Safe and Sufficient Glycemic Control by Using a Digital Clinical Decision Support System for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes in a Routine Setting on General Hospital Wards

• Published in: Journal of diabetes science and technology Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 231 - 235
• Main Authors: Lichtenegger, Katharina M., Aberer, Felix, Tuca, Alexandru C., Donsa, Klaus, Höll, Bernhard, Schaupp, Lukas, Plank, Johannes, Beck, Peter, Fruhwald, Friedrich M, Kamolz, Lars-Peter, Pieber, Thomas R., Mader, Julia K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.03.2021
• Subjects: Special Section: Insulin Dosing Software in the Hospital; type 2 diabetes; decision support; hospital; insulin therapy; mobile applications; algorithm
• ISSN: 1932-2968; 1932-3107; 1932-3107
• DOI: 10.1177/1932296820955243

The aim was to investigate the applicability of a clinical decision support system in a real-world inpatient setting for patients with type 2 diabetes on general hospital wards. A total of 150 patients with type 2 diabetes requiring subcutaneous insulin therapy were treated with basal-bolus insulin therapy guided by a decision support system (GlucoTab) providing automated workflow tasks and suggestions for insulin dosing to health care professionals. By using the system, a mean daily blood glucose (BG) of 159 ± 32 mg/dL was achieved. 68.8% of measurements were in the target range (70 to <180 mg/dL). The percentage of BG values <40, <70, and ≥300 mg/dL was 0.02%, 2.2%, and 2.3%, respectively. Health care professionals’ adherence to suggested insulin doses and workflow tasks was high (>93% and 91%, respectively). The decision support system facilitates safe and efficacious inpatient diabetes care by standardizing treatment workflow and providing decision support for basal-bolus insulin dosing.