Glycemic profile and effectiveness and safety of insulin therapy in septic patients: is the blood glucose level sufficient?
BACKGROUND
Hyperglycemia in sepsis is managed by intensive insulin therapy, which can cause hypoglycemia.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate the glycemic profile as well as safety and effectiveness of a nurse-controlled insulin therapy protocol in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.


METHODS
The study included 16 septic patients who died (nonsurvivors) and 61 septic patients who survived. Glycemia was measured every 4 h, and the dose of insulin infusion was adjusted to maintain glycemia of 4.4 mmol/l to 8.3 mmol/l. We analyzed glycemia levels and daily variations, insulin dose, episodes of hypo- and hyperglycemia.


RESULTS
Nonsurvivors and survivors had similar mean glycemia levels (7.38 vs. 7.08 mmol/l; p = 0.20) and insulin requirements (median [Me] = 26.9 vs. 23.9 units/d; p = 0.22; Me = 1.7 vs. 1.4 units/h; p = 0.25). Daily glycemia variation (Me = 4.81 vs. 3.03 mmol/l; p <0.001), episodes of hypoglycemia (18.8% vs. 3.3%; p = 0.02), spontaneous severe hypoglycemia (12.5% vs. 0%; p = 0.006) and hyperglycemia (75.0% vs. 45.9%; p = 0.04) were higher and more frequent in nonsurvivors. Three of 5393 blood samples (0.05%) met severe insulin-induced hypoglycemia criteria, and 74.4% of samples met the recommended range of 4.4-8.3 mmol/l.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who died experienced more episodes of hyperglycemia, spontaneous hypoglycemia and greater variation in the daily glycemia level. Daily glycemia variation is more reliable than a mean glycemic level in evaluating glucose homeostasis in septic patients. Few episodes of severe insulin-induced hypoglycemia occurred while using the nurse-controlled insulin therapy protocol.
Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Therapy and Pain Management, University Hospital, Poznań, Poland. jakub.szrama@gmail.com
Jakub
J
Szrama
Piotr
P
Smuszkiewicz
Iwona
I
Trojanowska
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin