Clinical Utility of Switching to Insulin Degludec From Other Basal Insulins in Adult Patients With Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: The effects of switching Canadians from other basal insulins to degludec (IDeg) in an outpatient setting are unknown. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of switching insulin-treated adults with either type 1 (T1DM) or type 2 (T2DM) diabetes mellitus to IDeg. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational cohort study of Albertans who were switched to IDeg between December 1, 2018, and December 1, 2019, and followed until March 1, 2020. We used administrative databases (provincial cohort) and electronic medical records (clinic cohort) to gather data and interrupted time series for the primary outcome analysis. RESULTS: We analyzed a provincial cohort of 5,294 patients, 287 of whom were also included in the clinic cohort (T1DM, n=80; T2DM, n=207). After switching to IDeg, glycated hemoglobin (A1C) decreased by -0.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.4% to -0.2%) and the reduction in A1C was maintained throughout the follow-up period. Rates of all-cause hospitalizations/emergency department visits per patient were not affected (hospitalizations pre-switch 0.07 [95% CI, 0.07 to 0.08], post-switch 0.08 [95% CI, 0.06 to 0.09], p=0.45; ED visits pre-switch 0.25 [95% CI, 0.23 to 0.27], post-switch 0.26 [95% CI, 0.23 to 0.29], p=0.27). In the clinic cohort, at switch, there was an average basal insulin dose reduction of 11.2% (T1DM), 12.3% (T2DM) and 16.3% (patients with insulin resistance). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with inadequate glycemic control or who find their basal insulin dosing inconvenient may benefit from switching to Ideg, with the potential for small improvementa in A1C at lower basal insulin doses.

Knowledge Translation to Optimize Adult Inpatient Glycemic Management With Basal Bolus Insulin Therapy and Improve Patient Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and evaluate a Basal Bolus Insulin Therapy (BBIT) Knowledge Translation toolkit to address barriers to adoption of established best practice with BBIT in the care of adult inpatients. METHODS: This study was conducted in 2 phases and focused on the hospitalist provider group across 4 acute care facilities in Calgary. Phase 1 involved a qualitative evaluation of provider and site specific barriers and facilitators, which were mapped to validated interventions using behaviour change theory. This informed the co-development and optimization of the BBIT Knowledge Translation toolkit, with each tool targeting a specific barrier to improved diabetes care practice, including BBIT ordering. In Phase 2, the BBIT Knowledge Translation toolkit was implemented and evaluated, focusing on BBIT ordering frequency, as well as secondary outcomes of hyperglycemia (patient-days with BG >14.0 mmol/L), hypoglycemia (patient-days with BG <4.0 mmol/L), and acute length of stay. RESULTS: Implementation of the BBIT Knowledge Translation toolkit resulted in a significant 13% absolute increase in BBIT ordering. Hyperglycemic patient-days were significantly reduced, with no increase in hypoglycemia. There was a significant, absolute 14% reduction in length of stay. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an evidence-informed, multifaceted BBIT Knowledge Translation toolkit effectively reduced a deeply entrenched in-patient diabetes care gap. The resulting sustained practice change improved patient clinical and system resource utilization outcomes. This systemic approach to implementation will guide further scale and spread of glycemic optimization initiatives.