Endocrine Abstracts

Background and objective: Neonatal hypoglycemia is common and frequently self-resolving, although rare due to congenital hyperinsulinism are associated with high risk of brain injury. The time period for neonatal hypoglycemia has been described in several studies. It is unknown if low hypoglycemia thresholds (<2.0 mmol/l) lead to missed cases of persistent hypoglycaemia. We aimed to ascertain if lower hypoglycemia threshold risked missing persistent forms of hypoglycemia i...

Aim: Loss of protective sensation (LOPS) commonly precede Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) which is one of the most fearsome/serious diabetic complications and the leading cause of foot amputation in T2D patients. However, the prevalence of this high risk state is unknown.Methods: To estimate the presence of LOPS among hospitalized diabetes patients in internal wards, vibration perception and 10-g monofilament tests were done. Patients with foot ulcer or status...

Background: Hypoglycaemia is considered a medical emergency and is treated as such. However, our experience as junior doctors has shown us that hyperglycaemia, despite being equally damaging to patients’ long term prognosis, can often be left to ‘run high’. This could be due to a number of factors, surrounding how often blood sugars (BM) are checked and how they are managed. We audited three standards set out in local guidelines for BM monitoring in diabetic pat...

Adult endocrine specialist nursing (ESN) is a highly specialised role and in recent years nurses have expanded their roles according to local need (Kieffer.V, et al. 2015). As an Endocrine team we review our practice, striving to provide the highest standard of research based, patient centred care. This involves ensuring the best use of resources and service provision in an ever more demanding environment. A new initiative lead by the ESN with consultant supervision w...

Objective: Diabetic ketoacidosis is one of the major complications in Diabetes. If not appropriately diagnosed and managed it could be life threatening. Our aim was to evaluate whether DKA was properly diagnosed, if prompt and appropriate treatment was initiated, to identify precipitants and to assess mortality.Method: We audited retrospectively patients admitted with DKA between August 2004 and August 2005. Management of DKA was audited against standard...

Background: Current UK guidelines for the Use of Thyroid Function Tests provide specific recommendations for the use of thyroid function tests in inpatients. Isolated alterations in TSH occur in 15% of inpatients and <2% will have underlying thyroid disorder. Thyroid function should be repeated every 4–6 weeks when changing thyroxine replacement dose or when commencing thionamides.Aim: To identify the indications and frequency of thyroid tests i...

Background: Basal-Bolus (BB) insulin treatment is increasingly used in uncontrolled diabetes patients during hospitalization and is commonly recommended on their discharge. However, the extent of adherence with this recommendation is unknown.Aim: To determine the short term adherence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients discharged from internal medicine wards with recommendation for BB insulin treatment.Methods: Prescription...

Background: Cranial Diabetes insipidus (CDI) is a rare condition but is potentially life-threatening if there is a delay or omission of desmopressin. Recent patient safety alerts highlighted the need to raise awareness to avoid mortality and morbidity. The baseline knowledge of the health care professional (HCPs) is very important to avoid deleterious outcomes.Aim: Qualitative survey to determine the baseline knowledge a...

The diabetes and endocrinology consultant survey has been running for a number of years aiming to look at workforce issues faced by our speciality. It started originally as a paper based survey that was sent out to all consultants in the UK but has since migrated to an online survey hosted by the Royal College of Physicians which is sponsored by three societies – The Society for Endocrinology, The Association of British Clinical Diabetologists and Diabetes UK. The aim of ...

Aims and objectives: Variable rate insulin infusion (VRII) is commonly used to achieve normoglycaemia in hospitalised patients. Joint British Diabetes Society (JBDS) produced guidelines on VRIII in 2014 to minimise complications related to inpatient VRII use. Local guidance along with a new VRII chart was introduced in 2017 at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and staff training provided. We performed an audit to review compliance to national and local VRII guidance.<p...