Accuracy and Glycemic Efficacy of Continuous Glucose Monitors in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is approved for insulin dosing decisions in the ambulatory setting, but not currently for inpatients. CGM has the capacity to reduce patient-provider contact in inpatients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), thus potentially reducing in hospital virus transmission. However, there are sparse data on the accuracy and efficacy of CGM to titrate insulin doses in inpatients. METHODS: Under an emergency use protocol, CGM (Dexcom G6) was used alongside standard point-of-care (POC) glucose measurements in patients critically ill from complications of COVID-19 requiring intravenous (IV) insulin. Glycemic control during IV insulin therapy was retrospectively assessed comparing periods with and without adjunctive CGM use. Accuracy metrics were computed and Clarke Error Grid analysis performed comparing CGM glucose values with POC measurements. RESULTS: Twenty-four critically ill patients who met criteria for emergency use of CGM resulted in 47 333 CGM and 5677 POC glucose values. During IV insulin therapy, individuals' glycemic control improved when CGM was used (mean difference -30.7 mg/dL). Among 2194 matched CGM: POC glucose pairs, a high degree of concordance was observed with a mean absolute relative difference of 14.8% and 99.5% of CGM: POC pairs falling in Zones A and B of the Clarke Error Grid. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous glucose monitoring use in critically ill COVID-19 patients improved glycemic control during IV insulin therapy. Continuous glucose monitoring glucose data were highly concordant with POC glucose during IV insulin therapy in critically ill patients suggesting that CGM could substitute for POC measurements in inpatients thus reducing patient-provider contact and mitigating infection transmission.

Hospital care: improving outcomes in type 1 diabetes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Caring for patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the hospital presents unique challenges. This review provides an update on significant issues relevant to the inpatient management of T1D. Topics include trends in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hypoglycemia, and adapting ambulatory technologies for inpatient use. RECENT FINDINGS: Rates of DKA in the United States are rising. Although socioeconomic status, health insurance coverage, and hemoglobin A1c are persistently associated with DKA in individuals with T1D, newer risk factors have also emerged. These include the off-label use of sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitor medications, immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced diabetes, and infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Hypoglycemia is common among hospitalized patients with T1D. Use of validated hypoglycemia risk prediction models and multidisciplinary care initiatives can reduce the risk of inpatient hypoglycemia. Finally, continuous glucose monitoring is being adapted for use in the hospital setting and has shown promise during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. SUMMARY: Evidence-based treatment algorithms, risk prediction calculators, multidisciplinary interventions, and wearable technology hold promise for improved outcomes in hospitalized patients with T1D.

Hospital Diabetes Meeting 2020.

Patients with diabetes may experience adverse outcomes related to their glycemic control when hospitalized. Continuous glucose monitoring systems, insulin-dosing software, enhancements to the electronic health record, and other medical technologies are now available to improve hospital care. Because of these developments, new approaches are needed to incorporate evolving treatments into routine care. With the goal of educating healthcare professionals on the most recent practices and research for managing diabetes in the hospital, Diabetes Technology Society hosted the Virtual Hospital Diabetes Meeting on April 24-25, 2020. Because of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the meeting was restructured to be held virtually during the national lockdown to ensure the safety of the participants and allow them to remain at their posts treating COVID-19 patients. The meeting focused on (1) inpatient management and perioperative care, (2) diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state, (3) computer-guided insulin dosing, (4) Coronavirus Disease 2019 and diabetes, (5) technology, (6) hypoglycemia, (7) data and cybersecurity, (8) special situations, (9) glucometrics and insulinometrics, and (10) quality and safety. This meeting report contains summaries of each of the ten sessions. A virtual poster session will be presented within two months of the meeting.