Diabetes is a complex chronic condition that affects the person’s ability to produce insulin and reduce the amount of glucose in one’s blood. Apart from that, this disease is linked to a set of comorbidities that affect one’s heart, which causes the majority of readmissions (Khorrami et al., 2022). Moreover, Bhalodkar et al. (2020) argue that the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is linked to the high risk of frequent hospital readmissions. This paper will review the ways of reducing frequent hospital readmissions among the population of patients with diabetes.
The rationale for readmissions for this population is linked to the high risk of heart-related complications and hyperglycemia. According to Rubin et al. (2018), “the burden of diabetes among hospitalized patients, however, is substantial, growing, and costly, and readmissions contribute a significant portion of this burden” (p. 21). These patients are often readmitted because they fail to self-care and manage their glucose levels at home, which causes hyperglycemia. Additionally, these individuals need to control their diet and physical activity to avoid issues with the heart.
Some recommendations that can help reduce hospital readmissions for this patient population include patient education about self-care and admission of diabetes patients into specialized care centers. In a randomized controlled trial by Bhalodkar et al. (2020), the intervention group that was admitted into specialized care centers for people with diabetes had a one-year readmission rate of 14%. In contrast, individuals who received care in standard hospitals or emergency rooms had a readmission rate of 38%. Additionally, Rubin et al. (2018) argue that patient education, improved discharge instructions for patients, and post-discharge support have the potential of reducing readmissions. In summary, people who have diabetes are at a high risk of being readmitted to hospitals due to comorbidities. The interventions that can be used to reduce the level of readmissions include patient education and admittance to specialized care centers.
References
Bhalodkar, A., Sonmez, H., Lesser, M., Leung, T., Ziskovich, K., Inlall, D., Murray-Bachmann R., Krymskaya M. & Poretsky L. (2020). The effects of a comprehensive multidisciplinary outpatient diabetes program on hospital readmission rates in patients with diabetes: A randomized controlled prospective study. Endocrine Practice, 26(11), 1331-1336. Web.
Khorrami, P., Sinha, M., Bhanja, A., Allen, H., Kesselheim, A., & Sommers, B. (2022). Differences in diabetic prescription drug utilization and costs among patients with diabetes enrolled in Colorado Marketplace and Medicaid plans, 2014-2015. JAMA Network Open, 5(1), e2140371. Web.
Rubin, D. (2015). Hospital readmission of patients with diabetes. Current Diabetes Reports, 15(4). Web.