Impact of Lowered Inpatient Correctional Bedtime Insulin Dosing on Glycemic Outcomes of Veterans

Purpose: This study evaluated glycemic outcomes for hospitalized patients after reduction in bedtime correctional insulin dosing. Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center analysis of a protocol change that reduced bedtime correctional insulin scale. Comparable cohorts pre- and post-protocol change were created which included patients who were ordered correctional insulin with at least 1 blood glucose (BG) reading. The primary outcome was number of nocturnal hypoglycemia readings. Secondary outcomes included, but were not limited to, mean fasting BG, BG within various ranges, and length of stay. Results: 3 percent of patients in the post-protocol change group (N = 100) experienced nocturnal hypoglycemia compared to 6% of patients in the pre-change group (N = 100) (P = .507). There were no significant differences in BG ranges <110 mg/dL, <140 mg/dL, 140 to 180 mg/dL, and >180 mg/dL. However, 19% of patients in the post-protocol change group had BG of >250 mg/dL as compared to 9% in the pre-change group (P = .033). Mean fasting BG was higher in the post-protocol change group compared to the pre-change group (156.5 mg/dL vs 139.3 mg/dL [P = .002]), as was hospital length of stay (5.17 vs 4.6 days, [P = .024]). Conclusions: A decreased bedtime correctional insulin scale had mixed results with more patients achieving goal fasting BG but also more patients experiencing BG > 250 mg/dL and longer length of stay. Larger prospective studies are required to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this type of intervention and its long-term impact.