. Search period was 1999 onward, postdating introduction of analog insulin.

RESULTS

Initially, 231 studies were identified, with 9 judged suitable for inclusion, according to inclusion/exclusion criteria. All included studies had as their primary objective the assessment of efficacy of insulin/feed regimens in the target population. Studies exhibited major heterogeneity. Definitions of hypoglycemia varied from < 60 mg/dL (3.3 mmol/L) to < 80 mg/dL (4.4 mmol/L), and 5 methods of reporting frequency of hypoglycemia were utilized, precluding pooled analysis. A descriptive synthesis of results was generated with some comparable results presented on a modified forest plot, showing 2.1% to 10.2% of patients with a hypoglycemic event and 1.1% to 5.4% blood glucose level < 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L).

CONCLUSIONS

Hypoglycemia is not uncommon in this population, but further research is needed for quantification. Standardized documentation and reporting methods incorporating sample size and study duration, such as hypoglycemic events per patient-days, would facilitate interstudy comparisons, as would documentation of hypoglycemia at the 2 most commonly defined levels: < 63 mg/dL (3.5 mmol/L) and < 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L).

Inpatient hypoglycemia: a challenge that must be addressed

Hypoglycemia in the inpatient setting is a common occurrence with potentially harmful outcomes. Large trials in both the inpatient and outpatient settings have found a correlation between hypoglycemia and morbidity and mortality. The incidence of hypoglycemia is difficult to assess, due to a lack of standardized definitions and different methods of data collection between hospital systems. Risk factors that predispose to hypoglycemia involve the changing clinical statuses of patients, nutrition issues, and hospital processes. Mechanisms contributing to morbidity due to hypoglycemia may include an increase in sympathoadrenal responses, as well as indirect changes affecting cytokine production, coagulation, fibrinolysis, and endothelial function. Prevention of hypoglycemia requires implementation of several strategies that include patient safety, quality control, multidisciplinary communication, and transitions of care. In this article, we discuss all of these issues and provide suggestions to help predict and prevent hypoglycemic episodes during an inpatient stay. We address the issues that occur upon admission, during the hospital stay, and around the time of discharge. We believe that decreasing the incidence of inpatient hypoglycemia will both decrease costs and improve patient outcomes.

Safety and efficacy of sitagliptin therapy for the inpatient management of general medicine and surgery patients with type 2 diabetes: a pilot, randomized, controlled study

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the safety and efficacy of sitagliptin (Januvia) for the inpatient management of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in general medicine and surgery patients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this pilot, multicenter, open-label, randomized study, patients (n = 90) with a known history of T2D treated with diet, oral antidiabetic agents, or low total daily dose of insulin (≤0.4 units/kg/day) were randomized to receive sitagliptin alone or in combination with glargine insulin (glargine) or to a basal bolus insulin regimen (glargine and lispro) plus supplemental (correction) doses of lispro. Major study outcomes included differences in daily blood glucose (BG), frequency of treatment failures (defined as three or more consecutive BG >240 mg/dL or a mean daily BG >240 mg/dL), and hypoglycemia between groups.

RESULTS

Glycemic control improved similarly in all treatment groups. There were no differences in the mean daily BG after the 1st day of treatment (P = 0.23), number of readings within a BG target of 70 and 140 mg/dL (P = 0.53), number of BG readings >200 mg/dL (P = 0.23), and number of treatment failures (P > 0.99). The total daily insulin dose and number of insulin injections were significantly less in the sitagliptin groups compared with the basal bolus group (both P < 0.001). There were no differences in length of hospital stay (P = 0.78) or in the number of hypoglycemic events between groups (P = 0.86).

CONCLUSIONS

Results of this pilot indicate that treatment with sitagliptin alone or in combination with basal insulin is safe and effective for the management of hyperglycemia in general medicine and surgery patients with T2D.

Is incretin-based therapy ready for the care of hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes?: Insulin therapy has proven itself and is considered the mainstay of treatment

Significant data suggest that overt hyperglycemia, either observed with or without a prior diagnosis of diabetes, contributes to an increase in mortality and morbidity in hospitalized patients. In this regard, goal-directed insulin therapy has remained as the standard of care for achieving and maintaining glycemic control in hospitalized patients with critical and noncritical illness. As such, protocols to assist in management of hyperglycemia in the inpatient setting have become commonplace in hospital settings. Clearly, insulin is a known entity, has been in clinical use for almost a century, and is effective. However, there are limitations to its use. Based on the observed mechanisms of action and efficacy, there has been a great interest in using incretin-based therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists instead of, or complementary to, an insulin-based approach to improve glycemic control in hospitalized, severely ill diabetic patients. To provide an understanding of both sides of the argument, we provide a discussion of this topic as part of this two-part point-counterpoint narrative. In the point narrative preceding the counterpoint narrative below, Drs. Schwartz and DeFronzo provide an opinion that now is the time to consider GLP-1 receptor agonists as a logical consideration for inpatient glycemic control. In the counterpoint narrative provided below, Drs. Umpierrez and Korytkowski provide a defense of insulin in the inpatient setting as the unquestioned gold standard for glycemic management in hospitalized settings.

Pathways to quality inpatient management of hyperglycemia and diabetes: a call to action

Currently patients with diabetes comprise up to 25-30% of the census of adult wards and critical care units in our hospitals. Although evidence suggests that avoidance of hyperglycemia (>180 mg/dL) and hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL) is beneficial for positive outcomes in the hospitalized patient, much of this evidence remains controversial and at times somewhat contradictory. We have recently formed a consortium for Planning Research in Inpatient Diabetes (PRIDE) with the goal of promoting clinical research in the area of management of hyperglycemia and diabetes in the hospital. In this article, we outline eight aspects of inpatient glucose management in which randomized clinical trials are needed. We refer to four as system-based issues and four as patient-based issues. We urge further progress in the science of inpatient diabetes management. We hope this call to action is supported by the American Diabetes Association, The Endocrine Society, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Heart Association, the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, the International Diabetes Federation, and the Society of Hospital Medicine. Appropriate federal research funding in this area will help ensure high-quality investigations, the results of which will advance the field. Future clinical trials will allow practitioners to develop optimal approaches for the management of hyperglycemia in the hospitalized patient and lessen the economic and human burden of poor glycemic control and its associated complications and comorbidities in the inpatient setting.

Trends in glycemic control over a 2-year period in 126 US hospitals

BACKGROUND

Cross-sectional data on inpatient glucose control in a large sample of US hospitals are now available, but little is known about changes in glycemic control over time in these institutions.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate trends in glycemic control in US hospitals over 2 years.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis.

METHODS

Point-of-care blood glucose (POC-BG) test results at 126 hospitals during January to December 2007 and January to December 2009 were extracted using the Remote Automated Laboratory System-Plus (Medical Automation Systems, Charlottesville, VA), and patient-day-weighted mean glucose levels were compared.

SETTING/PATIENTS

Hospitalized patients.

RESULTS

A total of 12,541,929 POC-BG measurements from 1,010,705 patients were analyzed for 2007, and 10,659,418 POC-BG measurements from 656,206 patients were analyzed for 2009. Patient-day-weighted mean POC-BG in 2009 decreased by 5 mg/dL in the non-intensive care unit (non-ICU) data compared with that in 2007 (154 mg/dL vs 159 mg/dL, respectively; P < 0.001). However, POC-BG values were clinically unchanged in intensive care unit (ICU) data from 2009 vs 2007 (167 mg/dL vs 166 mg/dL; P < 0.001). From 2007 to 2009, the proportion of patient-day-weighted mean POC-BGs that were >180 mg/dL declined from 28% to 25% in non-ICU patients (P < 0.001), but not in ICU. Decreases in patient-day-weighted mean POC-BG values in non-ICU patients were significant regardless of hospital size, type, and geographic region (all P < 0.001), but similar decreases were not found in ICU data.

CONCLUSIONS

In this first analysis of glucose changes in US hospitals, improvements over 2 years occurred in non-ICU patients. Ongoing analysis will determine whether this trend continues.

2011 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards. Mentored implementation: building leaders and achieving results through a collaborative improvement model. Innovation in patient safety and quality at the national level

BACKGROUND

The Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) created "Mentored Implementation" (MI) programs with the dual aims of educating and mentoring hospitalists and their quality improvement (QI) teams and accelerating improvement in the inpatient setting in three signature programs: Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Prevention, Glycemic Control, and Project BOOST (Better Outcomes for Older adults through Safe Transitions).

