Use of medical device technologies for diabetes mellitus, including continuous glucose monitoring devices, is becoming more frequently encountered in end-of-life care. Good communication is paramount to determine patient and carer preferences for if, when, and how blood glucose monitoring should occur in the end-of-life setting. We present two differing cases of how continuous glucose monitoring in an Australian setting impacted end-of-life care for the patients and their carers.
WangR, ColmanPG, KyiM, et al.: Longitudinal prevalence of inpatient diabetes mellitus in an Australian hospital across five decades: 1972 to 2019. Intern Med J, 2021; 51:814–815.
StevensonJ, AbernethyAP, MillerC, CurrowDC: Managing comorbidities in patients at the end of life. BMJ, 2004; 329:909–912.
9.
TiceMA: Diabetes management at the end of life. Transitioning from tight glycemic control to comfort. Home Healthcare Nurse, 2006; 24:290–293.
10.
McCoubrieR, JeffreyD, PatonC, DawesL: Managing diabetes mellitus in patients with advanced cancer: A case note audit and guidelines. Eur J Cancer Care, 2004; 14:244–248.
11.
DunningT, MartinP, SavageS, DugganN: Guidelines for Managing Diabetes at the End of Life. Geelong, Vic: Nurses Board of Victoria, 2010.
12.
KleinigPA, WoodmanRJ, CurrowDC: The association between glycemic control in people with diabetes and symptoms at the end of life: A prospective observational consecutive cohort study. J Palliat Med, 2020; 23:406–410.
13.
AnconaP, EastwoodGM, LucchettaL, et al.: The performance of flash glucose monitoring in critically ill patients with diabetes. Crit Care Resus, 2017; 19:167–174.
