Abstract
Over the period from October 2001 to January 2005 an investigation was conducted concerning the changes in glycohemoglobin and pharmacotherapy of 14type-1 and of 106 type-2 hospitalized diabetic patients, introducing the critical pathway for the management of diabetic patients. The mean glycohemoglobin for all patients (n=120) decreased significantly, from 10.4% on admission to 8.6% and 6.8% respectively one month and 3months after admission, and was maintained up to 12 months later (p<0.05). Glycohemoglobin was significantly reduced in both the type-1and type-2 group. Investigation of the pharmacotherapy before and after hospitalization and 12months later revealed that 49% of the 106 type-2diabetic patientsdid not undergo pharmacotherapy before hospitalization and only initiated pharmacotherapy in the hospital. The number of patients treated with an oral diabetic drug alone decreased from 45% before to 37% after hospitalization. The number of patients treated with insulin alone increased from4% before hospitalization to 45% after hospitalization. Of the patients treated with insulin, 18% were withdrawn from insulin therapy 12 months after their hospitalization which included the diabetes education program and 7% required no additional pharmacotherapy. The results of the glycohemoglobin examination after hospitalization for diabetes confirmed that hospitalization with a diabetes education program is useful as one of the means to decrease glycohemoglobin significantly. Furthermore, it was revealed that many patients started pharmacotherapy or changed to pharmacotherapy during their hospital stay. Therefore medication education of these patients by pharmacists is important.
