Monica DiNardo

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American Diabetes Association consensus statement on inpatient glycemic control.

This report is being published concurrently in 2009 in Endocrine Practice and Diabetes Care by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the American Diabetes Association. From the 1Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 2Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 3Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing PhD Program, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 4Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute, La Jolla, California, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California, and Diabetes and Endocrine Associates, La Jolla, California, 5Department of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and Hellman and Rosen Endocrine Associates, North Kansas City, Missouri, 6Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, 7Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine and the Yale Diabetes Center, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, 8Department of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics, Division of Clinical and Molecular Endocrinology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 9Clinical Affairs, American Diabetes Association, Alexandria, Virginia, and 10Department of Medicine/Endocrinology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Etie S. Moghissi, 4644 Lincoln Boulevard, Suite 409, Marina del Rey, CA 90292.

EVOLUTION OF A DIABETES INPATIENT SAFETY COMMITTEE

OBJECTIVE To develop a multidisciplinary team, the Diabetes Inpatient Safety Committee (DPSC), to effectively address the many barriers to achieving glycemic control in the inpatient setting. METHODS The development, implementation, and successes of the DPSC are described. RESULTS By focusing on prevention of severe hypoglycemia, the DPSC identified and addressed areas related to inpatient management that contributed to uncontrolled glucose levels. The introduction of a hypoglycemia treatment protocol was followed by the development of a standardized order set for use of sliding scale insulin, with the eventual introduction of an Insulin Order Set guiding the use of scheduled and correctional insulin. Protocols and guidelines addressing more specific areas of inpatient glycemic management (insulin pump therapy, perioperative management, diabetic ketoacidosis, intravenous insulin) also have been developed. CONCLUSION The successes of the DPSC to date have been directly related to strong institutional support, the dedication of a multidisciplinary team to address specific areas of glycemic management, the programmed introduction of order sets in conjunction with structured educational programs that accompany each protocol, and the use of quality improvement measures to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these protocols. Effective committees such as this will be instrumental in preventing errors and maximizing euglycemia.

Patient outcomes after implementation of a protocol for inpatient insulin pump therapy.

OBJECTIVE To determine the safety and the results of use of an inpatient insulin pump protocol (IIPP). METHODS In this quality improvement initiative, review of medical records of bedside capillary blood glucose (CBG) levels and pump-related adverse events was performed on 50 consecutive inpatients admitted to the hospital with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) after implementation of our IIPP. Patients were categorized in 3 groups on the basis of evidence in the medical records for IIPP in combination with inpatient diabetes service consultation (group 1; n = 34), for IIPP alone (group 2; n = 12), or for usual care (group 3; n = 4). Patients identified during hospital admission as using CSII therapy were invited to complete a satisfaction questionnaire for inpatient CSII use. RESULTS Mean CBG levels were similar among the 3 groups (groups 1, 2, and 3: 173 +/- 43 mg/dL versus 187 +/- 62 mg/dL versus 218 +/- 46 mg/dL, respectively). Although there were more patient-days with blood glucose >300 mg/dL in group 3 (P = .02), there were no significant group differences in the frequency of hypoglycemia (CBG <70 mg/dL). Only 1 pump malfunction and 1 infusion site problem were reported among all study patients. No serious adverse events related to CSII therapy occurred. The majority of patients (86%) reported satisfaction with their ability to continue CSII use in the hospital. CONCLUSION Patients using CSII as outpatients are candidates for inpatient diabetes self-management. Inexperience with these devices on the part of hospital personnel together with the limited studies of patient experience with CSII in the hospital contributes to inconsistencies in management of these patients. An IIPP provides a standardized and safe approach to the use of CSII in the hospital.

Effect of a diabetes order set on glycaemic management and control in the hospital

