(WASHINGTON, DC) o save lives and reduce disability, medical experts today called for standardized blood sugar management in hospitalized patients.

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Blood sugar control reduces complications, saves lives, shortens length of hospital stays and reduces costs. Hospitalized patients with uncontrolled high blood sugar have an increased risk of infection. Heart attack and stroke patients with high blood sugar have an increased risk of death.

Hospitals have long struggled with proper management of patient blood sugar levels. Currently there are no standards for in-hospital blood sugar monitoring and target levels of blood sugar, according to American Association of Clinical Endocrinologist (AACE).

An estimated 18.2 million Americans have diabetes; one in three is undiagnosed. In the United States, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death. In 2002, the total direct and indirect cost of diabetes in the United States was $132 billion, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Analysis and Recommendations

The American College of Endocrinology and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists hosted the Consensus Development Conference on Inpatient Diabetes and Metabolic Control on December 14 and 15 in Washington, D.C. At the conference, leading endocrinologists and other medical specialists reviewed research on blood sugar management and recommended principles for improving patient care. Other organizations that participated in this landmark conference included American Association of Diabetes Educators, American College of Cardiology, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, American Society Anesthesiologists, The Endocrine Society, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Society of Hospital Medicine and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Medical guidelines will be published in 2004.

Alan J. Garber, MD, PhD, conference co-chair stated, "Data show that achieving normal glucose levels improves patient outcomes. To minimize adverse outcomes blood sugar should be controlled below 110 mg/dL in ICU patients, and to a similar level before meals outside the ICU. Maximum glucose levels should not exceed 180 mg/dL in non-critical-care units."

"These recommendations will enable the medical community to provide better care for hospitalized patients with high blood sugar and will result in better patient outcomes," said conference co-chair, Etie S. Moghissi, MD, FACE.

According to Donald A. Bergman, MD, FACE, AACE president, "The leading organizations in diabetes and patient care have joined forces because we all recognize the need for consistent standards and guidelines. The consensus conference is a first step in developing a road map for better management of hospitalized patients."

AACE is a professional medical organization with more than 4,500 members in the United States and 70 other countries. Founded in 1991, AACE is dedicated to the optimal care of patients with endocrine disorders. AACE initiatives inform the public about endocrine diseases. AACE also conducts continuing education programs for clinical endocrinologists, physicians whose advanced, specialized training enables them to be experts in the care of endocrine disorders such as diabetes, IRS, thyroid disorders, growth hormone deficiency, osteoporosis, cholesterol disorders, hypertension and obesity.

A position statement and other supporting documents from the Consensus Development Conference are available at http://www.aace.com/pub/ICC/index.php

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Contact:
Sissy Crabtree
Communications Director
AACE
1000 Riverside Avenue
Suite 205
Jacksonville, FL 32204
(904) 353-7878
scrabtree@aace.com