Hyperglycemia-related mortality in critically ill patients varies with admission diagnosis

The effect of a low carbohydrate formula on glycaemia in critically ill enterally-fed adult patients with hyperglycaemia: A blinded randomised feasibility trial

BACKGROUND

Enteral nutrition is a source of carbohydrate that may exacerbate hyperglycaemia. Its treatment, insulin, potentially exacerbates glycaemic variability.

METHODS

This was a prospective, parallel group, blinded, randomised feasibility trial. Patients were eligible if 18 years or over when admitted to the intensive care unit and receiving enteral nutrition (EN) exclusively with two consecutive blood glucose > 10 mmol/L. A standardized glucose management protocol determined administration of insulin. Key outcome measures were insulin administered and glycaemic variability (coefficient of variation) over the first 48 h.

RESULTS

41 patients were randomized to either standard EN (14.1 g/100 mL carbohydrate; n = 20) or intervention EN (7.4 g/100 mL carbohydrate; n = 21). Overall 59% were male, mean (±SD) age of 62.3 years ± 10.4, APACHE II score of 16.5 ± 7.8 and a median (IQR) Body Mass Index 29.0 kg/m² (25.2-35.5). Most patients (73%) were mechanically ventilated. Approximately half (51%) were identified as having diabetes prior to ICU admission. Patients in the intervention arm received less insulin over the 48 h study period than those in the control group (mean insulin units over study period (95% CI) 45.0 (24.4-68.7) vs. 107 (56.1-157.9) units; p = 0.02) and had lower mean glycaemic variability (12.6 vs. 15.9%, p = 0.01). There was a small difference in the mean percentage of energy requirements met (intervention: 72.9 vs. control: 79.1%; p = 0.4) or protein delivered (78.2 vs. 85.4%; p = 0.3).

CONCLUSIONS

A low carbohydrate formula was associated with reduced insulin use and glycaemic variability in enterally-fed critically ill patients with hyperglycaemia. Further large trials are required to determine the impact of this formula on clinical outcomes. Registered under Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ANZCTR number: 12614000166673.

Evaluation and Perioperative Management of the Diabetic Patient

Diabetes mellitus is a devastating disease that has reached epidemic proportions. The surgical patient with diabetes is at increased risk for developing complications when compared with patients without diabetes. A comprehensive preoperative work-up must be performed, including ancillary studies, with optimization of the patient's glucose levels during the perioperative period to decrease the chance of developing surgical complications. A multispecialty team approach for the care of patients with diabetes should be used to produce successful surgical outcomes.

Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Physician-Targeted Inpatient Glycemic Management Curriculum

OBJECTIVE

Diabetes is prevalent among hospitalized patients and there are multiple challenges to attaining glycemic control in the hospital setting. We sought to develop an inpatient glycemic management curriculum with stakeholder input and to evaluate the effectiveness of this educational program on glycemic control in hospitalized patients.

METHODS

Using the Six-Step Approach of Kern to Curriculum Development for Medical Education, we developed and implemented an educational curriculum for inpatient glycemic management targeted to internal medicine residents and hospitalists. We surveyed physicians (n = 73) and conducted focus group sessions (n = 18 physicians) to solicit input regarding educational deficits and desired format of the educational intervention. Based on feedback from the surveys and focus groups, we developed educational goals and objectives and a case-based curriculum, which was delivered over a 1-year period via in-person teaching sessions by 2 experienced diabetes physicians at 3 hospitals. Rates of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia were evaluated among at-risk patient days using an interrupted time-series design.

RESULTS

We developed a mnemonic-based (SIGNAL) curriculum consisting of 10 modules, which covers key concepts of inpatient glycemic management and provides an approach to daily glycemic management: S = steroids, I = insulin, G = glucose, N = nutritional status, A = added dextrose, and L = labs. Following implementation of the curriculum, there was no difference in the rates of hyperglycemia in insulin-treated patients following the intervention; however, there was an increase in the rates of hypoglycemia defined as blood glucose (BG) ⩽ 70 mg/dL (5.6% vs 3.0%, P < .001) and clinically significant hypoglycemia defined as BG < 54 mg/dL (1.9% vs 0.8%, P = .01). There was poor penetration of the curriculum, with 60%, 20%, and 90% of the learning modules being delivered at the three participating hospitals, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this pilot study, a physician-targeted educational curriculum was not associated with improved glycemic control. Adapting the intervention to increase penetration and integrating the curriculum into existing clinical decision support tools may improve the effectiveness of the educational program on glycemic outcomes.

