Impact of inpatient diabetes management, education, and improved discharge transition on glycemic control 12 months after discharge

Abstract

Aim

To determine whether inpatient diabetes management and education with improved transition to outpatient care (IDMET) improves glycemic control after hospital discharge in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods

Adult inpatients with T2DM and HbA1c > 7.5% (58 mmol/mol) admitted for reasons other than diabetes to an academic medical center were randomly assigned to either IDMET or usual care (UC). Linear mixed models estimated treatment-dependent differences in the change in HbA1c (measured at 3, 6, and 12 months) from baseline to 1-year follow-up.

Results

Thirty-one subjects had mean age 55 ± 12.6 years, with mean HbA1c of 9.7 ± 1.6% (82 ± 18 mmol/mol). Mean inpatient glucose was lower in the IDMET than in the UC group (176 ± 66 versus 195 ± 74 mg/dl [9.7 versus 10.8 mmol/l], P = 0.001). In the year after discharge, the average HbA1c reduction was greater in the IDMET group compared with the UC group by 0.6% (SE 0.5%, [7 (SE 5) mmol/mol], P = 0.3). Among patients newly discharged on insulin, the average HbA1c reduction was greater in the in the IDMET group than in the UC group by 2.4% (SE 1.0%, [25 (SE 11) mmol/mol], P = 0.04).

Conclusions

Inpatient diabetes management (IDMET) substantially improved glycemic control 1 year after discharge in patients newly discharged on insulin; patients previously treated with insulin did not benefit.