Miller-Cage, Victoria

Background: Hypoglycemia is often cited as a barrier to achieving inpatient glycemic targets. We sought to characterize hypoglycemic events in our institution by work-shift cycle and by specific treatment area. Methods: Capillary (bedside) and blood (laboratory) glucose values of <70 mg/dl for patients with either a known diagnosis of diabetes or with evidence of hyperglycemia were abstracted from our laboratory database for hospitalizations between October 1, 2007, and February 3, 2008. Hypoglycemic events were analyzed by 12 h nursing work-shift cycles (day shift, 07:00 to 18:59; night shift, 19:00 to 06:59) and by the six medical, surgical, and intensive care areas in the hospital (designated areas 1 to 6). Results: We identified 206 individual patients with either diabetes or hyperglycemia (mean age, 67 years; 56% men; 83% white) who had 423 hypoglycemic events. There were 78% more hypoglycemic events during the night shift ( n = 271 events in 128 individual patients) than during the day shift ( n = 152 events in 96 individual patients). Most of the night-shift hypoglycemic measurements were detected between 04:00 and 04:59 or 06:00 and 06:59. The mean hypoglycemic level was comparable between shifts ( p = .79) and across the six inpatient areas. The number of hypoglycemic events per person increased with lengths of hospital stay >5 days. The prevalence of hypoglycemia varied across patient care areas within the hospital, with most (28%) detected in one area of the hospital. Conclusion: There are temporal and geographic patterns in the occurrence of hypoglycemia among patients with diabetes or hyperglycemia in our hospital. Further study should focus on the reasons underlying these variations so that specific interventions can address the risk of hypoglycemia during peak times and places.

Background: This article reviews the performance of our hospital's inpatient insulin pump policy. Methods: Twenty-five hospital admissions of 21 unique patients receiving outpatient insulin pump therapy were reviewed. Results: Between November 1, 2005, and November 30, 2006, there were 25 hospital admissions involving 21 patients receiving outpatient insulin pump therapy. The average age and duration of diabetes among these 21 patients was 50 and 29 years, respectively; 67% were women, 90% had type 1 diabetes, and all were white. The mean length of hospital stay was 4 days, and the average reported length of insulin pump therapy was 4 years. Patients in 16 of the admissions were identified as candidates for continued use of the insulin pump during the hospital stay. Over 90% of patients remaining on the insulin pump had documentation by nursing of the presence of the pump at the time of admission; 100% of the patients had an admission glucose recorded; 88% had a record of signed patient consent; 81% had evidence of completed preprinted insulin pump orders; 75% received a required endocrine consultation; and 75% of cases had documentation of completed bedside flow sheet. A high frequency of both hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events occurred in the patients; however, no adverse events were related directly to the insulin pump. Conclusions: Insulin pump therapy can be safely continued in the hospital setting. While staff compliance with required procedures was high, there was still room for improvement. More data are needed, however, on whether this method of insulin delivery is effective for controlling hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients.

Purpose Individuals whose diabetes is being treated in the outpatient setting via an insulin pump often wish to maintain this therapy during hospitalization. The authors propose guidelines for management of patients on insulin pumps who require a hospital admission. Methods A collaborative interinstitutional task force reviewed current available information regarding the use of insulin pumps in the hospital. Results There was little information in the medical literature on how to manage individuals on established insulin pump therapy during a hospital stay. The task force believed that a policy that promotes patient independence through continuation of insulin pump therapy while ensuring patient safety was possible. A set of contraindications for continued use of pump therapy in the hospital are proposed. A sample patient consent form and order set are presented. Finally, measures that can be used to assess effectiveness of an inpatient insulin pump policy are outlined. Conclusions Patients on established insulin pump therapy do not necessarily have to discontinue treatment while hospitalized. However, clear policies and procedures should be established at the institutional level to guide continued use of the technology in the acute care setting.