WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Glytec, the pioneer and leader in providing innovative glucose decision support software solutions for effective diabetes management, is pleased to share the results of a study conducted in collaboration with Wake Forest Medical School, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and Sentara Healthcare. The study demonstrated intensive insulin therapy used in the emergency departments (ED) is useful in treating patients with mild to moderate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), resulting in a lower rate of admissions and future admissions to the hospital along with significant cost savings.
The 12-month study looked at 35 patients seen in the ED and diagnosed with DKA. Results demonstrated that use of Glucommander™ IV for guiding the insulin treatment of mild to moderate DKA in the ED can decrease hospital admissions for DKA by 45%. Glytec’s Glucommander™ IV is an FDA-cleared solution that establishes glycemic control via accurate, patient-specific insulin dosing.
Dr. Joseph Aloi, Chief, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Wake Forest School of Medicine, stated, “The cost savings associated with the reduction in admissions was $78,000 over the 12 months of the study which makes this an option to improve the efficient utilization of hospital beds.”
“Our results indicate that Glucommander™ IV is a safe and efficient tool for use in the ED to manage mild to moderate DKA,” said Dr. Jagdeesh Ullal, an Endocrinology specialist at Eastern Virginia Medical School and Sentara Healthcare and the lead author of the study. "These findings are significant since they suggest that the Glucommander™ IV could potentially help EDs with high patient volumes to effectively determine those patients who might require hospital admission versus those that can be maintained under observation status or those who can be discharged home."
The cost of treatment for DKA, a serious condition that can lead to diabetic coma or even death, is staggering. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that, in 2011, approximately 175,000 of ED visits for patients of all ages indicated hyperglycemic crisis, specifically DKA and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state, as the first-listed diagnosis.
“The challenges of insulin management are well documented, reflecting overwhelming personal and societal costs,” said Glytec’s Chief Medical Officer, Andrew S. Rhinehart, MD, FACP, FACE, CDE, BC-ADM, CDTC. “The study demonstrates but one example of where Glytec’s patented process for insulin decision support using proprietary algorithms is beneficial and carries a strong business case for health systems. Our integrated, cloud-based solutions have been applied with great results from the ED to the ICU, to the step down units and floors and into the ambulatory settings, improving glucose control across the continuum of care while significantly lowering rates of hypoglycemia.”
The study was published in the February 3 issue of Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics (Volume 18). To review the report online, please see here: http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/dia.2015.0215#utm_source=ETOC
About Glytec
Founded in 2006, Glytec is a rapidly growing digital health company specializing in integrated inpatient and outpatient technologies for diabetes care, with the mission of improving medication management and glycemic control across the continuum. eGMS®, Glytec’s cloud-based glycemic management decision support system, enables providers, payers and patients to significantly reduce the frequency, risks and costs of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. The modular eGMS® centers on the Glucommander suite of FDA-cleared, complex proprietary dosing algorithms for IV, subcutaneous and pediatric dosing. The management of patients requiring insulin therapy is furthered by seamless EHR and connected device integration (SmartClick™), robust analytics (GlucoMetrics™) and surveillance (GlucoSurveillance™) capabilities. eGMS® interventional clinical decision support tools allow providers to standardize processes and personalize treatment across all areas of care, and is proven to result in significant improvements in clinical and financial outcomes versus traditional methods. For more information, please visit www.glytecsystems.com.