New Data Reveals Safer Approach to DKA Treatment: Cutting ICU Stays in Half

Managing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) effectively is a growing challenge in hospitals nationwide. That’s why our latest research, Improved Mortality, Length of Stay, and Cost of Care in Diabetic Ketoacidosis with the Use of a Computerized Insulin Dosing Algorithm, will be featured at the AACE Annual Meeting for Health Care Professionals, taking place May 15 – 17, 2025, in Orlando, Florida.

Our study, in partnership with Gregory Deines, DO, Division Chief of Diabetes and Endocrinology at Corewell Health, offers compelling evidence on how patient-specific insulin dosing can optimize DKA management – improving outcomes, reducing costs and improving outcomes.

The Growing Challenge of DKA

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious and life-threatening complication of diabetes. The number of hospital discharges for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) as the primary diagnosis increased by 59% between 2003 and 2014.

The financial burden of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has also been steadily rising over the years with cost per patient trending upwards:

Corewell Health West, a division of Corewell Health, has also experienced this trend, with a 20% increase in DKA cases in recent years, averaging 41 patients per month requiring hospitalization.

Corewell Health Sees a 57% shorter ICU stay with Patient-Specific Insulin Dosing

Our study analyzed patient outcomes at Corewell Health West from January 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. All DKA patients were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and managed by the critical care team or hospitalists.

The implementation of EndoTool insulin dosing software provided structured insulin infusion management, guiding transitions to dextrose infusions and insulin discontinuation.

Data was compared against data from 115 academic medical centers in the Vizient Clinical Database. Our analysis covered 758 DKA cases at Corewell Health West and 55,810 cases in the comparison group.

How Patient-Specific Insulin Dosing Made a Difference

• Shorter hospital stays: Corewell Health West reduced LOS to 5.15 days vs. 7.48 days in the comparison group, saving 514 hospital days.
• Lower ICU burden: ICU stay was 1.71 days vs. 3.96 days in the comparison group, despite higher ICU admissions at Corewell Health West.
• Reduced mortality: Mortality index was 0.73 vs. 0.88, with lower early death rates.
• Cost savings: Direct cost savings totaled $912,298, with observed costs significantly lower than expected.
• Minimized severe hypoglycemia: Corewell Health West had a 0.006% incidence of severe hypoglycemia (<40 mg/dL).

By leveraging patient-specific insulin dosing with EndoTool, Corewell Health West has demonstrated a transformative approach to managing DKA—improving patient outcomes, reducing ICU stays, and lowering healthcare costs.

As hospitals nationwide continue to face rising DKA cases, innovative solutions like this will be critical in advancing diabetes care.

Join us at the AACE Annual Meeting 2025 to explore these findings and discuss the future of endocrine innovation!

About EndoTool

Made by Monarch Medical Technologies, EndoTool is the only patient-specific insulin dosing system which simplifies the complex task of glycemic management in hospital environments. The recommended dosing is different for each patient based on multiple clinical characteristics. The FDA-cleared platform is utilized in hundreds of hospitals across the United States and is fully integrated with all major electronic medical records. To see how EndoTool can support your health system, get in touch today.