Inpatient diabetes education is associated with less frequent hospital readmission among patients with poor glycemic control

Diabetes Care in A Safety Net Hospital: Impact of a Pharmacist Transitional Care Service

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is associated with increased risk of hospital readmission and imposes a significant economic burden on patients and healthcare systems. Literature suggests that pharmacist-led transitions-of-care (TOC) services reduce hospital readmissions and improve patient outcomes and data within safety-net hospitals is limited.

METHODS

This was a single-center evaluation to assess the impact of pharmacist-led diabetes TOC services on hospital readmissions among diabetes patients vs standard care (SC). The evaluation included patients admitted from 11/1/2021-2/28/2022 and 10/19/2022-2/28/2023 who had a primary diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, were admitted for a diabetes-related reason, or were seen by the endocrine consult service during admission. The primary outcome was 30-day readmissions. Secondary outcomes included time to readmission, readmission diagnosis, changes in HbA1c, completion of follow-up visits, and number of pharmacist interventions at follow-up.

RESULTS

There were 109 patients included (TOC n = 65; SC n = 44) and 13.8% (9/65) of TOC and 18.2% (8/44) of SC patients readmitted within 30 days (P = .235). Average time to readmission was 15.3 days in the TOC and 10.4 days in the SC cohorts. There were no diabetes-related readmissions in the TOC cohort. Over 60% (5/8) of readmissions in the SC cohort were diabetes-related. The average change in HbA1c was -2.5% in the TOC cohort and -1.2% in the SC cohort, P = .046. Approximately 51% of TOC patients completed an outpatient follow-up visit and nearly 70% of those patients had an intervention made at that time.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacist-led diabetes TOC services within a safety-net hospital may reduce hospital readmissions and improve clinical outcomes.

Time trend and costs of hospitalizations with diabetes mellitus as main diagnosis in the Brazilian National Health System, 2011 to 2019

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the diabetes mellitus (DM) temporal trend and hospitalization costs in Brazil, by region, Federative Units (FUs) and population characteristics, from 2011 to 2019.

METHODS

This was an ecological study with data from the Hospital Information System, analyzing the annual trend in hospitalization rates for DM according to sex, age, race/skin color and region/FU by Prais-Winsten generalized linear regression.

RESULTS

A total of 1,239,574 DM hospitalizations were recorded in the country and the hospitalization rates was 6.77/10,000 inhabitants in the period. The DM hospitalization rates trend was falling for both sexes and in most regions, while it was rising in the younger population and for length of stay (average 6.17 days). Total expenditure was US$ 420,692.23 and it showed a rising trend.

CONCLUSION

The temporal trend of hospitalization rates due to DM was falling, with differences according to region/FU and age group. Average length of stay and expenditure showed a rising trend.

MAIN RESULTS

From 2011 to 2019, the diabetes mellitus hospitalization rate was 6.77 per 10,000 inhabitants, with a falling trend. Total expenditure was US$420,692.23 and it showed a rising trend.

IMPLICATIONS FOR SERVICES

The study warns of the increase in child and adolescent hospitalizations, which indicates the need to invest in preventive actions and early diagnosis.

PERSPECTIVES

The increase in length of hospital stay and related costs indicates a worrying scenario for the Brazilian National Health System and emphasizes the need to improve access to and quality of care, with a focus on diabetes education, so as to avoid complications and hospitalizations.

Effect of Exercise Therapy on Incident Admission in Patients with Type 2Diabetes Mellitus Undergoing Inpatient Diabetes Self-manageme ntEducation and Support

BACKGROUND

Exercise therapy is the key to preventing admission of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, a few studies have examined the effects of exercise therapy on patients with T2DM undergoing inpatient diabetes self-management education and support (IDSMES).

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated whether exercise therapy influenced the incidence of admission after discharge in patients with T2DM undergoing IDSMES.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included patients with T2DM who underwent IDSMES between June 2011 and May 2015. Overall, 258 patients were included in this study. The exercise therapy program was implemented in June 2013. Accordingly, patients diagnosed between June 2011 and May 2013 were categorized as the non-exercise therapy program group, while those diagnosed between June 2013 and May 2015 were categorized as the exercise therapy program group. Outcomes were incident diabetes-related and all-cause admissions within 1 year of discharge. Multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the exercise therapy program's impact on the outcomes.

RESULTS

Within 1 year of discharge, 27 (10.5%) patients underwent diabetes-related admissions and 62 (24.0%) underwent all-cause admissions. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed a significant association of the exercise therapy program with incident diabetes-related and allcause admissions [OR: 0.22 (95% CI: 0.08-0.59) and 0.44 (95% CI: 0.22-0.86), respectively].

CONCLUSION

Exercise therapy programs significantly lowered the incidences of diabetes-related and all-cause admissions. This indicates that implementing exercise therapy during hospitalization may be important for preventing admissions of patients with T2DM receiving IDSMES.

Prevalence, characteristics, and impact on health outcomes of frailty in elderly outpatients with diabetes: A cross-sectional study

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of frailty and its relationship with health outcomes in elderly outpatients attending a Diabetes Specialist Clinic. This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 168 elderly patients (aged 65 years and above) attending the Diabetes Specialist Clinic of a Three-A hospital of Sichuan province were recruited from January 2021 to February 2021, and follow-up was conducted 1 year after day of screening. Baseline characteristics of patients were collected and frail status were assessed at recruitment. The longitudinal outcomes included hospitalization, fall, mortality, emergency visit, and clinic visit. The presence of frailty was determined by the 5-item FRAIL scale, which ranges from 0 to 5 and are categorized as frail (3-5), prefrail (1-2), and robust (0). A phone questionnaire was carried out to obtain health outcomes. Logistic regression analyses was used to evaluate adverse health outcomes at 1 year follow-up. Of the 168 outpatients, 28.0% was robust, 49.4% was prefrail, and 22.6% was frail. Frailty (both prefrail and frail status) was more prevalent in those patients, which were 75 years old and above (57.0%; P < .001), insulin dependent (45.6%; P = .008), and those had diabetic complications (43.8%; P = .005), previous admission (68.6%; P = .016), and co-morbidities (36.4%; P = .001). In the following year after recruitment, 19.1% of robust patients were hospitalized, while the proportion was 45.8% for prefrail patients and 65.8% for frail patients. Prefrail (OR [odds ratio] = 2.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.63-2.88; P = .028) and frail (OR = 4.63, 95% CI 2.52-5.81; P = .005) patients were more likely to be hospitalized. Frail (OR = 3.37, 95% CI 2.68-4.04; P < .001) patients were more inclined to fall while prefrail patients (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.82-1.56; P = .371) were not. Moreover, prefrail (OR = 3.37, 95% CI 2.31-5.72; P = .017) and frail (OR = 4.29, 95% CI 3.16-5.54; P = .006) patients were more likely to return to the clinic. There is a high incidence of frailty among elderly patients attending a Diabetes Specialist Clinic. Frailty is a predictor of hospitalization, fall, and clinic visits within 1 year.

Development of a tool to estimate sugar and caloric contents in alcoholic beverages for a diabetes self-management program in Thailand

Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) is recommended as a standard of care for patients with diabetes worldwide. Alcohol consumption is one aspect mentioned within the DSMES program in Thailand where alcohol consumption is the highest among Southeast Asian countries. Many diabetes guidelines suggest limiting alcohol intake to not more than one standard drink per day for adult women and two for adult men if they cannot abstain from drinking. In practice, however, the conversion of alcohol consumption into standard drinks, and nutritional information about the calorie and sugar contents of alcoholic beverages, especially domestically produced spirits, are not commonly available in Thailand. By reviewing the diabetes guidelines internationally and the Thailand alcoholic beverage industry, a visual health education tool to help convert different alcoholic beverages into standard drinks and to provide the calorie and sugar content of alcoholic beverages was developed as a part of the DSMES program. It was finalized following pilot testing and focus group discussions with policymakers, healthcare providers, and type 2 diabetes patients. The personalized counseling tool, integrated with guidelines and culturally tailored to the Thai setting is distributed to counselors/educators. It is a potentially useful tool for patients to make informed choices for their self-management of diabetes.

Hospital Readmission in Patients With Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Prevalence, Causes, and Outcomes

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the rate of readmission in patients affected by diabetes and foot ulcers (DFUs), and causes and outcomes of patients requiring a new hospitalization. The current study is a retrospective observational study including patients who have required hospitalization since January 2019 to September 2022 due to a DFU. Once patients were discharged, they were regularly followed as outpatients. Within 6 months of follow-up, the rate of hospital readmission for a diabetic foot problem was recorded. According to the readmission or not, patients were divided into 2 groups, readmitted and not readmitted patients, respectively. Hence, all patients were followed for 6 months more and outcomes of the 2 groups were analyzed and compared. Overall, 310 patients were included. The mean age was 68  ±  12 years, the majority of patients reported type 2 diabetes (>90%), and the mean diabetes duration was approximately 20 years. Sixty-eight (21.9%) patients were readmitted. The main reason for hospital readmission was the presence of critical limb ischemia (CLI) in the contralateral limb (6.1%), the recurrence of CLI in the previous treated limb (4.5%), and the onset of new infected DFU in the contralateral foot (4.5%). Readmitted patients reported lower rate of healing (51.5% vs 89.2%, P < .0001) and higher rate of major amputation (10.3% vs 4.5%, P  =  .2) in comparison to not readmitted patients. Critical limb ischemia resulted in the only independent predictor of hospital readmission. Hospital readmission is a frequent issue among patients with DFUs, and readmitted patients showed a lower chance of wound healing. Critical limb ischemia resulted in the main cause of new hospitalization.

Development of Quality Measures for Inpatient Diabetes Care and Education Specialists: A Call to Action

ABSTRACT

Diabetes and hyperglycemia are associated with an increased risk of in-hospital complications that lead to longer lengths of stay, increased morbidity, higher mortality, and risk of readmission. Diabetes care and education specialists (DCESs) working in hospital settings are uniquely prepared and credentialed to serve as content experts to facilitate change and implement processes and programs to improve glycemic-related outcomes. A recent survey of DCESs explored the topic of productivity and clinical metrics. Outcomes highlighted the need to better evaluate the impact and value of inpatient DCESs, advocate for the role, and to expand diabetes care and education teams to optimize outcomes. The purpose of this article was to recommend strategies and metrics that can be used to quantify the work of inpatient DCESs and describe how such metrics can help to show the value of the inpatient DCES and assist in making a business case for the role.

Implication of Peripheral Neuropathy on Unplanned Readmissions in Patients Hospitalized for Complicated Diabetic Foot Disease

Introduction. Unplanned readmissions are common following discharge in patients after hospitalization for diabetic foot disease (DFD) complications. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with readmissions in these high-risk patients, treated in a multidisciplinary setting and the implication of measures that could effectively reduce readmission rates. Methods. Patients presenting with DFDs admitted between 2015 and 2017 were studied retrospectively in a single-centre patient database. The demographics and clinical comorbidities were analyzed and comparison was made between 2 groups: patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge and those who did not require readmission. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with readmissions. Results. In total, 340 patients were included. The unplanned readmission rate was 10.9%. More than half of readmissions (71%) were related to wound deterioration and infection. In the readmission group, the patients had lower body mass index, higher rate of osteomyelitis, lower rate of debridement, and evidence of peripheral vascular disease below the knee in the index admissions but these were not significant. In the multivariate analysis, peripheral neuropathy was the only significant risk associated with unplanned readmissions (odds ratio: 2.78, 95% confidence interval: 1.23-6.29, P = .014). Conclusion. This study demonstrates a significant association between peripheral neuropathy and unplanned readmissions. The implications of this nonmodifiable risk factor in reducing readmissions include all levels of patient care delivery such as adequate preparation for discharge and transition back into the community. Recognition and education in successful long-term offloading of insensate diabetic feet may help reduce rates of unplanned readmission.

Inpatient multidisciplinary care can prevent deterioration of renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease: a nationwide cohort study

Background

Multidisciplinary care is necessary to prevent worsening renal function and all-cause mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) but has mostly been investigated in the outpatient setting. In this study, we evaluated the outcome of multidisciplinary care for CKD according to whether it was provided in an outpatient or inpatient setting.

Methods

This nationwide, multicenter, retrospective, observational study included 2954 Japanese patients with CKD stage 3-5 who received multidisciplinary care in 2015-2019. Patients were divided into two groups: an inpatient group and an outpatient group, according to the delivery of multidisciplinary care. The primary composite endpoint was the initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT) and all-cause mortality, and the secondary endpoints were the annual decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (ΔeGFR) and the changes in proteinuria between the two groups.

Results

Multidisciplinary care was provided on an inpatient basis in 59.7% and on an outpatient basis in 40.3%. The mean number of health care professionals involved in multidisciplinary care was 4.5 in the inpatient group and 2.6 in the outpatient group (P < 0.0001). After adjustment for confounders, the hazard ratio of the primary composite endpoint was significantly lower in the inpatient group than in the outpatient group (0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.60-0.85, P = 0.0001). In both groups, the mean annual ΔeGFR was significantly improved, and proteinuria significantly decreased 24 months after the initiation of multidisciplinary care.

Conclusion

Multidisciplinary care may significantly slow deterioration of eGFR and reduce proteinuria in patients with CKD and be more effective in terms of reducing initiation of RRT and all-cause mortality when provided on an inpatient basis.

Association between personality traits and glycemic control after inpatient diabetes education

Aims

The longitudinal effect of personality traits on glycemic control is unclear. This prospective observational study explored the relationship between personality traits and glycemic control in patients with uncontrolled diabetes after inpatient diabetes education.

Methods

Patients with diabetes mellitus (HbA1c ≥ 7.5%, measured by high-performance liquid chromatography) who received inpatient diabetes education were scored on the Big Five personality traits: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Multiple linear analysis was used to determine whether any personality traits were independently associated with HbA1c on admission and HbA1c change from admission to 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge.

Results

One hundred seventeen participants (mean age 60.4 ± 14.5 years; 59.0% male) were enrolled. HbA1c values on admission and 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge were 10.2 ± 2.1%, 8.3 ± 1.4%, 7.6 ± 1.4%, and 7.7 ± 1.5%, respectively. Multiple linear analysis showed that no personality traits were associated with HbA1c on admission. Neuroticism was negatively associated with the HbA1c change from admission to 3 months (β = -0.192, P = 0.025) and 6 months after discharge (β = -0.164, P = 0.043).

Conclusions

Neuroticism was associated with good long-term glycemic control after inpatient diabetes education.

An integrated approach to address diabetes in the context of food insecurity: Delivering health study protocol

Background

Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) interventions among food insecure individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have found modest improvements in nutrition and health outcomes but are limited by barriers to attendance and retention. This study applies a community-based participatory research approach, engaging community members at all levels of intervention planning, development, implementation, and dissemination, to deliver a plain-language DSMES curriculum to food insecure community members with T2D.

Methods

This is a single-arm, pre-post design assessing the efficacy of a 12-week home-delivered DSMES curriculum and T2D-appropriate food box intervention to improve the nutrition and health outcomes of food insecure individuals with T2D. The intervention consists of a weekly food box delivery and handout with video links on key DSMES topics, developed and refined using community advisor feedback. Up to 100 English-, Spanish-, or Marshallese-speaking adult participants with T2D (HbA1c ≥ 7%) and food insecurity are being recruited from food pantries in northwest Arkansas. Data is collected at pre-intervention and immediately post-intervention. The primary study outcome is change in HbA1c. Secondary measures include diet quality (Healthy Eating Index-2015, calculated from 3 24-h dietary recall interviews via phone), body mass index, blood pressure, skin carotenoids, food security, T2D self-management behaviors, T2D self-efficacy, and T2D-related distress.

Results

Recruitment began in August 2021 and enrollment is anticipated to be complete in March 2023.

Conclusion

Findings from this study will provide a rich understanding of diabetes-related health outcomes and dietary patterns of individuals with food insecurity and T2D and inform future food-focused DSMES interventions in this setting.

A 7 day inpatient diabetes education program improves quality of life and glycemic control 12 months after discharge

AIMS

For long-term management of diabetes, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus require a high level of treatment adherence, which is associated with treatment satisfaction and their quality of life (QOL). To achieve it, patient education about diabetes self-management is essential. We routinely conduct a 7 day inpatient diabetes education program and administer the diabetes treatment-related (DTR)-QOL questionnaire to all participants, both before admission and at discharge. Here, we investigated whether our program improves QOL and post-discharge glycemic control.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study utilized data from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who participated in our program between July 2017 and March 2020 and who had been treated in our outpatient department for more than 1 year. We evaluated the relationship between at admission and at discharge diabetes treatment-related quality of life scores and glycemic control after discharge.

RESULTS

Data from 140 patients were analyzed in this study, which showed a significant improvement in the total, 'Anxiety and dissatisfaction with treatment', and 'Satisfaction-with-treatment' scores. A significant improvement was evident in HbA1c at 12 months after discharge. Multiple regression analysis showed that HbA1c after 12 months was independently associated with gender, duration of diabetes, and HbA1c at admission.

CONCLUSIONS

Our program effectively improves quality of life and post-discharge glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is particularly effective in patients of the male gender, with a shorter duration of diabetes mellitus and higher HbA1c at admission.

The current diabetes education experience: Findings of a cross-sectional survey of adults with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To survey persons with type 2 diabetes (PWD) on their experiences with diabetes education to better understand what it means when a PWD says they have "had diabetes education."

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study among a convenience sample of adult PWD receiving primary care and/or diabetes self-management education and support in a mid-Atlantic regional US healthcare system. Descriptive, bivariate, and regression analyses were used to describe and explore the diabetes education experience.

RESULTS

Participants (n = 498) were majority female, African American, and non-Hispanic. Half reported having "had diabetes education." Of those, 44% had only one session. Education was most often provided in clinical settings by a dietitian (68%) or doctor (51%), in one-on-one (70%) sessions. While most participants reported receiving core diabetes knowledge, fewer reported education on topics that are not related to their daily routine, such as what to do about diabetes medications when sick.

CONCLUSION

The self-reported diabetes education experience varies in content, modality, setting, and education provider. Education receipt is low, and for those who receive education, the amount is low.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

The diabetes education experience may fall short of the comprehensive US National Standards-recommended process. Innovative strategies are needed to address these gaps.

Analysis of Healthy Coping Feedback Messages from Diabetes Mobile Apps: Validation Against an Evidence-Based Framework

BACKGROUND

In this study, we focused on Healthy Coping, a key principle of ADCES7 Self-Care Behaviors^® (ADCES7^®) that enables people with diabetes to achieve health goals for self-care. We aimed to validate Healthy Coping-related feedback messages from diabetes mobile apps against the framework based on behavioral change theories.

METHODS

We searched apps using the search terms: "diabetes," "blood sugar," "glucose," and "mood" from iTunes and Google Play stores. We entered a range of values on 3 Healthy Coping domains: (1) diabetes-related measures including blood glucose, blood pressure, HbA1c, weight, (2) physical exercise/activity, and (3) mood to generate feedback messages. We used a framework by adopting validated behavioral change theory-based models to evaluate the feedback messages against 3 dimensions of timing, intention, and content (feedback purpose and feedback response). The feedback purposes in this study were categorized into 7 purposes; warning, suggestion, self-monitoring, acknowledging, reinforcement, goal setting, and behavior contract.

RESULTS

We identified 1,749 apps from which 156 diabetes mobile apps were eligible and generated 473 feedback messages. The majority of generated feedback messages were related to blood sugar measurement. Only feedback messages on blood sugar under diabetes-related measures and mood domains encompassed all 7 feedback purposes under the content dimension.

CONCLUSIONS

Many feedback messages neither supported Healthy Coping domains nor followed the behavioral theory-based framework. It is important that feedback messages be structured around the dimensions of the behavioral theory-based framework to promote behavior change. Furthermore, our framework had the generalizability that can be used in other clinical areas.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Diabetes Clinical Care and Management: A Narrative Review

Diabetes affects nearly 37 million Americans, with disproportionately higher disease burden amongst those from minoritized communities. The result of this is greater rates of diabetic complications and mortality. To close this gap in care, it is important to assess the differences in both diagnosis and care between White and ethnic/racial minoritized persons with diabetes. The purpose of this narrative review is to explore this further by assessing the differences in diagnosis, management, diabetes education, and complications.

Predicting readmission due to severe hyperglycemia after a hyperglycemic crisis episode

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the readmission pattern and risk factors for patients who experienced a hyperglycemic crisis.

METHODS

Patients admitted to MacKay Memorial Hospital for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) between January 2016 and April 2019 were studied. The timing of the first readmission for hyperglycemia and other causes was recorded. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare patients with hyperglycemia and all-cause readmissions. Cox regression was used to identify independent predictors for hyperglycemia and all-cause readmission post-discharge.

RESULTS

The study cohort included 410 patients, and 15.3 % and 46.3 % of them had hyperglycemia and all-cause readmissions, respectively. The DKA and HHS group showed a similar incidence for hyperglycemia, with the latter group showing a higher incidence of all-cause readmissions. The significant predictors of hyperglycemia readmissions included young age, smoking, hypoglycemia, higher effective osmolality, and hyperthyroidism in the DKA group and higher glycated hemoglobin level in the HHS group.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who experienced DKA and HHS had similar hyperglycemia readmission rates; however, predictors in the DKA group were not applicable to the HHS group. Designing different strategies for different types of hyperglycemic crisis is necessary for preventing readmission.

Electronic Health Record-Based Decision-Making Support in Inpatient Diabetes Management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review discusses ways in which the electronic health record (EHR) can offer clinical decision support (CDS) tools for management of inpatient diabetes and hyperglycemia.

RECENT FINDINGS

The use of electronic order sets can help providers order comprehensive basal bolus insulin regimens that are consistent with current guidelines. Order sets have been shown to reduce insulin errors and hypoglycemia rates. They can also help set glycemic targets, give hemoglobin A1C reminders, guide weight-based dosing, and match insulin regimen to nutritional profile. Glycemic management dashboards allow multiple variables affecting blood glucose to be shown in a single view, which allows for efficient evaluation of glucose trends and adjustment of insulin regimen. With the use glycemic management dashboards, active surveillance and remote management also become feasible. Hypoglycemia prevention and management are another part of inpatient diabetes management that is enhanced by EHR CDS tools. Furthermore, diagnosis and management of diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemia hyperosmolar state are improved with the aid of EHR CDS tools. The use of EHR CDS tools helps improve the care of patients with diabetes and hyperglycemia in the inpatient hospital setting.

Effectiveness of a Diabetes-Focused Electronic Discharge Order Set and Postdischarge Nursing Support Among Poorly Controlled Hospitalized Patients: Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Although the use of electronic order sets has become standard practice for inpatient diabetes management, there is limited decision support at discharge.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we assessed whether an electronic discharge order set (DOS) plus nurse follow-up calls improve discharge orders and postdischarge outcomes among hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

This was a randomized, open-label, single center study that compared an electronic DOS and nurse phone calls to enhanced standard care (ESC) in hospitalized insulin-requiring patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The primary outcome was change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) level at 24 weeks after discharge. The secondary outcomes included the completeness and accuracy of discharge prescriptions related to diabetes.

RESULTS

This study was stopped early because of feasibility concerns related to the long-term follow-up. However, 158 participants were enrolled (DOS: n=82; ESC: n=76), of whom 155 had discharge data. The DOS group had a greater frequency of prescriptions for bolus insulin (78% vs 44%; P=.01), needles or syringes (95% vs 63%; P=.03), and glucometers (86% vs 36%; P<.001). The clarity of the orders was similar. HbA_1c data were available for 54 participants in each arm at 12 weeks and for 44 and 45 participants in the DOS and ESC arms, respectively, at 24 weeks. The unadjusted difference in change in HbA_1c level (DOS - ESC) was -0.6% (SD 0.4%; P=.18) at 12 weeks and -1.1% (SD 0.4%; P=.01) at 24 weeks. The adjusted difference in change in HbA_1c level was -0.5% (SD 0.4%; P=.20) at 12 weeks and -0.7% (SD 0.4%; P=.09) at 24 weeks. The achievement of the individualized HbA_1c target was greater in the DOS group at 12 weeks but not at 24 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

An intervention that included a DOS plus a postdischarge nurse phone call resulted in more complete discharge prescriptions. The assessment of postdischarge outcomes was limited, owing to the loss of the long-term follow-up, but it suggested a possible benefit in glucose control.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03455985; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03455985.

Management of Hyperglycemia in Hospitalized Adult Patients in Non-Critical Care Settings: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline

BACKGROUND

Adult patients with diabetes or newly recognized hyperglycemia account for over 30% of noncritically ill hospitalized patients. These patients are at increased risk for adverse clinical outcomes in the absence of defined approaches to glycemic management.

OBJECTIVE

To review and update the 2012 Management of Hyperglycemia in Hospitalized Patients in Non-Critical Care Settings: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline and to address emerging areas specific to the target population of noncritically ill hospitalized patients with diabetes or newly recognized or stress-induced hyperglycemia.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary panel of clinician experts, together with a patient representative and experts in systematic reviews and guideline development, identified and prioritized 10 clinical questions related to inpatient management of patients with diabetes and/or hyperglycemia. The systematic reviews queried electronic databases for studies relevant to the selected questions. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was used to assess the certainty of evidence and make recommendations.

RESULTS

The panel agreed on 10 frequently encountered areas specific to glycemic management in the hospital for which 15 recommendations were made. The guideline includes conditional recommendations for hospital use of emerging diabetes technologies including continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pump therapy; insulin regimens for prandial insulin dosing, glucocorticoid, and enteral nutrition-associated hyperglycemia; and use of noninsulin therapies. Recommendations were also made for issues relating to preoperative glycemic measures, appropriate use of correctional insulin, and diabetes self-management education in the hospital. A conditional recommendation was made against preoperative use of caloric beverages in patients with diabetes.

CONCLUSION

The recommendations are based on the consideration of important outcomes, practicality, feasibility, and patient values and preferences. These recommendations can be used to inform system improvement and clinical practice for this frequently encountered inpatient population.

A Systematic Review Supporting the Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Hyperglycemia in Adults Hospitalized for Noncritical Illness or Undergoing Elective Surgical Procedures

CONTEXT

Individuals with diabetes or newly recognized hyperglycemia account for over 30% of noncritically ill hospitalized patients. Management of hyperglycemia in these patients is challenging.

OBJECTIVE

To support development of the Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline for management of hyperglycemia in adults hospitalized for noncritical illness or undergoing elective surgical procedures.

METHODS

We searched several databases for studies addressing 10 questions provided by a guideline panel from the Endocrine Society. Meta-analysis was conducted when feasible. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was used to assess certainty of evidence.

RESULTS

We included 94 studies reporting on 135 553 patients. Compared with capillary blood glucose, continuous glucose monitoring increased the number of patients identified with hypoglycemia and decreased mean daily blood glucose (BG) (very low certainty). Data on continuation of insulin pump therapy in hospitalized adults were sparse. In hospitalized patients receiving glucocorticoids, combination neutral protamine hagedorn (NPH) and basal-bolus insulin was associated with lower mean BG compared to basal-bolus insulin alone (very low certainty). Data on NPH insulin vs basal-bolus insulin in hospitalized adults receiving enteral nutrition were inconclusive. Inpatient diabetes education was associated with lower HbA1c at 3 and 6 months after discharge (moderate certainty) and reduced hospital readmissions (very low certainty). Preoperative HbA1c level < 7% was associated with shorter length of stay, lower postoperative BG and a lower number of neurological complications and infections, but a higher number of reoperations (very low certainty). Treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes and mild hyperglycemia was associated with lower frequency of hypoglycemic events than insulin therapy (low certainty). Caloric oral fluids before surgery in adults with diabetes undergoing surgical procedures did not affect outcomes (very low certainty). Counting carbohydrates for prandial insulin dosing did not affect outcomes (very low certainty). Compared with scheduled insulin (basal-bolus or basal insulin + correctional insulin), correctional insulin was associated with higher mean daily BG and fewer hypoglycemic events (low certainty).

CONCLUSION

The certainty of evidence supporting many hyperglycemia management decisions is low, emphasizing importance of shared decision-making and consideration of other decisional factors.

The Role of Mood in the Self-Care Activities of Primary Care Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

This study investigated the impact of anxiety and depression on self-care activities among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using a longitudinal, ex-post-facto design. Concepts from the Theory of Reasoned Action, the Theory of Planned Behavior, and Albert Bandura's work exploring self-efficacy were used to inform this study. Data were collected from primary care clinics providing social work-led integrated care to adults with T2DM. Results showed significant improvements in anxiety, depression, and self-care from the first to the third clinic visits. Findings indicated a significant relationship between anxiety and general diet scores, but anxiety did not have a statistically significant impact on any other self-care activities. No significant relationships were observed between depression and self-care, which was surprising given previous research. Findings have implications for working with adults with T2DM and provide directions for future research in understanding the relationship between mood and self-care among patients with T2DM.

Associations Between Implementation of the Caregiver Advise Record Enable (CARE) Act and Health Service Utilization for Older Adults with Diabetes: Retrospective Observational Study

BACKGROUND

The Caregiver Advise Record Enable (CARE) Act is a state level law that requires hospitals to identify and educate caregivers ("family members or friends") upon discharge.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the association between the implementation of the CARE Act in a Pennsylvania health system and health service utilization (ie, reducing hospital readmission, emergency department [ED] visits, and mortality) for older adults with diabetes.

METHODS

The key elements of the CARE Act were implemented and applied to the patients discharged to home. The data between May and October 2017 were pulled from inpatient electronic health records. Likelihood-ratio chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression models were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 2591 older inpatients with diabetes with a mean age of 74.6 (SD 7.1) years. Of the 2591 patients, 46.1% (n=1194) were female, 86.9% (n=2251) were White, 97.4% (n=2523) had type 2 diabetes, and 69.5% (n=1801) identified a caregiver. Of the 1801 caregivers identified, 399 (22.2%) received discharge education and training. We compared the differences in health service utilization between pre- and postimplementation of the CARE Act; however, no significance was found. No significant differences were detected from the bivariate analyses in any outcomes between individuals who identified a caregiver and those who declined to identify a caregiver. After adjusting for risk factors (multivariate analysis), those who identified a caregiver (12.2%, 219/1801) was associated with higher rates of 30-day hospital readmission than those who declined to identify a caregiver (9.9%, 78/790; odds ratio [OR] 1.38, 95% CI 1.04-1.87; P=.02). Significantly lower rates were detected in 7-day readmission (P=.02), as well as 7-day (P=.03) and 30-day (P=.01) ED visits, among patients with diabetes whose identified caregiver received education and training than those whose identified caregiver did not receive education and training in the bivariate analyses. However, after adjusting for risk factors, no significance was found in 7-day readmission (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.27-1.05; P=.07), 7-day ED visit (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.38-1.03; P=.07), and 30-day ED visit (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.52-1.02; P=.07). No significant associations were found for other outcomes (ie, 30-day readmission and 7-day and 30-day mortality) in both the bivariate and multivariate analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found that the implementation of the CARE Act was associated with certain health service utilization. The identification of caregivers was associated with higher rates of 30-day hospital readmission in the multivariate analysis, whereas having identified caregivers who received discharge education was associated with lower rates of readmission and ED visit in the bivariate analysis.

