Y Call to Action: COVID-19 Pandemic Prompts Subcutaneous Treatment Option for Diabetes Ketoacidosis (DKA) in Hospital

COVID-19 challenges organizations to modify approaches to optimize diabetes management while reducing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use and nurse time, and maintaining patient safety. In April 2020, Scripps Health, a five-hospital health system in southern California created a subcutaneous Diabetes Ketoacidosis (DKA) treatment option for use with adults, admitted with mild to moderate DKA. Primary aims were to achieve DKA resolution and glycemic targets similar to the intravenous (IV) insulin treatment option, and no hypoglycemia <70 mg/dL. The new order set utilized weight-based dosing, with similar orders for labs, electrolyte and IV fluid replacement, and resolution criteria. Differences included automatic insulin dosing and basal/bolus insulin. Key changes were a reduced frequency of point of care testing (POCT) and ≤140 mg/dL hypoglycemia prevention orders. Post-implementation audits between April - July 2020 showed no hypoglycemia and resolution time similar to IV insulin. However, only 6% (N=17) of DKA cases were managed with subcutaneous, as compared to IV insulin. To help understand why there was such a limited uptake, a detailed retrospective chart review was undertaken on a subset of twenty-two DKA cases managed with IV insulin. Findings showed that 17 (77%) had type 2 diabetes, 5 (23%) had type 1 diabetes. 47% of cases had opportunities for subcutaneous management based on DKA classification and no contraindications for subcutaneous therapy. Findings indicate organizations should consider a DKA subcutaneous option. Lack of knowledge of DKA severity may be a factor in low utilization, therefore an EHR DKA Classification tool was implemented to support providers. Research is needed to determine if this increases utilization of the subcutaneous treatment option and what other barriers exist. Disclosure D. Meehan: None. L. Talavera: None. A. Philis-tsimikas: Advisory Panel; Self; Bayer Inc., Lilly Diabetes, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk, Consultant; Self; Sanofi-Aventis, Employee; Spouse/Partner; Ionis, Other Relationship; Self; Merck & Co., Inc., Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Lilly Diabetes, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi-Aventis. A. L. Fortmann: None.