Hyperglycemia during the immediate period following liver transplantation

AIM: High blood glucose levels in the hospital are common among transplant recipients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis, stratified by diagnosis of pretransplant diabetes mellitus (DM). RESULTS: Of 346 patients, 96 had pretransplant DM (insulin, n = 60; no insulin, n = 36) and 250 did not. Patients with pretransplant DM had higher inpatient mean glucose levels and more hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia (all p < 0.01). For patients without pretransplant DM, the need for insulin at discharge increased 23% for every 5-year age increase (odds ratio: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.06–1.44; p = 0.007) and 51% for every five units of glucose measurements >180 mg/dl (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.23–1.95; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Inpatient hyperglycemia was common in liver transplant recipients. Hospital practitioners must anticipate the need to teach self-management skills to liver transplant recipients.