Non-invasive (bloodless) glucose monitoring in UK?

[icudavis]

Hello there!

I will be doing a study abroad in London this April for my Master's program here in the US. I would love to do a comparative, quantitative study regarding glucose monitoring in the UK versus US pertaining to intensive insulin therapy.

Where I work, we use the Atlanta protocol for our insulin infusions which require hourly glucose checks (sometimes 15 min) then a set calculation to determine any rate changes that are needed. Problems related to this is: patient compliance/discomfort related to painful, frequent finger pricks, lack of sleep due to frequency of pricks and nursing rounds. Some patients are placed on these infusions for 2-3 days! Hospital policies also frown upon not using peripheral blood, so no blood from central lines or arterial lines can be used, even in closed systems...I am curious about your procedures/protocols:

1. Do you have non-invasive glucose monitoring available?

2. Do you use a scale or calculation with your continuous insulin infusions? And how does it work?

3. How often do you check the glucose on insulin infusions?

4. Do you use peripheral sticks only or are you able to obtain glucose from central lines, meaning arterial lines?

5. Have you any related patient problems that I have not already mentioned?

Thank you so much for your assistance! I must say, I am so excited about going to London! My husband will be joining me a few days before my study to celebrate our 12th anniversary! And I get to be there for the royal wedding!! :redpinkhe

[icudavis]

Hmmmm....no responses? Well then...anyone there use continuous insulin infusions at all? What type of calculations are you using to make rate changes? I am guessing you are doing finger pricks?

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

I used continuous infusions when I was in Ireland. We had a protocol set up by the endocrinologist. We simply followed that. If BSL was X and it had increased, increase the rate to Y. If the BSL was A and it had decresed, continue infusion, or lower the rate.

We did 1 or 2 hour checks with finger sticks

[icudavis]

Thank you for the reply! Hopefully, more will chime in! :)

[ayla2004, ASN, RN]

what you are describing is called a sliding scale insulin infusion in the UK. we tirate the dose hourly base on periphal blood sugars. IF a pt was admitted DKA we stop the infuisin if blood sugar within range for 1hour then rechedk 1hr later to check if it maintains norm. we have a set tiration proctol which nurses can mange the care. pt who are fasting and iddm often have sliding scale insulin which is stooped once oral food has restarted.