title: Glycemia management in a Slovenian general hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In-hospital hyperglycemia is common and associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality and extensive length of stay but there are only few studies on real-life hyperglycemia and diabetes management.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional, non-interventional, prospective study we analyzed medical charts on glycemia status at our internal medicine department for 5 consecutive months. Patients were grouped by departments and divided into subgroups by diabetes type, etiology and duration. Physicians answered a questionnaire regarding knowledge on national guidelines and personal opinions on the subject.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 7080 capillary blood glucose measurements from 308 patients were included in the study. Patients were of Caucasian origin with a mean age 72.7 ± 10.7 years and 50.3% were male. Of the measurements 63.3% were within glycemia goals, 2.7% in the range of hypoglycemia and 0.3% of hyperglycemic syndromes. The mean value was 8.88 ± 3.5 mmol/l (159.84 ± 63 mg/dl). There were no differences in mean glucose measurements but significant differences in reaching glycemia target goals and frequency of acute complications between intensive care, general ward and palliative care patients. Subgroup analysis confirmed the association between glycemia management and newly discovered diabetes, type 1 diabetes, steroid use and disrupted food intake (p < 0.05 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results on in-hospital glycemia management seem comparable to previously published data. Patients with newly discovered diabetes, type 1 diabetes, treated with steroids and those eating improperly should be closely monitored. Additional education on guidelines and steroid-induced hyperglycemia accompanied by updated medical charts represent possible improvements. Quality standards for in-hospital glycemia management should be established.
authors.affiliation: General Hospital Slovenj Gradec, Gosposvetska cesta 1, 2380, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia. jana.makuc@sb-sg.si.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Makuc
authors.affiliation: General Hospital Slovenj Gradec, Gosposvetska cesta 1, 2380, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ravber
authors.affiliation: General Hospital Slovenj Gradec, Gosposvetska cesta 1, 2380, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Tajda
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Keber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017524:Slovenia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose
keywords: Acute complications; Diabetes; General hospital; Glycemia management; Quality standard