Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
12:08

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital

Published on: June 11, 2012

Hyperglycaemia monitoring and management in stroke care: policy vs. practice

E A Mitchell1, V E Coates, A A Ryan

  • 1School of Nursing, University of Ulster, Derry, UK. ea.mitchell@ulster.ac.uk

Diabetic Medicine : a Journal of the British Diabetic Association
|April 19, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Hyperglycaemia was common and under-managed in hospitalised stroke patients. Greater vigilance is needed for detecting high blood glucose and undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in these acute stroke patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Endocrinology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Hyperglycaemia is a common complication in patients admitted with acute stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
  • Effective monitoring and management of blood glucose levels are crucial for optimizing patient outcomes in these neurological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the extent of hyperglycaemia monitoring and management in hospitalized patients with acute stroke and TIA.
  • To identify gaps in the detection and treatment of elevated glucose levels and undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in this patient population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of 112 patients admitted with acute stroke or TIA.
  • Analysis of glucose monitoring data for the first 5 days of hospital admission.
  • Comparison of interventions and outcomes between hyperglycaemic (glucose ≥ 7.8 mmol/l) and normoglycaemic patients.

Main Results:

  • Daily prevalence of hyperglycaemia ranged from 24% to 34% across the first 5 days.
  • 37% of patients experienced hyperglycaemia at least once during the study period.
  • Glycaemia was under-monitored in patients without diagnosed diabetes, and hyperglycaemia was often under-treated and under-reported.

Conclusions:

  • There is a significant need for improved vigilance in detecting hyperglycaemia among stroke and TIA patients.
  • Enhanced screening for undiagnosed diabetes mellitus is required in hospitalized patients with acute cerebrovascular events.
  • Current management practices for hyperglycaemia in this cohort require improvement to ensure optimal patient care.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Mouse Model of Hemorrhagic Transformation Induced by Acute Hyperglycemia Combined with Transient Focal Ischemia09:35

A Mouse Model of Hemorrhagic Transformation Induced by Acute Hyperglycemia Combined with Transient Focal Ischemia

Published on: November 15, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy01:15

Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy

The therapy for diabetes aims to alleviate hyperglycemia-related symptoms, prevent acute metabolic decompensation, and reduce chronic end-organ complications. Glycemic control is evaluated through short-term (self-monitoring, continuous glucose monitoring) and long-term (A1c, fructosamine) metrics, enabling near real-time tracking of blood glucose levels and reflecting glycemic control over specific time frames.
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
Hypoglycemia01:26

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a blood glucose level below 70 mg/dL. It commonly occurs in individuals using insulin or insulin-secreting drugs, but may also arise in non-diabetic conditions. People with type 1 diabetes are at the highest risk because they depend on exogenous insulin. People with type 2 diabetes are also at risk, especially when treated with insulin or medications such as sulfonylureas, which increase insulin release regardless of blood glucose levels. It develops when insulin levels exceed...
Hyperglycemia01:29

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia is an abnormally high blood glucose level. It is diagnosed by fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (or OGTT) ≥200 mg/dL, random glucose ≥200 mg/dL with symptoms, or HbA1c ≥6.5%. However, HbA1c results may be unreliable in certain conditions, such as anemia or hemoglobinopathies, and the diagnosis should be confirmed unless classic symptoms are present. Postprandial hyperglycemia is typically considered significant when glucose levels exceed 180 mg/dL two...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Acute Pancreatitis II: Clinical Manifestations and Management01:30

Acute Pancreatitis II: Clinical Manifestations and Management

Acute pancreatitis presents a complex medical emergency characterized by rapid onset inflammation of the pancreas, demanding timely diagnosis and management to prevent complications. The condition primarily manifests through severe upper abdominal pain that often radiates to the back. This pain intensifies following the consumption of fatty foods. Accompanying symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention, fever, dyspnea, cyanosis, and jaundice can vary in intensity but significantly...