Acute glycemic control in diabetics. How sweet is oprimal? Con: Just as sweet as in nondiabetic is better

This review is for Con side of "Pro-Con debate" on the optimal target of blood glucose levels in patients with chronic hyperglycemia (e.g. premorbid HbA1c level > 7%). Currently, international guideline recommended that blood glucose level ≤ 180 mg/dL in critically ill patients irrespective of presence or absence of premorbid diabetes. However, there are several studies to generate the hypothesis that liberal glycemic control (e.g., target blood glucose level 180-250 mg/dL) may be beneficial in critically ill patients with premorbid hyperglycemia. Although there is before-after study to report its safety and feasibility, it should be noted that this strategy may have a potential to increase the risk of infection, glycosuria, and polyneuropathy. Furthermore, there is randomized controlled study which showed the potential harm of liberal glycemic control in patients with premorbid hyperglycemia. Additionally, there are lots of uncertainty about the candidate and methodology of such a permissive hyperglycemia. With considering these facts, it might be better to keep target of blood glucose level in patients with diabetes the same as patients without diabetes (≤ 180 mg/dL), until randomized control study as like LUCID (the Liberal GlUcose Control in Critically Ill Patients with Pre-existing Type 2 Diabetes) trial will justify its risk and benefit.

Appropriateness of Using Tests for Blood Glucose and Diabetic Complications in Clinical Practice: Experiences in a Hospital in Thailand

BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate how the tests for blood glucose (BG) and diabetic complications have been utilized in a hospital in Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patient medical records having the results of BG, HbA1c, and/or urine microalbumin presented and the records of DM patients having the results of serum lipids, serum LDL-C, and/or serum creatinine presented were selected. The data of diagnosis, ordered tests, and testing results in these records were extracted for evaluation. RESULTS This study recruited 1066 patients diagnosed with DM and 3081 patients diagnosed with other diseases. Point-of-care testing (POCT) for BG was repeatedly used in 371 non-DM cases; most of its results were normal. The results of BG and HbA1c were often used together. There was a good relationship between them, and these test results indicated poor glycemic control in 58% of DM cases. In non-DM cases, the test results agreed, indicating normoglycemia in 17.32%, pre-diabetes in 20.47%, and diabetes in 21.78%. To prevent diabetic nephropathy, serum creatinine was frequently used, whereas urine microalbumin, the recommended test, was underutilized. The result of LDL-C from both direct measurement and calculation were used; however, based on the same guidelines, the results of measured LDL-C indicated risk of cardiovascular diseases in a higher percentage of DM cases than did the results of calculated LDL-C. CONCLUSIONS The use of POCT for BG in hospitalized patients may be inappropriate. The utilization of urine microalbumin should be promoted to effectively prevent diabetic nephropathy.

Effect of Implementation of ADA/AACE Guidelines on the Management of Hospitalized Hyperglycemic Patients Through Training of Residents: A Tertiary Care Center Study

BACKGROUND

Hyperglycemia is a common comorbidity in hospitalized patients and may add to adverse outcomes. Various associations have issued guidelines for optimal management of hyperglycemia in ill patients. This study aims to assess the adherence to current guidelines in inpatient setting and the impact of educational interventions on the improvement in adherence to guidelines as well as its effect on the level of blood sugar control and patient outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

It was a quasi-experimental pretest and posttest study and was done in three phases, viz., observation of current practices, intervention in the form of educational interventions, and its effect on change in practices and patient outcomes.

RESULTS

There was statistically significant 22% increase in the use of recommended insulin regimens (P = 0.028). The proportion of blood sugars within recommended range in the first 48 h, mean daily blood sugars, and the incidence of severe hyperglycemia improved in phase 3 vs phase 1 and was statistically significant. On comparing the subgroups, viz., those who followed and those who did not follow the guidelines, the results of the proportion of blood sugar in recommended range and proportions of blood sugar of more than 250 were found to be statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Dedicated educational interventions help in improving healthcare practices. According to current guidelines, rapid improvement in hyperglycemia and better glycemic control occur with adherence to protocol-based management of hyperglycemia.

