Managing diabetes in long-term care facilities: benefits of switching from human insulin to insulin analogs.

The unique requirements of residents with diabetes in long-term care (LTC) facilities necessitate a protocol-driven, individualized approach to care. Established treatment guidelines for the management of diabetes are written with the general population in mind and, although the principles remain the same in LTC patients, clinical priorities and strategies may need to be modified, and glycemic goals should be balanced against quality of life. This article identifies and explores the institutional, staff, patient and medication-related factors that contribute to the complexity of delivering optimal diabetes care in the LTC setting, and focuses on how insulin analogs, and the pens used for their delivery, can simplify and improve care delivery while, in many cases, reducing institutional costs.