Improving Glucose Management with Point-of-Care Testing in the Emergency Department

Abstract Hyperglycemic emergencies such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic states (HHS) have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at risk for developing these severe metabolic complications and often present to the emergency department requiring fluid management, electrolyte replacement, and insulin therapy for rapid and safe reversal. Early identification of hyperglycemic patients with the use of point-of-care (POC) testing may facilitate implementation of an institutional treatment algorithm in those patients presenting with DKA and HHS. There are limited studies evaluating the use of POC testing for early identification of hyperglycemic emergencies and the utilization of a standardized insulin protocol. The aim of this article is to review the literature evaluating POC testing and its applicability for implementation of institutional hyperglycemic emergency protocols in the emergency department.
Source: Current Emergency and Hospital Medicine Reports - Category: Emergency Medicine Source Type: research