HYPERGLYCEMIA AND HYPOGLYCEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES IN SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES

Endocrinologists are faced with a growing elderly patient population with diabetes mellitus (DM), some of whom are in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Efforts at managing their DM is hampered by concerns for hypoglycemia. This study aimed to determine the frequency of hypo- and hyperglycemia in SNFs, and associated factors.

We reviewed medical records of 200 consecutive residents admitted to two SNFs in the Cleveland area in 2014 with documented DM, aged ≥65 years. Data collected included blood glucose (BG) levels and DM regimens. Frequency of hyper- and hypoglycemic events was noted. Since patients had different frequencies of BG checks, event-days were calculated.

Mean age, BG, and glycated hemoglobin (±SD) were as follows: 80.2 ± 8.2 years, 172.4 ± 40.3 mg/dL, and 7.5 ± 1.9% (59 mmol/mol), respectively. Seventy-one percent were on insulin alone, 15.5% on insulin and oral diabetes agents, and 13.5% on oral diabetes agent on admission. Patients with at least one event were as follows: 38% hypoglycemia, 3.5% severe hypoglycemia, 90.5% hyperglycemia, and 15% severe hyperglycemia. Event-days were: 3.4% hypoglycemia and 52.4% hyperglycemia. Risk of hypoglycemia was highest with concomitant sulfonylurea and prandial or sliding-scale insulin. Hyperglycemia risk was high in basal insulin-containing regimens.

Hypoglycemia was seen in one-third of patients, and hyperglycemia was common despite insulin use. Concomitant use of sulfonylurea and prandial or sliding-scale insulin is best avoided in this fragile population with hypo- and hyperglycemia.

ADA = American Diabetes Association BG = blood glucose DM = diabetes mellitus GLP-1 = glucagon-like peptide 1 HBA1c = glycated hemoglobin LOS = length of stay NPH = neutral protamine Hagedorn SNF = skilled nursing facility SSI = sliding-scale insulin.