The impact of immobilisation and inflammation on the regulation of muscle mass and insulin resistance: different routes to similar end-points

Loss of muscle mass and insulin sensitivity are common phenotypic traits of immobilisation and increased inflammatory burden. The suppression of muscle protein synthesis is the primary driver of muscle mass loss in human immobilisation, and includes blunting of post‐prandial increases in muscle protein synthesis. However, the mechanistic drivers of this suppression are unresolved. Immobilisation also induces limb insulin resistance in humans, which appears to be attributable to the reduction in muscle contraction per se. Again mechanistic insight is missing such that we do not know how muscle senses its “inactivity status” or whether the proposed drivers of muscle insulin resistance are simply arising as a consequence of immobilisation. A heightened inflammatory state is associated with major and rapid changes in muscle protein turnover and mass, and dampened insulin‐stimulated glucose disposal and oxidation in both rodents and humans. A limited amount of research has attempted to elucidate molecular regulators of muscle mass loss and insulin resistance during increased inflammatory burden, but rarely concurrently. Nevertheless, there is evidence that Akt (protein kinase B) signalling and FOXO transcription factors form part of a common signalling pathway in this scenario, such that molecular cross‐talk between atrophy and insulin signalling during heightened inflammation is believed to be possible. To conclude, whilst muscle mass loss and insulin resistance are common end‐points of immobilisation and increased inflammatory burden, a lack of understanding of the mechanisms responsible for these traits exists such that a substantial gap in understanding of the pathophysiology in humans endures.

Update on glucose in critical care

The aim of this review is to summarize recent developments on the mechanisms involved in stress hyperglycemia associated with critical illness. Different aspects of the consequences of stress hyperglycemia as well as the therapeutic approaches tested so far are discussed: the physiological regulations of blood glucose, the mechanisms underlying stress hyperglycemia, the clinical associations, and the results of the prospective trials and meta-analyses to be taken into consideration when interpreting the available data. Current recommendations, challenges, and technological hopes for the future are be discussed.

Diabetic status and the relationship of blood glucose to mortality in adults with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii complex bacteremia

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Diabetes is associated with increased mortality in Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) complex infection. This study investigated the risk factors and relationship of diabetic status and glycemic indices to mortality in patients with carbapenem-resistant (CR) AB complex bacteremia.

METHODS

Relationship of glycemic indices to mortality were compared in adult diabetes (DM) and nondiabetes (non-DM) patients with CRAB complex bacteremia hospitalized from January 2010 to December 2015 in MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.

RESULTS

Of 317 patients with CRAB complex bacteremia, 146 (46.06%) had diabetes. DM patients were elderly (mean age of 69.23 years) and the mortality rate was higher (64.38% vs. 52.05%, p = 0.036) than in non-DM patients. By multivariate analysis, septic shock was associated with increased mortality in DM patients. Hypoglycemia was associated with increased mortality in non-DM patients only (100% vs. 50.33%, p = 0.006). The lowest mortality was for the blood glucose range 70-100 mg/dL in non-DM patients (43.24%) and 100-140 mg/dL for DM patients (56.52%). Increased glycemic variability (coefficient of variation (CV) > 40% compared to < 20%) was associated with increased mortality in non-DM patients (86.36% vs. 47.12%, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

Effects of dysglycemia on mortality due to CRAB complex bacteremia differ according to diabetic status. Mortality was higher in DM patients. In non-DM patients, hypoglycemia and increased CV were associated with increased mortality. The lowest mortality was for the blood glucose range 70-100 mg/dL in non-DM patients and 100-140 mg/dL for DM patients.

Effectiveness of an evidence-based protocol for the control of stress-induced hyperglycaemia in critical care

AIM

To assess the effectiveness of the implementation of a protocol for glycaemic control in critical care, in terms of maintenance of a pre-established target of blood glucose level, reduction of hyperglycaemia and prevention of severe hypoglycaemia.

