Inpatient management of diabetes and hyperglycemia among general medicine patients at a large teaching hospital.
BACKGROUND: Because of the relationship between inpatient hyperglycemia and adverse patient outcomes, current guidelines recommend glucose levels less than 180 mg/dL in the non-ICU inpatient setting and the use of effective insulin protocols for appropriate patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine the current state of glucose management on an academic hospitalist service and the relationship between insulin-ordering practices and glycemic control. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Hospitalist-run general medicine service of an academic teaching hospital. PATIENTS: 107 consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus or inpatient hyperglycemia. MEASUREMENTS: We collected data on up to 4 bedside glucose measurements per day, detailed clinical information, and all orders related to glucose management. The primary outcomes were rate of hyperglycemia (glucose > 180 mg/dL) per patient and mean glucose level per patient-day. RESULTS: The mean rate of hyperglycemia was 31% of measurements per patient. Basal insulin was ordered for 43% of patients, and scheduled rapid- or short-acting insulin was ordered for 4% of patients. Sixty-five percent of patients who had at least 1 episode of hyper- or hypoglycemia had no change made to any insulin order during the first 5 days of the hospitalization. When adjusted for clinical factors, the use of sliding-scale insulin by itself was associated with a 20 mg/dL higher mean glucose level per patient-day. CONCLUSIONS: Management of diabetes and hyperglycemia on a general medicine service showed several deficiencies in process and outcome. Possible targets for improvement include increased use of basal and nutritional insulin and daily insulin adjustment in response to hyperglycemia.