Sex differences in glycemic measures, complications, discharge disposition, and postdischarge emergency room visits and readmission among non-critically ill, hospitalized patients with diabetes

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this prospective observational cohort study was to examine sex differences in glycemic measures, diabetes-related complications, and rates of postdischarge emergency room (ER) visits and hospital readmissions in non-critically ill, hospitalized patients with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Demographic data including age, body mass index, race, blood pressure, reason for admission, diabetes medications at admission and discharge, diabetes-related complications, laboratory data (hematocrit, creatinine, hemoglobin A1c, point-of-care blood glucose measures), length of stay (LOS), and discharge disposition were collected. Patients were followed for 90 days following hospital discharge to obtain information regarding ER visits and readmissions.

RESULTS

120 men and 100 women consented to participate in this study. There were no sex differences in patient demographics, diabetes duration or complications, or LOS. No differences were observed in the percentage of men and women with an ER visit or hospital readmission within 30 (39% vs 33%, p=0.40) or 90 (60% vs 49%, p=0.12) days of hospital discharge. More men than women experienced hypoglycemia prior to discharge (18% vs 8%, p=0.026). More women were discharged to skilled nursing facilities (p=0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that men and women hospitalized with an underlying diagnosis of diabetes have similar preadmission glycemic measures, diabetes duration, and prevalence of diabetes complications. More men experienced hypoglycemia prior to discharge. Women were less likely to be discharged to home. Approximately 50% of men and women had ER visits or readmissions within 90 days of hospital discharge.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03279627.

Healthcare Professionals' Views of Factors Influencing Diabetes Self-Management and the Utility of a mHealth Application and Its Features to Support Self-Care

INTRODUCTION

The perspectives of healthcare professionals (HCPs) are pivotal to co-development of self-management strategies for patients with diabetes. However, literature has been largely limited to perspectives of patients within the context of a Western healthcare setting. This study aims to explore factors influencing diabetes self-management in adult patients with diabetes from the perspectives of HCPs and their views of the value of mHealth application for diabetes self-management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted focus group discussions (FGD) with purposively selected HCPs in Singapore. All FGDs were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo 12.

RESULTS

A total of 56 HCPs participated in the study. Barriers to self-management included limited patient commitment to lifestyle changes, suboptimal adherence to medication and treatment, patient resistance to insulin initiation and insufficient rapport between patients and HCPs. Patients' perceived susceptibility to complications, social support from family and community, multidisciplinary team care and patient's understanding of the benefits of self-care were viewed as facilitating self-management. HCPs saw mHealth apps as a vital opportunity to engage patients in the self-management of conditions and empower them to foster behavior changes. Yet, there were concerns regarding patient's limited digital literacy, lack of integration into routine electronic system and reluctance.

DISCUSSION

We identified a set of factors influencing self-management in adult patients with diabetes and useful app features that can empower patients to manage their conditions. Findings will inform the development of a mHealth application, and its features designed to improve self-care.

Influence of Literacy, Self-Efficacy, and Social Support on Diabetes-Related Outcomes Following Hospital Discharge

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationship between health literacy, social support, and self-efficacy as predictors of change in A1c and readmission among hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of patients with T2D (A1c >8.5%) enrolled in a randomized trial in which health literacy (Newest Vital Sign), social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), and empowerment (Diabetes Empowerment Scale-Short Form) was assessed at baseline. Multivariable models evaluated whether these concepts were associated with A1c reduction at 12 weeks (absolute change, % with >1% reduction, % reaching individualized target) and readmission (14 and 30 days).

RESULTS

A1c (N=108) decreased >1% in 60%, while individualized A1c target was achieved in 31%. After adjustment for baseline A1c and potential confounders, health literacy was associated with significant reduction in A1c (Estimate -0.21, 95% CI -0.40, -0.01, p=0.041) and >1% decrease in A1c (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.08, 1.73, p=0.009). However, higher social support was associated with greater adjusted odds of reaching the individualized A1c target (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.04, 2.55, p=0.32). Both higher empowerment (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.08, 0.64, p=0.005) and social support (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.36, 0.91, p=0.018) were associated with fewer readmissions by 14 days, but not 30 days.

CONCLUSION

The study indicates that health literacy and social support may be important predictors of A1c reduction post-discharge among hospitalized patients with T2D. Social support and diabetes self-management skills should be addressed and early follow-up may be critical for avoiding readmissions.

CLINICAL TRIAL

NCT03455985.

Improving Quality Outcomes: The Value of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists

Given the growing prevalence and accelerating cost of diabetes, there is an urgent need to expand strategies in health care that improve access and outcomes and reduce the financial and human burden of the disease. Diabetes care and education specialists (DCESs) are well positioned to assist health care systems with delivery models that enhance diabetes care through evidence-based standards and quality improvement strategies. DCESs have increased opportunities to apply their competencies in primary, specialty, hospital, and acute care settings; accountable care organizations; community settings; research; and academia. Two national certification programs provide an evidence-based foundation for quality in the specialty, with updated competencies guiding practice. This article serves as a call to action for health care systems to integrate specialists in diabetes care and education into diabetes care delivery models and raise awareness of the positive impact these professionals have on the lives of people with diabetes.

Predictors of Rehospitalization and Mortality in Diabetes-Related Hospital Admissions

The risk factors of rehospitalization and death post-discharge in diabetes-related hospital admissions are not fully understood. To determine them, a population-based retrospective epidemiological survey was performed on diabetes-related admissions from the Polish national database. Logistic regression models were used, in which the dependent variables were rehospitalization due to diabetes complications and death within 90 days after the index hospitalization. In 2017, there were 74,248 hospitalizations related to diabetes. A total of 11.3% ended with readmission. Risk factors for rehospitalization were as follows: age < 35 years; male sex; prior hospitalization due to acute diabetic complications; weight loss; peripheral artery disease; iron deficiency anemia; kidney failure; alcohol abuse; heart failure; urgent, emergency, or weekend admission; length of hospitalization; and hospitalization in a teaching hospital with an endocrinology/diabetology unit. Furthermore, 7.3% of hospitalizations resulted in death within 90 days following discharge. Risk factors for death were as follows: age; neoplastic disease with/without metastases; weight loss; coagulopathy; alcohol abuse; acute diabetes complications; heart failure; kidney failure; iron deficiency anemia; peripheral artery disease; fluid, electrolytes, and acid–base balance disturbances; urgent or emergency and weekend admission; and length of hospitalization. We concluded that of all investigated factors, only hospitalization within an experienced specialist center may reduce the frequency of the assessed outcomes.