METHODS

More than 300 hospital improvement teams were enrolled in SHM MI programs in a series of cohorts. Hospitalist mentors worked with individual hospitals/health systems to guide local teams through the life cycle of a QI project. Implementation Guides and comprehensive Web-based "Resource Rooms," as well as the mentor's own experience, provided best-practice definitions, practical implementation tips, measurement strategies, and other tools. E-mail interactions and mentoring were augmented by regularly scheduled teleconferences; group webinars; and, in some instances, a site visit. Performance was tracked in a centralized data tracking center.

RESULTS

Preliminary data on all three MI programs show significant improvement in patient outcomes, as well as enhancements of communication and leadership skills of the hospitalists and their QI teams.

CONCLUSIONS

Although objective data on outcomes and process measures for the MI program's efficacy remain preliminary at this time, the maturing data tracking system, multiple awards, and early results indicate that the MI programs are successful in providing QI training and accelerating improvement efforts.

Update on inpatient glycemic control in hospitals in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To provide data on glucose control in hospitals in the United States, analyzing measurements from the largest number of facilities to date.

METHODS

Point-of-care bedside glucose (POC-BG) test results were extracted from 575 hospitals from January 2009 to December 2009 by using a laboratory information management system. Glycemic control for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU areas was assessed by calculating patient-day-weighted mean POC-BG values and rates of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. The relationship between POC-BG levels and hospital characteristics was determined.

RESULTS

A total of 49,191,313 POC-BG measurements (12,176,299 ICU and 37,015,014 non-ICU values) were obtained from 3,484,795 inpatients (653,359 in the ICU and 2,831,436 in non-ICU areas). The mean POC-BG was 167 mg/dL for ICU patients and 166 mg/dL for non-ICU patients. The prevalence of hyperglycemia (>180 mg/dL) was 32.2% of patient-days for ICU patients and 32.0% of patient-days for non-ICU patients. The prevalence of hypoglycemia (<70 mg/dL) was 6.3% of patient-days for ICU patients and 5.7% of patient-days for non-ICU patients. Patient-day-weighted mean POC-BG levels varied on the basis of hospital size (P<.01), type (P<.01), and geographic location (P<.01) for ICU and non-ICU patients, with larger hospitals (≥400 beds), academic hospitals, and US hospitals in the West having the lowest mean POC-BG values. The percentage of patient-days in the ICU characterized by hypoglycemia was highest among larger and academic hospitals (P<.05) and least among hospitals in the Northeast (P<.001).

CONCLUSION

Hyperglycemia is common in hospitals in the United States, and glycemic control may vary on the basis of hospital characteristics. Increased hospital participation in data collection may support a national benchmarking process for the development of optimal practices to manage inpatient hyperglycemia.

Comparison of 70/30 biphasic insulin with glargine/lispro regimen in non-critically ill diabetic patients on continuous enteral nutrition therapy

Despite significant advances in inpatient diabetes management, it is still a challenge to choose the safest and most efficacious subcutaneous insulin regimen for diabetic patients on continuous enteral nutrition (EN) therapy. The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of glycemic control in 22 non-critically ill diabetic patients, receiving at least 3 days of continuous EN. Patients received different insulin regimens while on continuous EN, including a basal/bolus glargine/lispro regimen (group 1, n = 8), 70/30 biphasic insulin twice daily (group 2, n = 8), and 70/30 biphasic insulin 3 times a day (group 3, n = 6). The glucose data from 72 hours from the initiation of EN were analyzed (12 point-of-contact glucose measurements per patient). Overall, the degree of control was comparable in all groups, with target range maintained more consistently in group 3 (70/30 insulin administered 3 times daily). In this group, 69% of values were in the target range (140-180 mg/dL) as compared with 24% in glargine/lispro group and 22% in the 70/30 insulin bid group. Eight hypoglycemic episodes occurred among the 3 groups: 5 episodes in group 1 (5.4%), 2 episodes in group 2 (2.1%), and 1 episode in group 3 (1.4%) (P = .05, groups 2 and 3 vs group 1). Administration of 70/30 biphasic insulin 3 times daily is a safe therapeutic regimen in diabetic patients on continuous EN as it maintains glycemia in the target range and might produce fewer episodes of hypoglycemia.

