Diabetics have higher risks for readmissions, mortality

Editor's Note

Patients with diabetes who had low blood glucose values during the last day of hospitalization had higher rates of 30-day readmission and post discharge mortality, this study finds.

Examining 843,978 admissions to the VA health care system over a 14-year period, researchers found that  patients with diabetes who had blood glucose levels below 100 mg/dl experienced greater:

• 30-day readmission rates
• 30-, 90-, and 180-day post-discharge mortality rates
• combined 30-day readmission/mortality rates.

Though further studies are needed, physicians should avoid discharging patients with diabetes until glucose values are above 100 mg/dl, the researchers say.