Effect of educational interventions on knowledge of the disease and glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Globally, type 2 diabetes has continued to increase, now accounting for over 90% of all diabetes cases. Though the magnitude of uncontrolled glycaemic levels in patients with type 2 diabetes is steadily rising, evidence showed that effectively controlled glycaemic levels can prevent complications and improve the quality of life of these patients. As little is known about the effect of educational interventions on this population, this systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of educational interventions versus standard care on glycaemic control and disease knowledge among patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Scopus, African Journals Online and Wiley Online Library were searched. Two authors independently assessed within-trial risk of bias in each included study using revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials. A random-effects model was employed to estimate combined effect sizes. Subgroup analyses were employed to investigate possible sources of heterogeneity between studies. The overall certainty of the evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.

RESULTS

A total of 19 trials with 2708 study participants were included in the review. Primary outcomes (glycaemic control) were reported in 18 trials. The pooled estimated impact of educational intervention on glycaemic levels using the random-effects model was -0.83 (95% CI: -1.17 to -0.49, p<0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed greater A1c reductions in those studies with intervention duration of up to 3 months and with empirical intervention designs. Educational interventions led to significant increases in participants' knowledge of type 2 diabetes (standardised mean difference: 1.16; 95% CI: 0.71 to 1.60; I2=93%).

CONCLUSION

In the current review overall, educational interventions can potentially lead to improved glycaemic control levels in patients with type 2 diabetes despite heterogeneity across the studies. Besides, the findings showed that educational interventions could increase disease knowledge among patients with type 2 diabetes.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020205838.

Effects of routinely collected health information system variables on the readmission of patients with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVES

This research explores the association between variables routinely collected in a health information system and the readmission of patients with type 2 diabetes within 30 days of discharge.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at King Fahd Hospital of the University (KFHU) in Al-Khobar, KSA. The study population comprised patients with type 2 diabetes who were admitted to the hospital from January 2016 to November 2016. Data were obtained from the hospital's information system at KFHU. The association between the readmission of patients with type 2 diabetes and routinely collected health information system variables such as demographics, type of diabetes, length of stay, and discharge type were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 497 cases met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 31 (6.2%) cases were readmitted within 30 days. Type 2 diabetes was the only variable found to be significantly associated with readmission within 30 days (χ2 (1, N = 497) = 6.116, p = 0.0134). Diabetes type (p = 0.0133) and discharge type (p = 0.0403) were the only variables that displayed significance utilizing a logistic regression model.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the routinely collected demographic, diagnostic, and administrative variables were found to be poor predictors of 30-day readmission for type 2 diabetes at the institution studied. Nonetheless, the only significant variables in the prediction of 30-day readmission were diabetes type and discharge type. To determine the predictors of readmission, it is recommended that future studies include height and weight to the routinely collected health information system variables. We also suggest that future studies be based on data collected over several years or on pooled data collected from several hospitals.

Barriers in Diabetes Self-management: A Qualitative Study from the Perspective of Nurses in Primary Health Centers, Indonesia

BACKGROUND: Nurses play an essential role, including being the main educator of diabetes mellitus (DM). It is necessary to reduce the barriers faced by nurses in managing patients’ self-management. AIM: The purpose of this study was to explore the barriers faced by nurses in managing the self-management of DM patients. METHODS: This research is a qualitative-research with a phenomenological approach. The recruitment of participants used a purposive sampling method, which was divided into two Focus Group Discussion (FGD) groups: the first group consisted of five nurses from the urban health center and the second group consisted of five nurses from the suburban area. The FGD was conducted twice for each group: 90 min for the first and 45 min for the second. The data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s method of data analysis. RESULTS: This study resulted in two themes, namely, internal barriers within the patient and external barriers outside the patient. The barriers from within the patient theme had five subthemes including (1) fear of being exposed to the disease and stigma associated with diabetes, (2) fear and distrust of health cadres, (3) low self-awareness and feeling healthy so not seeking treatment, (4) lack of responsibility for diabetes self-management practices, and (5) time issues. The second theme of barriers external to the patients included three subthemes that were (1) limited manpower, (2) limited facilities and funds, and (3) a lot of programs or activities. CONCLUSION: Nurses faced external barriers that arise from the puskesmas and internal barriers within the patient.

The usefulness of subclassification of adult diabetes mellitus among inpatients in Japan

Aims/Introduction

We aimed to replicate a new diabetes subclassification based on objective clinical information at admission in a diabetes educational inpatient program. We also assessed the educational outcomes for each cluster.

Methods

We included diabetes patients who participated in the educational inpatient program during 2009–2020 and had sufficient clinical information for the cluster analysis. We applied a data‐driven clustering method proposed in a previous study and further evaluated the clinical characteristics of each cluster. We investigated the association between the clusters and changes in hemoglobin A1c level from the start of the education program. We also assessed the risk of re‐admission for the educational program.

Results

We divided a total of 651 patients into five clusters. Their clinical characteristics followed the same pattern as in previous studies. The intercluster ranking of the cluster center coordinates showed strong correlation coefficients with those of the previous studies (mean ρ = 0.88). Patients classified as severe insulin‐resistant diabetes (cluster 3) showed a more pronounced progression of renal dysfunction than patients classified as the other clusters. The patients classified as severe insulin‐deficient diabetes (cluster 2) had the highest rate of reduction in hemoglobin A1c level from the start of the program (P < 0.01) and a tendency toward a lower risk of re‐admission for the education program (hazard ratio 0.47, P = 0.09).

Conclusion

We successfully replicated the diabetes subclassification using objective clinical information at admission for the education program. In addition, we showed that severe insulin‐deficient diabetes patients tended to have better educational outcomes than patients classified as the other clusters.

Glycemic Control and Awareness of Insulin Therapy

Introduction

Glycemic control is associated with better health outcomes among patients with diabetes. No previous research has examined the relationship between knowledge of one’s insulin dose and glycemic control. This study sought to determine if patients who accurately recalled their insulin dose achieved better glycemic control than patients who could not remember their dose.

Methods

Interviews were conducted with 106 patients. Data were collected during patients’ appointments at two endocrinology clinics in Wichita, Kansas from May 29, 2018 to February 15, 2019. Adequate glycemic control was defined as an HbA1c of less than 7.5%. A multiple logistic regression model was developed to identify factors associated with glycemic control.

Results

Of the 109 patients asked to participate, 105 agreed to participate in the study. About half (45%, n = 48) were male. Patients’ mean age was 50 years (SD = 17). Seventy-seven percent (n = 81) were overweight (body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9) or obese (BMI >30). Patients who correctly stated their insulin dose had a mean Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 6.9% (SD = 0.98), whereas those who incorrectly stated their dose had a mean HbA1c of 9.5% (SD = 1.9; p <0.0001).

Conclusions

There was a significant relationship between knowledge of one’s insulin dose and adequate glycemic control.

Predicting and Preventing Acute Care Re-Utilization by Patients with Diabetes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Acute care re-utilization, i.e., hospital readmission and post-discharge Emergency Department (ED) use, is a significant driver of healthcare costs and a marker for healthcare quality. Diabetes is a major contributor to acute care re-utilization and associated costs. The goals of this paper are to (1) review the epidemiology of readmissions among patients with diabetes, (2) describe models that predict readmission risk, and (3) address various strategies for reducing the risk of acute care re-utilization.

RECENT FINDINGS

Hospital readmissions and ED visits by diabetes patients are common and costly. Major risk factors for readmission include sociodemographics, comorbidities, insulin use, hospital length of stay (LOS), and history of readmissions, most of which are non-modifiable. Several models for predicting the risk of readmission among diabetes patients have been developed, two of which have reasonable accuracy in external validation. In retrospective studies and mostly small randomized controlled trials (RCTs), interventions such as inpatient diabetes education, inpatient diabetes management services, transition of care support, and outpatient follow-up are generally associated with a reduction in the risk of acute care re-utilization. Data on readmission risk and readmission risk reduction interventions are limited or lacking among patients with diabetes hospitalized for COVID-19. The evidence supporting post-discharge follow-up by telephone is equivocal and also limited. Acute care re-utilization of patients with diabetes presents an important opportunity to improve healthcare quality and reduce costs. Currently available predictive models are useful for identifying higher risk patients but could be improved. Machine learning models, which are becoming more common, have the potential to generate more accurate acute care re-utilization risk predictions. Tools embedded in electronic health record systems are needed to translate readmission risk prediction models into clinical practice. Several risk reduction interventions hold promise but require testing in multi-site RCTs to prove their generalizability, scalability, and effectiveness.