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Inpatient glucose control today is complex and challenging for the clinician. The importance of avoiding wide swings in the BG levels and hypoglycemic events cannot be underestimated. Nurses must be at the table as insulin protocols or physician order sets are being developed to address issues with readability and understanding. Education of all staff is extremely important with follow-up education at intervals for both nurses and physician providers. While there are no official guidelines for quality of inpatient glycemic control, a multidisciplinary team consisting of key physicians (endocrinology and others), clinical nurse specialists, and diabetes educator and clinical pharmacist can develop quality improvement projects for monitoring and process improvement. Continuous monitoring of practices will reduce the risk for errors and support safe practices.

Obstacles to optimal management of inpatient hyperglycemia in noncritically ill patients

Compelling evidence continues to evolve linking hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients with adverse clinical outcomes. In 2012, The Endocrine Society's clinical practice guidelines for management of hyperglycemia in non-critical care settings were published, and explicit blood glucose targets for noncritically ill patients were recommended. These matched those set by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in the Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes--2012. Although there are more specific targets for achieving optimal glycemic control in critically ill and noncritically ill inpatients, implementing standardized processes to achieve these goals continues to remain a challenge. This article summarizes these obstacles and emphasizes the quality of care and safety issues (eg, hypoglycemia and insulin errors) that are associated with the management of hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients. The use of intravenous insulin via computerized or manual standardized protocols in critically ill patients has been shown to be effective in achieving glucose control; we focus on the barriers to the appropriate use of subcutaneous insulin in hospitalized patients with noncritical illness. We also elaborate on how to overcome most of these obstacles and the clinical inertia to treat hyperglycemia through focused education and surveillance, and then "re-education," using a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach. Transition from intravenous insulin to subcutaneous insulin, and transition from an inpatient to an outpatient glycemic regimen at the time of discharge, are identified as aspects of management that require extra attention. We also emphasize the need for a multidisciplinary task force responsible for monitoring and enhancing glycemic control practices in the hospital on an ongoing basis.

Assessing inpatient glycemic control: what are the next steps?

Despite the emergence of glucometrics (i.e., systematic analysis of data on blood glucose levels of inpatients) as a subject of high interest, there remains a lack of standardization on how glucose parameters are measured and reported. This dilemma must be resolved before a national benchmarking process can be developed that will allow institutions to track and compare inpatient glucose control performance against established guidelines and that can also be supported by quality care organizations. In this article, we review some of the questions that need to be resolved through consensus and review of the evidence, and discuss some of the limitations in analyzing and reporting inpatient glucose data that must be addressed (or at least accepted as limitations) before hospitals can commit resources to gathering, compiling, and presenting inpatient glucose statistics as a health care quality measure. Standards must include consensus on which measures to report, the unit of analysis, definitions of targets for hyperglycemia treatment, a definition of hypoglycemia, determination of how data should be gathered (from chart review or from laboratory information systems), and which type of sample (blood or point of care) should be used for analysis of glycemic control. Hospitals and/or their representatives should be included in the discussion. For inpatient glucose control to remain a focus of interest, further dialogue and consensus on the topic are needed.

Effects of an educational program and a standardized insulin order form on glycemic outcomes in non-critically ill hospitalized patients

BACKGROUND

The optimal approach to managing hyperglycemia in noncritically ill hospital patients is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of targeted quality improvement interventions on insulin prescribing and glycemic control.

DESIGN

A cohort study comparing an intervention group (IG) to a concurrent control group (CCG) and an historic control group (HCG).

SETTING

University of Michigan Hospital.

PATIENTS

Hyperglycemic, noncritically ill hospital patients treated with insulin.

INTERVENTION

Physician and nurse education and a standardized insulin order form based on the principles of physiologic insulin use.

MEASUREMENTS

Glycemic control and insulin prescribing patterns.

RESULTS

Patients in the IG were more likely to be treated with a combination of scheduled basal and nutritional insulin than in the other groups. In the final adjusted regression model, patients in the IG were more likely to be in the target glucose range (odds ratio [OR], 1.72; P = 0.01) and less likely to be severely hyperglycemic (OR, 0.65; P < 0.01) when compared to those in the CCG. Patients in the IG were also less likely to experience hypoglycemia than those in the CCG (P = 0.06) or the HCG (P = 0.01). Over 80% of all patient-days for all groups contained glucose readings outside of the target range.