Problem: Insulin can have favourable effects on patient outcomes when used appropriately; however, it is considered among the top five medications associated with errors in the hospital setting. Setting: Tertiary care centre. Methods : A diabetes order set with prescribing guidelines was developed by a multidisciplinary diabetes patient safety committee, and introduced on an inpatient unit (the order set unit) following educational sessions with doctors/nurses. To determine the safety and efficacy of the order set, all orders for diabetes medications on patients with 3 days of bedside blood glucose data were recorded and reviewed for types and appropriateness of orders and compared with those written on a unit not using the order set (control unit). An expert panel not involved in the project reviewed and determined appropriateness according to criteria that included evidence of insulin adjustments for hyperglycaemia, hypoglycaemia, or steroid therapy. Satisfaction with the order set among clinical personnel was elicited by a four-item questionnaire. Results: There were more orders for scheduled basal/bolus insulin therapy (p = 0.008) and fewer orders for correctional insulin alone on the order set unit than the control unit. A trend toward more appropriate orders (91% vs 80%) was observed on the order set unit. A high degree of satisfaction for the diabetes order set was elicited from doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses and clerical staff using a four-item survey. Conclusions: A diabetes order set with prescribing guidelines can safely and effectively be implemented in hospitals. The success of this intervention is attributed to the contribution of nurses, pharmacists and prescribers in the design and implementation of the order set, the provider education accompanying order set implementation and the feedback following implementation.

Standardized glycemic management and perioperative glycemic outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus who undergo same-day surgery.

OBJECTIVE To assess the safety and effectiveness of a standardized glycemic management protocol in patients with diabetes mellitus who undergo same-day surgery. METHODS The perioperative glycemic management protocol consisted of preoperative instructions and perioperative order sets for management of subcutaneous and intravenous insulin. Patients with known diabetes admitted to same-day surgery during a 10-month period were observed. Patient demographic information and all capillary blood glucose (CBG) values obtained during the same-day surgery visit were collected. Hyperglycemia, defined as a CBG concentration of 200 mg/dL or greater, prompted notification of the attending anesthesiologist. While use of the perioperative order sets was encouraged, the attending anesthesiologist retained the prerogative to treat according to these order sets or their usual care. Physician compliance with the standardized order sets was determined by chart review in the patients who had a documented blood glucose value of 200 mg/dL or greater. RESULTS Patients managed with the standardized order sets had greater reductions in CBG values (percentage change, 35 ± 20.5% vs 18 ± 24%, P<.001) and lower postoperative CBG values (186 ± 53 mg/dL vs 208 ± 63 mg/dL, P<.05) than patients who received usual care. No cases of intraoperative or postoperative hypoglycemia (CBG <70 mg/dL) were observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS A systematic approach to glycemic management that includes instructions for preoperative adjustments to home diabetic medications and order sets for treatment of perioperative hyperglycemia is safe and can be more effective than usual care for ambulatory surgery patients with diabetes.

Menu selection, glycaemic control and satisfaction with standard and patient-controlled consistent carbohydrate meal plans in hospitalised patients with diabetes

Problem Medical nutrition therapy is an important component of glycaemic management in hospitalised patients with diabetes; however, there is a lack of information guiding the ordering of specific meal plans in this setting. Setting University-affiliated academic medical centre. Methods An administrative decision to gradually replace standard consistent-carbohydrate (CCMP) (standard group) with patient-controlled meal plans (patient-controlled group) presented the opportunity to compare menu selection, adherence to CCMP, glycaemic control and satisfaction as a quality-improvement initiative. Information was obtained from consecutive inpatients with diabetes admitted to units receiving standard (n=30) or patient-controlled meal plans (n=43). Patients received the meal plan according to unit location. Results No group differences were observed in adherence to CCMP (70% vs 64%, p=0.1), mean capillary blood glucose (CBG) or hyperglycaemia frequency (CBG>180 mg/dl). Hypoglycaemia (CBG<70 mg/dl) occurred more frequently in the patient-controlled group (0.39 vs 3.23%, p=0.04). There were no episodes of severe hypoglycaemia (CBG<40 mg/dl) in either group. The patient-controlled group reported a greater satisfaction and had more opportunities for nutrition education, with a demonstrated improvement in adherence to CCMP following targeted education in six of nine patients with available menu data. Conclusions The standard group experienced less hypoglycaemia and required less clinician oversight. The patient-controlled group allowed for identification of patients who would benefit from education, required more oversight by nutrition services and reported greater satisfaction with their meal plan. Both meal plans may be appropriate for inpatients with diabetes, provided that a sufficient review is available for patients who make inappropriate selections with the patient-controlled meal plan.

