Improving inpatient diabetes care: nursing issues

As the epidemic of diabetes continues to escalate, the number of patients with diabetes who are hospitalized also will grow. Current evidence shows the value of good glycemic control in reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. Nurses will increasingly be called on to provide the majority of the hospitalized care for these patients, and to implement care strategies that are safe, efficient, and effective. This article lists barriers faced by nurses in the inpatient setting when providing care to patients with diabetes and hyperglycemia, describes certain strategies that have successfully overcome these barriers, and suggests other strategies for testing.