Hospitalized patients with diabetes require specific medical management in order to minimize the risk of hyperglycemia. This requires hospitalists to have an understanding of methods for glycemic control in both the critically ill and noncritically ill patient. This module, which focuses on the critically ill hospitalized patient, is part of a 2-part series that will evaluate the current scientific evidence regarding glycemic control and discuss how to formulate preoperative and postoperative intensive care unit plans. In addition, a thorough review of the evidence for intraoperative glycemic control and a discussion of how to transition patients off of an insulin drip are provided.

Hospitalized patients with diabetes require specific medical management in order to minimize the risk of hyperglycemia. This requires hospitalists to have an understanding of methods for glycemic control in both the critically ill and noncritically ill patient. This module, which focuses on the noncritically ill patient, is part of a 2-part series that will evaluate the current scientific evidence regarding glycemic control and discuss which medications are best for controlling blood glucose levels in the hospital. A thorough discussion of how to determine the appropriate insulin dose and develop an insulin regimen for hospitalized patients is provided, as well as strategies for developing a discharge plan for patients on insulin.