Speakers - WNSC 2024

Abstract

Hypoglycemia is a condition characterized by abnormally low blood glucose levels (blood glucose less than 70 mg/dL).  It often occurs in people who have diabetes, especially those who use insulin or certain oral medications to manage their blood sugar levels. However, it can also affect individuals who don't have diabetes, and it is a potentially life-threatening condition that is very much preventable. Our study examines the effect of system-based interventions on outcomes associated with severe hypoglycemia. Many hospitals have developed protocols to guide the treatment of these conditions and align with best practices. From December 23 22to May’23, we noted an increasing trend of hypoglycemia among the admitted patients in our organization, with rates ranging from 0.5 to 3 per 1000 patients' days and an average rate of 0.7, which was alert to the Nursing team. The quality initiative project on early detection of hypoglycemia and its reduction to strengthen the system and enhance patient safety was undertaken. There is a reduction of cases from 14 to 04 during the six-month interventional phase.  There was a marked improvement in nocturnal hypoglycemia events, which were not recordable previously, symptomatic, asymptomatic episodes, and RT feeding-related events; with Oral glucose, 32% of patients were managed, and the rest with 25% Dextrose IV administration. With prompt interventions &management and timely escalation of cases resulted no ICU transfer achieve better patient care outcome. Hence, we developed a formal evidence-based hypoglycemia protocol and treatment algorithm by providing safe, effective management of hypoglycemia throughout the hospital and supporting the organization's goals to control blood glucose.