Patient Safety Movement APSS: Blood glucose management

Summary

Frequent and wide ‘swings’ in blood glucose levels are common in the hospital setting, for both diabetic and non-diabetic patients, due to factors including, but not limited to, physiologic stress, certain medications and procedures. However, these uncontrolled swings in glucose levels can be detrimental to patients and can compromise wound healing, increase risk of infection, and delay surgical procedures and discharge. Early recognition and anticipation of blood sugar swings have proven to be effective in improving outcomes but require significant infrastructural changes within the organisation.

Many healthcare organisations have successfully implemented and sustained blood glucose management initiatives.These organisations have focused on projects that included education around and trigger tools for early recognition and anticipation of blood sugar “swings”.

This document provides a blueprint that outlines the actionable steps organisations should take to successfully improve blood glucose management and summarises the available evidence-based practice protocols.