Inpatient Insulin Pen Implementation, Waste, and Potential Cost Savings: A Community Hospital Experience

BACKGROUND

Insulin pen injectors ("pens") are intended to facilitate a patient's self-administration of insulin and can be used in hospitalized patients as a learning opportunity. Unnecessary or duplicate dispensation of insulin pens is associated with increased healthcare costs.

METHODS

Inpatient dispensation of insulin pens in a 240-bed community hospital between July 2018 and July 2019 was analyzed. We calculated the percentage of insulin pens unnecessarily dispensed for patients who had the same type of insulin pen assigned. The estimated cost of insulin pen waste was calculated. A pharmacist-led task force group implemented hospital-wide awareness and collaborated with hospital leadership to define goals and interventions.

RESULTS

9516 insulin pens were dispensed to 3121 patients. Of the pens dispensed, 6451 (68%) were insulin aspart and 3065 (32%) were glargine. Among patients on insulin aspart, an average of 2.2 aspart pens was dispensed per patient, but only an estimated 1.2 pens/patient were deemed necessary. Similarly, for inpatients prescribed glargine, an average of 2.1 pens/patient was dispensed, but only 1.3 pens/patient were necessary. A number of gaps were identified and interventions were undertaken to reduce insulin pen waste, which resulted in a significant decrease in both aspart (p = 0.0002) and glargine (p = 0.0005) pens/patient over time. Reductions in pen waste resulted in an estimated cost savings of $66 261 per year.

CONCLUSIONS

In a community hospital setting, identification of causes leading to unnecessary insulin dispensation and implementation of hospital-wide staff education led to change in insulin pen dispensation practice. These changes translated into considerable cost savings and facilitated diabetes self-management education.

The Endocrine Hospitalist: Enhancing the Quality of Diabetes Care

The endocrine hospitalist and inpatient diabetes management team increases access to endocrinology consultations and improves glycemic control and quality metrics such as length of stay and hospital readmission. Enhanced glycemic care is needed in both academic and community hospital settings. Endocrine fellowship programs should implement endocrine hospitalist rotations with emphasis on training endocrine fellows to deliver fast-paced inpatient endocrine care. Entrepreneurship, innovation, and a "start-up" culture within the field of Endocrinology should be encouraged and supported by healthcare systems.

Patient Understanding of Discharge Instructions for Home Diabetes Self-Management and Risk for Hospital Readmission and Emergency Department Visits

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study was to examine the patient comprehension of diabetes self-management instructions provided at hospital discharge as an associated risk of readmission.

METHODS

Noncritically ill patients with diabetes completed patient comprehension questionnaires (PCQ) within 48 hours of discharge. PCQ scores were compared among patients with and without readmission or emergency department (ED) visits at 30 and 90 days. Glycemic measures 48 hours preceding discharge were investigated. Diabetes Early Readmission Risk Indicators (DERRIs) were calculated for each patient.

RESULTS

Of 128 patients who completed the PCQ, scores were similar among those with 30-day (n = 31) and 90-day (n = 54) readmission compared with no readmission (n = 72) (79.9 ± 14.4 vs 80.4 ± 15.6 vs 82.3 ± 16.4, respectively) or ED visits. Clarification of discharge information was provided for 47 patients. PCQ scores of 100% were achieved in 14% of those with and 86% without readmission at 30 days (P = .108). Of predischarge glycemic measures, glycemic variability was negatively associated with PCQ scores (P = .035). DERRIs were significantly higher among patients readmitted at 90 days but not 30 days.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate similar PCQ scores between patients with and those without readmission or ED visits despite the need for corrective information in many patients. Measures of glycemic variability were associated with PCQ scores but not readmission risk. This study validates DERRI as a predictor for readmission at 90 days.

The effectiveness of in-hospital interventions on reducing hospital length of stay and readmission of patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A systematic review

AIM

This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of multifaceted in-hospital interventions for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on hospital readmission, hospital length of stay (LOS), and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c).

METHODS

The search included MEDLINE, EMBASE, Emcare, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Google Scholar from 2007 to current date and restricted to English. The differences in outcome measures were calculated to determine the effectiveness.

RESULTS

The title and abstract of 3251 records were initially screened. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies comprised of a wide range of intervention components and outcome measures. The reduction in hospital LOS ranged from 0.5 to 0.8 of a day. Clinically significant improvements in HbA1c concentration levels ranged from a mean reduction of -1.1 (±2.2) mmol/L to -2.8 (±2.7) mmol/L. There were no significant changes in hospital readmission rates and no evidence of the impact of HbA1c on hospital LOS and readmission. Common strategies in reducing hospital LOS and HbA1c were a dedicated care team, hospital wide approach, quality improvement focus, insulin therapy, early short-term intensive program, transition to primary care physicians, and on-going outpatient follow-up for at least 6-12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings illustrate that multifaceted in-hospital intervention for patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes can contribute to improvements in hospital LOS and HbA1c concentration.

Inpatient Hyperglycemia and Transitions of Care: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

The transition of diabetes care from home to hospital, within the hospital, and upon discharge is fraught with gaps that can adversely affect patient safety and length of stay. We aimed to highlight the variability in care during these transitions and point out areas where research is needed.

METHODS

A PubMed search was performed with a combination of search terms that pertained to diabetes, hyperglycemia, hospitalization, locations in the hospital, discharge to home or a nursing facility, and diabetes medications. Studies with at least 50 patients that were written in the English language were included.

RESULTS

With the exception of transitioning from intravenous insulin infusion to subcutaneous insulin and perhaps admission to the regular floors, few studies pointedly focused on transitions of care, leading us to extrapolate recommendations based on data from disparate areas of care in the hospital. There is evidence at every stage of care, starting from the entry into the hospital and ending with discharge home or to a facility, that patients benefit from having protocols in place guiding overall care.

CONCLUSION

Pockets of care exist in hospitals where methods of effective diabetes management have been studied and implemented. However, there is no sustained continuum of care. Protocols and care teams that follow patients from one physical location to the other may result in improved clinical outcomes during and following a hospital stay.

The effect of structured diabetes self-management education on type 2 diabetes patients attending a Primary Health Center in Kuwait

AIM

To evaluate the impact of diabetes self-management education (DSME) on diabetes control measured by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in nationals and expatriates with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Kuwait.

METHOD

A total of 291 patients with T2DM (intervention = 150, control = 141) were assessed in a single-center, controlled study to compare the impact of DSME sessions on HbA1c levels as a measure of metabolic control of diabetes mellitus. Measurements of HbA1c were taken at baseline, 6-months, and 12-months. Multiple explorative association tests and regression models were constructed to examine the intervention effects.

RESULTS

Patients that received DSME sessions demonstrated better diabetes control with an average reduction of 1.3% (14 mmol/mol) HbA1c over 12-months compared to an average HbA1c increase of 1.1% (12 mmol/mol) in the control group (p < 0.001). Using pairwise comparisons, young, male, and expatriate patients and patients with HbA1c above 7% demonstrated the highest improvements in HbA1c with DSME sessions. In multivariate regressions, DSME intervention was associated with a 1.7% (18 mmol/mol) HbA1c reduction indicating better control of diabetes (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

DSME sessions were associated with better glycemic control in patients with T2DM over 12 months. This study establishes the effectiveness of DSME sessions for both Kuwaiti nationals and expatriates, which represent a significant portion of the population in Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf region. The favorable impact of DSME suggests a promising cost-effective approach to reduce the risk of complication associationed with diabetes suitable for the unique demographic characteristics in the region.

