Blood glucose levels provide an immediate snapshot of a person’s state of inflammation, with or without diabetes.

According to recent research findings, admission glucose is also an excellent predictor of COVID-19 related deaths and severity of illness.

Researchers in Spain retrospectively evaluated over 11,000 patients positive with COVID on admission in 109 hospitals throughout Spain. They also evaluated admission blood glucose levels and their findings were startling.

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People with COVID and glucose levels of 140 mg/dL or greater were twice as likely to die than those with normal glucose levels (41.4% vs. 15.7%).

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The researchers were also able to stratify the risk of death based on admissions glucose levels.

For all 11, 000 patients admitted with COVID in this study, the mortality rate was 20%.

Mortality Risk Stratified by BG

For patients with admission glucose of 140 – 180, the mortality rate increased to 33%.

The mortality rate skyrocketed to 41% if admission glucose was 180 mg/dL or greater.

Key messages

• Screen for hyperglycemia in all admissions.
• Maintain optimal blood glucose levels in an outpatient setting.
• Early treatment of hyperglycemia should be mandatory for patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
• Admission hyperglycemia should be addressed in all patients regardless of prior history of diabetes.
• Based on recent research, hospitalized patients with diabetes also have improved outcomes when immediately started on the DPP-IV Inhibitor, Sitagliptin (Januvia).

Read More Here Admission hyperglycemia as a predictor of mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 regardless of diabetes status: data from the Spanish SEMI-COVID-19 Registry. November 2020

Annals of Medicine by Francisco Javier Carrasco-Sánchez, MD, PhD, and colleagues. Nov 23, 2020

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COVID & Diabetes Update – FREE Webinar | Ready for Viewing!

COVID & Diabetes Update
Navigating a Crisis

Recorded & Ready for Viewing

Coach Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM, has completely updated this critical presentation, to bring health care professionals up-to-date on the current state of COVID and its impact on diabetes care. She summarizes key information including critical teaching points and management strategies for people with diabetes who develop a COVID-19 infection.

Topics Include:

1. Discuss the current state of diabetes in the United States.
2. Describe the relationship between COVID and health care disparities 
3. Explore the impact of COVID infection on those with pre-existing diabetes.
4. Discuss treatment strategies for COVID and diabetes, including new vaccines.
5. List critical teaching points for people with diabetes and COVID.

Join us to learn critical information about Diabetes and COVID Management

Instructor: Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, has been Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management for over 20 years. She is an Associate Clinical Professor at UCSF and Touro University and a nationally recognized diabetes expert.

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