Oral diabetic med administration prior to Cath Lab procedures

[NotOnMyWatch]

I am a new nurse on a cardiac telemetry unit and am still trying to get acclimated with all the different types of procedures done by our Cath Lab (balloon angioplasty, stents, AICD/pacemaker insertion, EPS/ablation, cardioversion, ASD/PFO closure, MV valvuloplasty). Do you normally hold oral diabetic meds for pts prior to Cath Lab procedures? I know for sure that if contrast will be used, metformin is held. But what about the others? There are so many: glyburide, januvia, starlix, actos, glipezide. On our telemetry unit, we have no formal protocol. Some nurses hold them until they return from their procedure, some give it (as long as blood glucose is WNL). What are your thoughts? Thanks for all that respond.

[dianah, ASN]

Our Cardiology Fellows allow the oral meds most of the time, while the pt is NPO.

They may order 1/2 insulin dose given in the a.m.

It would probably be a good thing to pursue getting a standard protocol, as from what you posted, there is wide variation of practice between nurses.

Perhaps you could do a literature search and see what is recommended and why, and then present findings and recommendations to your Nurse Manager.

Of course, subject to approval by the Cardiologists and other MDs.

For standardization of care, and always subject to individual pt needs/orders.

Good question, thanks. :)

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

We hold everything in our facility prior to cardiac cath but obviously really high blood sugars would be treated and high BP.

On return they would recieve morning meds. If they are going for CABGs then they do recieve their BP meds because of the research