Identifying features of a mobile-based application for self-care of people living with T2DM

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes self-care requires support to empower patients to improve self-monitoring and maintain the necessary self-care behaviors. We aimed to identify features of a mobile-based application as a technology-based device for self-care of people living with T2DM.

METHOD

This study was conducted in two main phases in 2020. In the first phase, a literature review study was performed to identify the data elements and technical features of the T2DM self-care application. In the second phase, using the information obtained from the review of similar articles, a questionnaire was designed to validate identified requirements. The statistical population of the present study consisted of 22 endocrinologists and metabolic specialists.

RESULTS

Identification of 55 data elements and technical features for mobile-based self-care application for people with T2DM, and according to the statistical population, 15data elements for demographic requirements, 16 data elements for clinical requirements, and 17 features for the technical capability of this app were selected.

CONCLUSION

Blood sugar monitoring, exercise, nutrition, weight monitoring, and educational capabilities were the most highlighted technical features of the T2DM self-care application. Software designers can use these requirements to design a self-care app for people with type-2 diabetes that can help manage and improve patients' health status.

Diabetes Management Delivery and Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus during the First Wave of the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic: A Single-Reference Center Report

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a rapid adaptation of healthcare services to secure care for many patient groups. This includes women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We evaluated the impacts of the first COVID-19 wave on parameters such as the GDM treatment, glycemic control, and pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS

In this retrospective study from a reference diabetes center (Krakow, Poland), we compared patient data from two different time periods: the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-June 2020) and the preceding five months (October 2019-February 2020). Data was collected from the medical records and telephone surveys.

RESULTS

We included 155 consecutive women (group N1 = 73 and group N2 = 82 from the COVID-19 pandemic period and non-COVID-19 period, respectively). During the COVID-19 pandemic, almost half of all GDM women (N1 = 36, 49.3%) used telemedicine as a method of contacting their diabetic specialists while this tool was not utilized in the earlier period. Moreover, these patients reported difficulties in performing blood glucose self-control more often (N1 = 20, 27.4%, vs N2 = 7, 8.5%; p ≤ 0.01) and spent less time on diabetes education than the control group on average (N1 = 39, 53.4%, vs N2 = 9, 9.8% below 2 hours of training; p ≤ 0.01). Most analyzed glycemic parameters and pregnancy outcomes were similar. Differences were found with respect to the incidence of prolonged labor (N1 = 12, 16.4%, vs N2 = 3, 3.7%; p ≤ 0.01) and preeclampsia (N1 = 0 vs N2 = 7, 8.5%; p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

In this single-center observational study, the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic did not seem to have a negative impact on pregnancy outcomes in GDM women, despite the difficulties in diabetes management delivery.

Common sampling and modeling approaches to analyzing readmission risk that ignore clustering produce misleading results

Background

There is little consensus on how to sample hospitalizations and analyze multiple variables to model readmission risk. The purpose of this study was to compare readmission rates and the accuracy of predictive models based on different sampling and multivariable modeling approaches.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 17,284 adult diabetes patients with 44,203 discharges from an urban academic medical center between 1/1/2004 and 12/31/2012. Models for all-cause 30-day readmission were developed by four strategies: logistic regression using the first discharge per patient (LR-first), logistic regression using all discharges (LR-all), generalized estimating equations (GEE) using all discharges, and cluster-weighted (CWGEE) using all discharges. Multiple sets of models were developed and internally validated across a range of sample sizes.

Results

The readmission rate was 10.2% among first discharges and 20.3% among all discharges, revealing that sampling only first discharges underestimates a population’s readmission rate. Number of discharges was highly correlated with number of readmissions (r = 0.87, P < 0.001). Accounting for clustering with GEE and CWGEE yielded more conservative estimates of model performance than LR-all. LR-first produced falsely optimistic Brier scores. Model performance was unstable below samples of 6000–8000 discharges and stable in larger samples. GEE and CWGEE performed better in larger samples than in smaller samples.

Conclusions

Hospital readmission risk models should be based on all discharges as opposed to just the first discharge per patient and utilize methods that account for clustered data.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12874-020-01162-0.

Diabetes to Go-Inpatient: Pragmatic Lessons Learned from Implementation of Technology-Enabled Diabetes Survival Skills Education Within Nursing Unit Workflow in an Urban, Tertiary Care Hospital

BACKGROUND

Diabetes survival skills education (DSSE) focuses on core knowledge and skills necessary for safe, effective, short-term diabetes self-care. Inpatient DSSE delivery approaches are needed. Diabetes to Go (D2Go) is an evidence-based DSSE program originally designed for outpatients.

METHODS

Implementation science principles were used to redesign D2Go for delivery by staff on medicine and surgery units in a tertiary care hospital to adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) using a tablet-based e-learning platform. Implementation efficacy was evaluated from staff and patient engagement perspectives. The Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM) guided redesign. The team conducted qualitative evaluation (implementation barriers and facilitators); program redesign (via stakeholder feedback and education and human factors principles); implementation design for tablet delivery and patient engagement by unit staff; and a prospective implementation feasibility study.

RESULTS

Among 596 T2DM patients identified on three medical/surgical units, 415 (69.6%) were program eligible. Of those eligible, 59 (14.2%) received, accessed, and engaged with the platform; and among those, 43 (72.9%) completed the intervention, representing just 10.4% of those eligible. Multilevel implementation barriers were encountered: staff (receptivity, time, production pressures, culture); process (electronic health record [EHR] integration, patient identification, data tracking, bedside delivery); and patient (receptivity, acuity, availability, accessibility). Most completers required technology support.

CONCLUSION

Time constraints, limited EHR integration, and patient barriers markedly impeded implementation of the delivery of diabetes education at the bedside, despite stated staff interest. As a result, uptake and adoption of a tablet-based DSSE e-learning program in a high-acuity care setting was limited.

Technology Integration: The Role of the Diabetes Care and Education Specialist in Practice

Purpose

Technology is rapidly evolving and has become an integral component of diabetes care. People with diabetes and clinicians are harnessing a variety of technologies, including connected blood glucose meters, continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, automated insulin delivery systems, data-sharing platforms, telehealth, remote monitoring, and smartphone mobile applications to improve clinical outcomes and quality of life. Although diabetes technology use is associated with improved outcomes, this is enhanced when the person using it is knowledgeable and actively engaged; simply wearing the device or downloading an app may not automatically translate into health benefits. The diabetes care and education specialist (DCES) has a central role in defining and establishing a technology-enabled practice setting that is efficient and sustainable. The purpose of this article is to describe the role of the DCES in technology implementation and to demonstrate the value of diabetes technology in both the care of the individual and as a tool to support population-level health improvements.

Conclusion

By following the recommendations in this article, DCESs can serve as technology champions in their respective practices and work to reduce therapeutic inertia while improving health outcomes and providing patient-centered care for the populations they serve.

Management of Inpatient Hyperglycemia and Diabetes in Older Adults

Diabetes is one of the world's fastest growing health challenges. Insulin therapy remains a useful regimen for many elderly patients, such as those with moderate to severe hyperglycemia, type 1 diabetes, hyperglycemic emergencies, and those who fail to maintain glucose control on non-insulin agents alone. Recent clinical trials have shown that several non-insulin agents as monotherapy, or in combination with low doses of basal insulin, have comparable efficacy and potential safety advantages to complex insulin therapy regimens. Determining the most appropriate diabetes management plan for older hospitalized patients requires consideration of many factors to prevent poor outcomes related to dysglycemia.