High diabetes prevalence and insulin medication errors in hospital patients

Abstract

We conducted three single-day point type 2 diabetes prevalence surveys of all inpatient clinical records in November 2013, 2014 and 2016. The prevalence of diabetes was 19.7-25.3%. The majority (63.4-76%) had type 2 diabetes. Twenty-one percent (n = 21) in 2013, 12% (n = 9) in 2014 and 22.6% (n = 21) in 2016 were diagnosed with diabetes during hospital admission; 41.8% (n = 41) in 2013, 46.7% (n = 35) in 2014 and 51.6% (n = 48) in 2016 required insulin. The high prevalence of diabetes among inpatients mandates active detection and specialist management of diabetes during the admission.

Keywords: diabetes; insulin; prevalence.