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 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.