Management of hospitalized patients with mild to moderate diabetic ketoacidosis using a continuous insulin infusion protocol on a medical surgical ward and observation level of care: A retrospective cohort study.

Although the practice of using rapid-acting subcutaneous insulin for the management of mild-to-moderate diabetic ketoacidosis is becoming increasingly popular, the continuous insulin infusion remains widely utilized, and its real-world applicability and safety on a medical surgical unit (Med Surg) and observation level of care are unclear. We assessed whether a continuous insulin infusion protocol for mild-to-moderate diabetic ketoacidosis on Med Surg/observation level of care over a 6.5-year period was associated with adverse outcomes. A retrospective cohort study of adults hospitalized with mild-to-moderate diabetic ketoacidosis was conducted at 2 community hospitals in Northern California, USA, from January 2014 to May 2020. Demographic and clinical variables were collected using an electronic health record. Admission to Med Surg/observation was compared to intensive care unit admission for the outcomes of 30-day readmission, presence of hypoglycemia, rate of hypoglycemic episodes, in-hospital and 30-day mortality, and length of stay using bivariate analysis. Among 227 hospital encounters (mean age 41 years, 52.9% women, 79.3% type 1 diabetes, 97.4% utilization of continuous insulin infusion), 19.4% were readmitted within 30 days, and 20.7% developed hypoglycemia. For Med Surg/observation encounters compared to the intensive care unit, there were no statistically significant differences in the risk of readmission (RR 1.48, 95% CI, 0.86-2.52), hypoglycemia (RR 1.17, 95% CI, 0.70-1.95), or increased length of stay (RR 0.71, 95% CI, 0.55-1.02); there was a lower risk of hypoglycemic events during hospitalization (RR 0.69, 95% CI, 0.54-0.96). Continuous insulin infusion utilization may be a safe option for treatment of mild-to-moderate diabetic ketoacidosis on Med Surg/observation level of care. Further investigation is needed.

Parathyroid hormone update.

PTH is an exciting new treatment option for postmenopausal women and hypogonadal men who have osteoporosis. As an anabolic agent that affects bone metabolism, it represents an entirely new class of medication for osteoporosis and a novel approach to reducing fracture risk. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated increases in trabecular and cortical BMD (trabecular more than cortical) in men and women, and reduction in vertebral and nonvertebral fractures in postmenopausal women. Studies suggest that it is safe for use for up to 2 years, but further studies are needed to tes longer intervals of use. Although the combination of PTH and bisphosphonates does not seem to be additive, sequential therapy of PTH followed by bisphosphonate yields maximum gains in BMD compared with combined use or monotherapy with antiresorptive agents. As our knowledge of PTH grows, this is an exciting time for researchers, clinicians, and patients who study, treat, and live with the devastating consequences of progressive osteoporosis.