Glycaemic outcomes following discharge from an intermediate care diabetes clinic

In a previous report, we described an intermediate care diabetes service which achieved a new:follow up ratio of close to 1:1. This report examines the glycaemic outcomes over the following 18 months of those individuals who were discharged back to primary care.

Between June 2007 and May 2008, the service saw 166 new and 238 follow‐up patients with 91 discharges back to the primary care team. The referral HbA_1c was 10.1%, and on discharge was 8.7%. Patients were discharged with a management plan. At 12 months post discharge the HbA_1c was 8.6% and at 18 months 8.8%.

These results are encouraging in the sense that robust management plans produce sustainable improvements in glycaemic control. However, it is clear that following discharge, further improvements in glycaemic control cannot be expected. It is therefore suggested that follow up should be continued until the individual glycaemic target is reached. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons.