The National Inpatient Diabetes COVID19 Response Group has published guidance for healthcare professionals on managing hyperglycaemia/diabetes in a COVID Virtual Ward for patients with or without diabetes. This is to support safe management of hyperglycaemia in those receiving glucocorticoid treatment for COVID-19 infection outside of a hospital environment. It differs from previous guidance published by this group for the management of hyperglycaemia in those receiving glucocorticoid treatment in hospital in that the management is more pragmatic and less intensive to take into consideration the likelihood of reduced surveillance; thus for example minimum as well as ideal frequency of glucose monitoring are stated, lower doses of insulin are suggested to avoid hypoglycaemia and for simplicity once daily insulin is recommended.
The guidance group is made up of senior doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and a psychologist from across the UK. The guidance is endorsed by Diabetes UK, the Joint British Diabetes Societies (JBDS) for Inpatient Care Group, and the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD). The NHSE diabetes programme have also been involved in its creation, as well as the diabetes clinical leads from all devolved nations.