METHOD

Prospective "pre-post" quasi-experimental study carried out in a general critical care unit. Adult patients treated with intravenous insulin were included. We recorded all glycaemic tests performed from November 2014 to August 2015 (pre-intervention) and from November 2015 to August 2016 (post-intervention). The intervention consisted of the implementation of an evidence-based glycaemic control protocol to achieve glycaemic levels in a range of 140-180mg/dl. Main variables analysed were: proportion of glycaemic tests in the target range, proportions of severe hypoglycaemia (under 40mg/dl) and hyperglycaemia over 200mg/dl.

RESULTS

We analysed 7864 glycaemic tests from 125 patients, 66 pre-intervention and 59 post-intervention. Average age was 66.24±13.99 years, 64% of patients were male. The proportion of tests within the target range was higher in the intervention group (38.82 vs. 44.34 p<.001). Only one case of severe hypoglycaemia was identified, which happened in the pre-intervention period. The rate of severe hyperglycaemia was lower in the post-intervention group (19.19 vs. 16.28 p=.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our experience shows that implementation of evidence-based interventions can improve glycaemic control during critical illness. We found higher glycaemia levels in the target range. The protocol proved useful in the prevention of severe hypoglycaemia. Nurse-led interventions based on clinical data improved health results in our patients.

Update to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection (2017): A summary, review, and strategies for implementation

Surgical site infections remain a common cause of morbidity, mortality, and increased length of stay and cost amongst hospitalized patients in the United States. This article summarizes the evidence used to inform the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection (2017), and highlights key updates and new recommendations. We also present specific suggestions for how infection preventionists can play a central role in guideline implementation by translating these recommendations into evidence-based policies and practices in their facility.

Sepsis-induced activation of endogenous GLP-1 system is enhanced in type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

High levels of circulating GLP-1 are associated with severity of sepsis in critically ill nondiabetic patients. Whether patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) display different activation of the endogenous GLP-1 system during sepsis and whether it is affected by diabetes-related metabolic parameters are not known.

METHODS

Serum levels of GLP-1 (total and active forms) and its inhibitor enzyme sDPP-4 were determined by ELISA on admission and after 2 to 4 days in 37 sepsis patients with (n = 13) and without T2D (n = 24) and compared to normal healthy controls (n = 25). Correlations between GLP-1 system activation and clinical, inflammatory, and diabetes-related metabolic parameters were performed.

RESULTS

A 5-fold (P < .001) and 2-fold (P < .05) increase in active and total GLP-1 levels, respectively, were found on admission as compared to controls. At 2 to 4 days from admission, the level of active GLP-1 forms in surviving patients were decreased significantly (P < .005), and positively correlated with inflammatory marker CRP (r = 0.33, P = .05). T2D survivors displayed a similar but more enhanced pattern of GLP-1 response than nondiabetic survivors. Nonsurvivors demonstrate an early extreme increase of both total and active GLP-1 forms, 9.5-fold and 5-fold, respectively (P < .05). The initial and late levels of circulating GLP-1 inhibitory enzyme sDPP-4 were twice lower in all studied groups (P < .001), compared with healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, these data indicate that endogenous GLP-1 system is activated during sepsis. Patients with T2D display an enhanced and prolonged activation as compared to nondiabetic patients. Extreme early increased GLP-1 levels during sepsis indicate poor prognosis.

Diabetes-Specific Formulae Versus Standard Formulae as Enteral Nutrition to Treat Hyperglycemia in Critically Ill Patients: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial

Background

During critical illness, hyperglycemia is prevalent and is associated with adverse outcomes. While treating hyperglycemia with insulin reduces morbidity and mortality, it increases glycemic variability and hypoglycemia risk, both of which have been associated with an increase in mortality. Therefore, other interventions which improve glycemic control, without these complications should be explored. Nutrition forms part of standard care, but the carbohydrate load of these formulations has the potential to exacerbate hyperglycemia. Specific diabetic-formulae with a lesser proportion of carbohydrate are available, and these formulae are postulated to limit glycemic excursions and reduce patients’ requirements for exogenous insulin.

Objective

The primary outcome of this prospective, blinded, single center, randomized controlled trial is to determine whether a diabetes-specific formula reduces exogenous insulin administration. Key secondary outcomes include the feasibility of study processes as well as glycemic variability.

