Development of Quality Measures for Inpatient Diabetes Care and Education Specialists: A Call to Action.

Diabetes and hyperglycemia are associated with an increased risk of in-hospital complications that lead to longer lengths of stay, increased morbidity, higher mortality, and risk of readmission. Diabetes care and education specialists (DCESs) working in hospital settings are uniquely prepared and credentialed to serve as content experts to facilitate change and implement processes and programs to improve glycemic-related outcomes. A recent survey of DCESs explored the topic of productivity and clinical metrics.

Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis Associated With SGLT2 Inhibitor Therapy: A Case Report.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors are now considered second-line treatment agents for type 2 diabetes and offer a unique treatment approach with added cardiorenal benefits. Drugs in this class increase the risk of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis, which may be difficult to diagnose if clinicians are not aware of the risk factors and subtle symptoms. This article describes a case of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis in a patient with coronary artery disease who was taking a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor and experienced acute mental status changes immediately after heart catheterization.

Improving Diabetes Self-Management Support: Goal-Setting Across the Continuum of Care.

Goal-setting has consistently been promoted as a strategy to support behavior change and diabetes self-care. Although goal-setting conversations occur most often in outpatient settings, clinicians across care settings need to better understand and communicate about the priorities, goals, and concerns of those with diabetes to develop collaborative, person-centered partnerships and to improve clinical outcomes. The electronic health record is a mechanism for improved communication and collaboration across the continuum of care.

The Importance of Glycemic Control in the Hospital and the Role of the Infusion Nurse.

Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions. Patients undergoing surgery, regardless of diabetes history, are at high risk for complications of poor glycemic control, including infection, mortality, and longer lengths of stay. This article provides an overview of the evidence about glycemic control in the hospital, risk factors for hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, and the role of infusion nurses in improving outcomes for hospitalized patients with diabetes.

Clinical nurse specialists lead teams to impact glycemic control after cardiac surgery.

Purpose: The purpose of this evidence-based practice improvement project was to improve patients' blood glucose control after cardiac surgery, specifically aiming to keep blood glucose levels less than 200 mg/dL.

Background/rationale: Glycemic control is essential for wound healing and infection prevention. Multiple factors including the use of corticosteroids and the stress of critical illness put cardiac surgery patients at greater risk for elevated blood glucose levels postoperatively.