The Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care (JBDS-IP) has released an updated version of the Inpatient Care of the Frail Older Adult with Diabetes guideline.

Revised frailty guidance published

Revised guidance on managing diabetes in frail older adults in hospitals now available for healthcare professionals.

The Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care (JBDS-IP) has released an updated version of the Inpatient Care of the Frail Older Adult with Diabetes guideline to improve hospital care for older people with the condition.

The guidelines are aimed at inpatient team members who have direct care responsibility for older people in hospital as well as health and social care professionals who provide care for them before and after their hospital admission to prevent and minimise hospital stay.

It was coordinated by Professor Alan Sinclair of the Foundation for Diabetes Research in Older People (fDROP) and King’s College, London.

The update includes a new reference to COVID-19 and an algorithm on managing diabetes and frailty on admission to hospital.

Professor Sinclair said: “Frailty is gaining increasing recognition in the NHS as an important prognostic indicator for outcome following admission into hospital.

“It is therefore entirely appropriate that this revised guidance creates a further opportunity to highlight why those admitted into hospital with diabetes or a diabetes-related complication must be screened for frailty and that their management takes into consideration their functional status and severity of frailty.”

To access the amended guideline, click here.