Methods

Critically ill patients will be eligible if insulin is administered whilst receiving exclusively liquid enteral nutrition. Participants will be randomized to receive a control formula, or a diabetes-specific, low glycemic index, low in carbohydrate study formula. Additionally, a third group of patients will receive a second diabetes-specific, low glycemic index study formula, as part of a sub-study to evaluate its effect on biomarkers. This intervention group (n=12) will form part of recruitment to a nested cohort study with blood and urine samples collected at randomization and 48 hours later for the first 12 participants in each group with a secondary objective of exploring the metabolic implications of a change in nutrition formula. Data on relevant medication and infusions, nutrition provision and glucose control will be collected to a maximum of 48 hours post randomization. Baseline patient characteristics and anthropometric measures will be recorded. A 28-day phone follow-up will explore weight and appetite changes as well as blood glucose control pre and post intensive care unit (ICU) discharge.

Results

Recruitment commenced in February 2015 with an estimated completion date for data collection by May 2018. Results are expected to be available late 2018.

Conclusions

This feasibility study of the effect of diabetes-specific formulae on the administration of insulin in critically ill patients and will inform the design of a larger, multi-center trial.

Trial Registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ANZCTR):12614000166673; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12614000166673 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6xs0phrVu)

A systematic scoping review on the consequences of stress-related hyperglycaemia

BACKGROUND

Stress-related hyperglycaemia (SHG) is commonly seen in acutely ill patients and has been associated with poor outcomes in many studies performed in different acute care settings. We aimed to review the available evidence describing the associations between SHG and different outcomes in acutely ill patients admitted to an ICU. Study designs, populations, and outcome measures used in observational studies were analysed.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic scoping review of observational studies following the Joanna Briggs methodology. Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for publications between January 2000 and December 2015 that reported on SHG and mortality, infection rate, length of stay, time on ventilation, blood transfusions, renal replacement therapy, or acquired weakness.

RESULTS

The search yielded 3,063 articles, of which 43 articles were included (totalling 536,476 patients). Overall, the identified studies were heterogeneous in study conduct, SHG definition, blood glucose measurements and monitoring, treatment protocol, and outcome reporting. The most frequently reported outcomes were mortality (38 studies), ICU and hospital length of stay (23 and 18 studies, respectively), and duration of mechanical ventilation (13 studies). The majority of these studies (40 studies) compared the reported outcomes in patients who experienced SHG with those who did not. Fourteen studies (35.9%) identified an association between hyperglycaemia and increased mortality (odds ratios ranging from 1.13 to 2.76). Five studies identified hyperglycaemia as an independent risk factor for increased infection rates, and one identified it as an independent predictor of increased ICU length of stay.

DISCUSSION

SHG was consistently associated with poor outcomes. However, the wide divergences in the literature mandate standardisation of measuring and monitoring SHG and the creation of a consensus on SHG definition. A better comparability between practices will improve our knowledge on SHG consequences and management.

Pathophysiological changes after lipopolysaccharide-induced acute inflammation in a type 2 diabetic rat model versus normal controls

AIMS

The present study aimed to explore the mechanism of a potential beneficial effect of pre-existing diabetes in acute hyperglycemia during critical illness.

METHODS

Pathophysiological changes including blood glucose variability, changes of inflammatory and oxidative stress responses after lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute infection were compared between type 2 diabetic rat model (GK rats) and normal controls (Wistar rats).

RESULTS

After LPS injection, Wistar rats showed serious infective symptoms while GK rats did not. Blood glucose (BG) levels were significantly elevated in both GK and Wistar rats; however, compared to Wistar rats, GK rats had lower BG variability, smaller increases in the serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 levels, a larger increase in the serum IL-10 level, and a smaller decrease in the IκB-α protein level of lung tissue. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased and serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) levels decreased for both GK and Wistar rats.

CONCLUSIONS

We found diabetes was associated with adaptive changes at the cellular level that might actually be protective in acute hyperglycemia-mediated damage during sepsis. Chronic exposure to hyperglycemia potentially reduced the acute deleterious effects of acute hyperglycemia on septic mortality by decreasing BG variability, blunting the pro-inflammatory response and elevating the anti-inflammatory response.

