Diabetes on a cardiovascular ward: adherence to current recommendations.
OBJECTIVE
Improving diabetes and blood pressure control decreases the incidence and progression of microvascular disease. Likewise, screening for microvascular complications is beneficial in the early detection and treatment of these disorders. However, adherence to practice guidelines for screening and treatment in patients with diabetes is suboptimal. This study describes a group of patients with diabetes who were admitted to a cardiology service at an academic medical center.


METHODS
Patient interview and chart review were used to determine glycemic control and compliance with practice guidelines.


RESULTS
The mean hemoglobin A1c was 8.3%. Only 69% of patients received ophthalmologic examinations, and fewer were screened for nephropathy. Thirty-five percent of patients monitored home blood glucoses less than daily. Nearly 17% had no hemoglobin A1c or lipid checks during the 3 months before admission.


CONCLUSIONS
For a group of poorly controlled patients with diabetes who are at high risk for cardiovascular disease, adherence to practice guidelines and the level of diabetes control is inadequate.
Bethel
M Angelyn
MA
Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition, Duke University Medical Center, and Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Alexander
John
J
Lane
Jim
J
Barkauskas
Christina
C
Feinglos
Mark N
MN
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D015897:Comorbidity; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents