Sliding-Scale Insulin Use in Long-Term Care: An Updated Perspective.

Abstract

Diabetes affects approximately 26% of individuals oldeR THAN 65 years of age in the United States and up to 33% of patients in long-term care facilities. The most commonly prescribed insulin therapy for patients in long-term care is sliding-scale insulin (SSI): the use of finger-stick blood glucose testing to assess the need for insulin administration based on current blood glucose levels. SSI has been on the Beers Criteria of Potentially Inappropriate Medications since 2012. However, its sole use for long-term treatment is specifically not recommended by the American Diabetes Association and other stakeholders in diabetes management. This review discusses recent updates to several published guidelines, including Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Beers criteria, the American Medical Directors Association, and the American Diabetes Association regarding the use of SSI-only insulin regimens for elderly patients in long-term care.