CONCLUSIONS

Standardized interventions encouraging the physiologic use of subcutaneous insulin can lead to significant improvements in glycemic control and patient safety in hospitalized patients. However, the observed improvements are modest, and poor metabolic control remains common, despite these interventions. Additional research is needed to determine the best strategy for safely achieving metabolic control in these patients.

The role of the hospitalist in quality improvement: systems for improving the care of patients with acute coronary syndrome

Quality improvement (QI) initiatives for systems of care are vital to deliver quality care for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and hospitalists are instrumental to the QI process. Core hospitalist competencies include the development of protocols and outcomes measures that support quality of care measures established for ACS. The hospitalist may lead, coordinate, or participate in a multidisciplinary team that designs, implements, and assesses an institutional system of care to address rapid identification of patients with ACS, medication safety, safe discharge, and meeting core measures that are quality benchmarks for ACS. The use of metrics and tools such as process flow mapping and run charts can identify quality gaps and show progress toward goals. These tools may be used to assess whether critical timeframes are met, such as the time to fibrinolysis or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), or whether patients receive guideline-recommended medications and counseling. At the institutional level, Project BOOST (Better Outcomes for Older Adults Through Safe Transitions) is an initiative designed to improve outcomes in elderly patients who are at higher risk for adverse events during the transition from inpatient to outpatient care. BOOST offers resources related to project management and data collection, and tools for patients and physicians. Collection and analysis of objective data are essential for documenting quality gaps or achievement of quality benchmarks. Through QI initiatives, the hospitalist has an opportunity to contribute to an institution's success beyond direct patient care, particularly as required for public disclosure of institutional performance and financial incentives promoted by regulatory agencies.

Differences in hospital glycemic control and insulin requirements in patients recovering from critical illness and those without prior critical illness

Introduction

Hospital patients recovering from critical illness on general floors often receive insulin therapy based on protocols designed for patients admitted directly to general floors. The objective of this study is to compare glycemic control and insulin dosing in patients recovering from critical illness and those without prior critical illness.

Methods

Medical record review of blood glucose measurements and insulin dosing in 25 patients under general ward care while transitioning from the intensive care unit (transition group) and 25 patients admitted directly to the floor (direct floor group).

Results

Average blood glucose did not differ significantly between groups (transition group 9.49 mmol/L, direct floor group 9.6 mmol/L; P = 0.83). Significant differences in insulin requirements were observed between groups with average daily doses of 55.9 units in patients transitioning from the intensive care unit (ICU) versus 25.6 units in the direct floor group (P = 0.004).

Conclusions

Patients recovering from critical illness required significantly larger doses of insulin than those patients admitted directly to the floor. Managing insulin therapy in patients transitioning from the ICU may require greater insulin doses.

Effects of a computerized order set on the inpatient management of hyperglycemia: a cluster-randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of a computerized order set on the inpatient management of diabetes and hyperglycemia.

METHODS

We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial on the general medical service of an academic medical center staffed by residents and hospitalists. Consecutively enrolled patients with diabetes mellitus or inpatient hyperglycemia were randomized on the basis of their medical team to usual care (control group) or an admission order set built into the hospital's computer provider order entry (CPOE) system (intervention group). All teams received a detailed subcutaneous insulin protocol and case-based education. The primary outcome was the mean percent of glucose readings per patient between 60 and 180 mg/dL.

RESULTS

Between April 5 and June 22, 2006, we identified 179 eligible study subjects. The mean percent of glucose readings per patient between 60 and 180 mg/dL was 75% in the intervention group and 71% in the usual care group (adjusted relative risk, 1.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 1.80). In comparison with usual care, the intervention group also had a lower patient-day weighted mean glucose (148 mg/dL versus 158 mg/dL, P = .04), less use of sliding-scale insulin by itself (25% versus 58%, P = .01), and no significant difference in the rate of severe hypoglycemia (glucose <40 mg/dL; 0.5% versus 0.3% of patient-days, P = .58).

CONCLUSION

The use of an order set built into a hospital's CPOE system led to improvements in glycemic control and insulin ordering without causing a significant increase in hypoglycemia. Other institutions with CPOE should consider adopting similar order sets as part of a comprehensive inpatient glycemic management program.