Is hypoglycaemia dangerous?
Tight glycaemic control (TGC) for patients treated in an intensive care unit ICU is associated with an increased risk for hypoglycaemia. Since hypoglycaemia mainly occurs in the sickest patients, no matter whether TGC is applied or not, it might be a marker for severity of illness or a harmful event in itself. Furthermore, it remains a matter of debate whether harmful effects of hypoglycaemia outbalance the clinical benefits of TGC. This review focusses on the clinical manifestations of hypoglycaemia in the critically ill and highlights its potential short- and long-term consequences specifically concerning neurocognitive function.
Duning
Thomas
T
Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strafle 33, D-48149 Münster, Germany. duningt@uni-muenster.de
Ellger
Björn
B
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D016638:Critical Illness; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose