Glycaemic management in patients with diabetes in hospital

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in hospital inpatients is up to three times greater than in the general population. Furthermore, both hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemic in the inpatient environment are associated with not only considerable increases in morbidity and mortality, but also increases in costs related to healthcare delivery. Clinical guidelines to improve glycaemic control in inpatient diabetes care vary regionally;in many countries, oral hypoglycaemic drugs are replaced by insulin-based treatment protocols, while in the UK consensus-based recommendations support the use of oral agents such as metformin and sulfonylureas in specific scenarios. Growing evidence supports the use of incretin-based therapies. Challenges during the continuing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have further necessitated transformations in the delivery of diabetes care during hospital admissions and reinforced the adoption of technology associated with remote inpatient diabetes management. This overview of inpatient diabetes management focuses on current practices in the UK and gives recommendations for improving diabetes care, including the choice of various diabetes therapies and technologies.