Endocrinologists recommend diabetes screening on hospital admission

Abstract

A new clinical practice guideline recommends that all patients, even those not previously diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, have their blood glucose measured on admission to a hospital. “Management of Hyperglycemia in Hospitalized Patients in Non-Critical Care Setting: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline” also includes glycemic targets for patients whose blood glucose level is elevated and offers advice to help hospitals implement glycemic control programs. “I’m very pleased to see this,” said Susan Cornell, associate professor of pharmacy practice at Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Pharmacy and a certified diabetes educator. “This is a long time coming, and I’m glad that the Endocrine Society has stepped up and put these guidelines out there.” The guideline calls hyperglycemia “a common, serious, and costly health care problem” and recognizes that noncritically ill patients who have poor glucose control are at increased risk for complications during hospitalization. In particular, clinical studies have found that uncontrolled hyperglycemia increases inpatients’ risks for infection and death and can lengthen the hospital stay.