Glucometrics utilisation in an urban teaching hospital in ireland: current practice and future aims

Dysglycaemia in hospitalised patients is associated with poorer clinical outcomes, including cardiovascular events, longer hospital stays, and increased risk of mortality. Therefore, glucose monitoring is necessary to achieve best outcomes.

This audit assesses use of point-of-care (POC) blood glucose (BG) testing in Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) over an 8-day period. It evaluates compliance with international and TUH glucose monitoring protocols and determines frequency of diabetes team consultations for inpatient adults.

Data from an 8-day period (12/03/2023–19/03/2023) were extracted from the TUH COBAS-IT system and analysed. Invalid tests were excluded. Hyperglycaemia was defined as ≥ 10 mmol/L and hypoglycaemia as ≤ 3.9 mmol/L. Persistent hyperglycaemia was defined as two BG results of ≥ 10 mmol/L. A chart review was conducted on adult patients with persistent hyperglycaemia to assess for HbA1C results, diabetes diagnosis, and diabetes consult.

3,530 valid tests were included and analysed. 674 individual patients had tests done. 1,165 tests (33.00%) were hyperglycaemic and 75 (2.12%) were hypoglycaemic. 68.25% of adults with persistent hyperglycaemia had an HbA1C test performed or documented within three months. 42.71% of inpatient adults with persistent hyperglycaemia and a known diabetes diagnosis received a consult from the diabetes team.

Increased adherence to hospital protocols for testing HbA1C in adults with persistent hyperglycaemia could improve treatment and clinical outcomes. Increased diabetes team consultation could facilitate appropriate treatment and improve patient outcomes in persistently hyperglycaemic adult patient populations.