Early glycemia and mortality in critically ill septic patients: Interaction with insulin-treated diabetes

PURPOSE

To investigate the relationship between dysglycemia and hospital mortality in patients with and without a preadmission diagnosis of insulin treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An observational multicentre cohort study using the ANZICS-APD database on adult patients admitted to ICU with sepsis between January 1st 2006 and December 31st 2015. Four domains of dysglycemia were investigated (highest, mean and lowest blood glucose levels and glycemic variability: the absolute difference between the highest and lowest level). The association between a preadmission diagnosis of ITDM and hospital mortality in each domain was analysed.

RESULTS

We studied 90,644 septic patients including 5127 patients with ITDM. We found that septic ICU patients with ITDM have lower adjusted hospital mortality with higher peak blood glucose levels in the first 24 h while non-ITDM patients have increased mortality (interaction p 0.012). We found that this significant difference was replicated when assessing glycemic variability (interaction p 0.048).

CONCLUSIONS

Septic patients with a pre-existing diagnosis of ITDM show a different relationship between hospital mortality and highest glucose levels and glycemic variability in the first 24 h than those without ITDM. These findings provide a rationale for an ITDM-specific approach to the management of dysglycemia.

Stress hyperglycemia in general surgery: Why should we care?

AIMS

To determine the frequency of increasing levels of stress hyperglycemia and its associated complications in surgery patients without a history of diabetes.

METHODS

We reviewed hospital outcomes in 1971 general surgery patients with documented preoperative normoglycemia [blood glucose (BG) <140mg/dL] who developed stress hyperglycemia (BG >140mg/dL or >180mg/dL) within 48h after surgery between 1/1/2010 and 10/31/2015.

RESULTS

A total of 415 patients (21%) had ≥1 episode of BG between 140 and 180mg/dL and 206 patients (10.5%) had BG>180mg/dL. The median length of hospital stay (LOS) was 9days [interquartile range (IQR) 5,15] for BG between 140 and 180mg/dL and 12days (IQR 6,18) for BG>180mg/dL compared to normoglycemia at 6days (IQR 4,11), both p<0.001. Patients with BG 140-180mg/dL had higher rates of complications with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.68 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.15-2.44], and those with BG>180mg/dL had more complications [OR 3.46 (95% CI 2.24-5.36)] and higher mortality [OR 6.56 (95% CI 2.12-20.27)] compared to normoglycemia.

CONCLUSION

Increasing levels of stress hyperglycemia are associated with higher rates of perioperative complications and hospital mortality in surgical patients without diabetes.

Perioperative Management of Hyperglycemia and Diabetes in Cardiac Surgery Patients

Perioperative hyperglycemia is common after cardiac surgery, reported in 60% to 90% of patients with diabetes and in approximately 60% of patients without history of diabetes. Many observational and prospective randomized trials in critically-ill cardiac surgery patients support a strong association between hyperglycemia and poor clinical outcome. Despite ongoing debate about the optimal glucose target, there is strong agreement that improved glycemic control reduces perioperative complications.

Association between Glycemic Gap and Adverse Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients with Diabetes

OBJECTIVES

Glycemic excursions are commonly seen in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and are related to adverse outcomes. Glycemic gap is a marker of this excursion in patients with diabetes. It can be used to predict adverse outcomes in patients with diabetes admitted to the ICU. It is calculated by subtracting A1C-derived average glucose (ADAG) = ([28.7 × HbA1c]-46.7) from plasma glucose at admission. Objective of this study was to correlate glycemic gap and adverse outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) admitted to the ICU.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted an ambispective study to include patients with type 2 DM admitted to the ICUs from July 2015 to June 2016. The following adverse outcomes were recorded: Multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), shock, upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleed, acute kidney injury (AKI), and acute respiratory failure (ARF).