Long-Term Effects of the Booster-Enhanced READY-Girls Preconception Counseling Program on Intentions and Behaviors for Family Planning in Teens With Diabetes

OBJECTIVE To examine 12-month effects of a booster-enhanced preconception counseling (PC) program (READY-Girls) on family planning for teen girls with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Participants 13–19 years of age (n = 109) were randomized to a standard care control group (CG) or intervention group (IG) that received PC over three consecutive clinic visits. Prepost data were collected at baseline, 3- and 6-month booster sessions, and a 12-month follow-up visit. RESULTS Mean age was 15.8 years; 9 (8%) subjects had type 2 diabetes; and 18 (17%) subjects were African American. At baseline, 20% (n = 22 of 109) had been sexually active, and of these, 50% (n = 11) had at least one episode of unprotected sex. Over time, IG participants retained greater PC knowledge (F[6, 541] = 4.05, P = 0.0005) and stronger intentions regarding PC (significant group-by-time effects) especially after boosters. IG participants had greater intentions to discuss PC (F[6, 82.4] = 2.56, P = 0.0254) and BC (F[6, 534] = 3.40, P = 0.0027) with health care providers (HCPs) and seek PC when planning a pregnancy (F[6, 534] = 2.58, P = 0.0180). Although not significant, IG participants, compared with CG, showed a consistent trend toward lower rates of overall sexual activity over time: less sexual debut (35 vs. 41%) and higher rates of abstinence (44 vs. 32%). No pregnancies were reported in either group throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS READY-Girls appeared to have long-term sustaining effects on PC knowledge, beliefs, and intentions to initiate discussion with HCPs that could improve reproductive health behaviors and outcomes. Strong boosters and providing PC at each clinic visit could play important roles in sustaining long-term effects.

The importance of normoglycemia in critically ill patients.

Hyperglycemia is a risk factor for adverse outcomes in acutely ill patients with and without diabetes. One third of all patients admitted to tertiary care facilities have hyperglycemia, with approximately 12% having had no prior history of diabetes. Hyperglycemia adversely affects fluid balance, predisposes to infection, morbidity following acute cardiovascular events, and increases the risk for renal failure, polyneuropathy, and mortality in ICU patients. Because traditional thought suggests hypoglycemia presents a more serious risk to critically ill patients than does hyperglycemia, clinicians are often less than aggressive in treating blood glucoses under 200 mg/dl. Current research, however, demonstrates that even modest degrees of hyperglycemia are associated with adverse outcomes in critically ill patients. Safe implementation of normoglycemia in intensive care patients can be labor intensive and requires well-formulated treatment strategies and interdisciplinary support. Therefore, understanding the importance of intensive glucose control, being comfortable with current clinical treatment modalities, and having the necessary resources to provide this type of care, are vital to critical care nursing practice today.

Effect of an educational Inpatient Diabetes Management Program on medical resident knowledge and measures of glycemic control: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effectiveness of an Inpatient Diabetes Management Program (IDMP) on physician knowledge and inpatient glycemic control. METHODS Residents assigned to General Internal Medicine inpatient services were randomized to receive the IDMP (IDMP group) or usual education only (non-IDMP group). Both groups received an overview of inpatient diabetes management in conjunction with reminders of existing order sets on the hospital Web site. The IDMP group received print copies of the program and access to an electronic version for a personal digital assistant (PDA). A Diabetes Knowledge Test (DKT) was administered at baseline and at the end of the 1-month rotation. The frequency of hyperglycemia among patients under surveillance by each group was compared by using capillary blood glucose values and a dispersion index of glycemic variability. IDMP users completed a questionnaire related to the program. RESULTS Twenty-two residents participated (11 in the IDMP group and 11 in the non-IDMP group). Overall Diabetes Knowledge Test scores improved in both groups (IDMP: 69% ± 1.7% versus 83% ± 2.1%, P = .003; non-IDMP: 76% ± 1.2% versus 84% ± 1.4%, P = .02). The percentage of correct responses for management of corticosteroid-associated hyperglycemia (P = .004) and preoperative glycemic management (P = .006) improved in only the IDMP group. The frequency of hyperglycemia (blood glucose level >180 mg/dL) and the dispersion index (5.3 ± 7.6 versus 3.7 ± 5.6; P = .2) were similar between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION An IDMP was effective at improving physician knowledge for managing hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients treated with corticosteroids or in preparation for surgical procedures. Educational programs directed at improving overall health care provider knowledge for inpatient glycemic management may be beneficial; however, improvements in knowledge do not necessarily result in improved glycemic outcomes.

The Medical Emergency Team and Rapid Response System: Finding, Treating, and Preventing Hypoglycemia

Administrative and quality improvement processes that occurred in response to one patients series of critical hypoglycemic events ultimately contributed to systematic improvements in patient safety.