Numerous studies have been published demonstrating improved patient outcomes from normalizing glucose levels in hyperglycemic patients. Key clinical benefits that have been realized by achieving tight glycemic control (TGC) include:
- Reduced mortality1,2
- Reduced morbidity3
- Reduced length of stay1-3
- Reduced overall costs3
Clinicians have been eager to adopt glycemic control protocols to help realize the benefits of improved glycemic control for their patients, but struggle to meet the associated glucose monitoring requirements with currently available methods.
"Although most nurses endorse tight glycemic control, the work associated with it is burdensome and costly. Easier clinical methods for monitoring blood glucose levels are needed."4
Barriers to Achieving Glycemic Control
Although hospitals have aggressively adopted glycemic control protocols, success in achieving the potential clinical benefits with today's manual, finger-stick technology has been hampered due to three principal reasons:
Sources:
1Van den Berghe, et al. NEJM 2001, v345, n19, p1359-1367.
2Van den Berghe, et al. NEJM 2006, v354, n5, p449
3Krinsley et al., CHEST, March 2006; p644-650.
4Aragon D: Am J Crit Care 2006, 15: p370-377