RESULTS

A total of 200 patients were enrolled, with a mean age ± standard deviation of 62 ± 11.24 years, and 64.5% were males. The median (interquartile range) duration of hospital stay and ICU stay were 8 (6-12) days and 4 (3-7) days, respectively. The most common primary diagnosis was cardiovascular (39.5%) followed by neurological (16.5%), infection at diagnosis (16.5%), respiratory (14%), gastrointestinal (7.5%), and others (6%). A higher glycemic gap was associated with occurrence of MODS (P < 0.01), ARDS (P = 0.026), shock (P = 0.043), UGI bleed (P = 0.013), AKI (P = 0.01), and ARF (P < 0.01). Glycemic gap cutoffs of 43.31, 45.26, and 39.12 were found to be discriminatory for predicting ICU mortality (area under the receiver operating characteristic [AUROC]=0.631, P = 0.05), MODS (AUROC = 0.725, P < 0.001), and ARF (AUROC = 0.714, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that higher glycemic gap levels were associated with an increased risk of MODS, ARDS, shock, UGI bleed, AKI, and ARF. Glycemic gap is a tool that can be used to determine prognosis in patients with diabetes admitted to the ICU.

Prophylactic Use of Haloperidol and Changes in Glucose Levels in Hospitalized Older Patients

BACKGROUND

Treatment with antipsychotic drugs has been associated with glucose dysregulation in older outpatients, especially in the early stage of therapy. The underlying mechanism is, however, unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in glucose levels during haloperidol use compared with the use of placebo among older hospitalized patients.

METHODS

This substudy was part of a larger multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial among hospitalized patients aged 70 years and older who had an increased risk of in-hospital delirium. Patients who were admitted to the Jeroen Bosch Hospital in 's-Hertogenbosch between June 2014 and February 2015 were invited to participate in the study. Participating patients were randomized for treatment and given 1 mg of haloperidol or a placebo twice daily for a maximum of 7 consecutive days (14 doses). Exclusion criteria for this substudy were the use of corticosteroids and changes in diabetes medication. Random blood samples to determine glucose levels were collected before day 1 and on day 6 of the study. Student independent sample t test was used to determine differences in glucose changes between both groups.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients were included (haloperidol, n = 14; placebo, n = 15). The mean glucose level for placebo users was 139.3 mg/dL (SD, 50.1) on day 1 and 140.8 mg/dL (SD, 45.7) on day 6, and the mean glucose level for haloperidol users was 139.9 mg/dL (SD, 71.0) on day 1 and 150.2 mg/dL (SD, 39.1) on day 6. The difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.685).

CONCLUSIONS

Short-term prophylactic use of haloperidol was not associated with changes in glucose levels in older hospitalized patients compared with those given a placebo in this small study.

Risk of Hypoglycemia During Insulin Infusion Directed by Paper Protocol Versus Electronic Glycemic Management System in Critically Ill Patients at a Large Academic Medical Center

BACKGROUND

Insulin infusions are commonly utilized to control hyperglycemia in critically ill patients and decrease hyperglycemia associated complications. Safety concerns have been raised in trials evaluating methods of glycemic control regarding the incidence of hypoglycemia and its relationship to increased mortality. Electronic glycemic management systems (eGMS) may result in less variable blood glucose (BG) control and less hypoglycemia. This study aimed to compare BG control, time in target BG range, and the rate of hypoglycemia when critically ill patients were managed with an insulin infusion guided by paper-based protocol (PBP) versus eGMS.

METHODS

This retrospective review compared critically ill patients ≥ 18 years old that received insulin infusion from March to May 2015 (PBP group) and October to January 2017 (eGMS group). The primary outcome was the incidence of hypoglycemia. Secondary outcomes included frequency and severity of hypoglycemia, duration in glycemic target, length of insulin therapy, as well as ICU and hospital length of stay.

RESULTS

Fifty-four patients were evaluated, 27 in each group. Percentage of days with BG <70 mg/dL was significantly reduced after eGMS implementation (21.5% v 1.3%, P < .0001) including the frequency of severe hypoglycemia (BG < 40 mg/dL) (5.4% v 0.01%, P < .0001). Patients in the eGMS group spent a greater amount of time in target BG range (31.5% v 63.7%, P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

An eGMS has the potential to address many of the unmet needs of an optimal glycemic control strategy, minimizing hypoglycemia, and glycemic variability in a heterogeneous critically ill population.

Post-operative stress hyperglycemia is a predictor of mortality in liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

A significant association is known between increased glycaemic variability and mortality in critical patients. To ascertain whether glycaemic profiles during the first week after liver transplantation might be associated with long-term mortality in these patients, by analysing whether diabetic status modified this relationship.

METHOD

Observational long-term survival study includes 642 subjects undergoing liver transplantation from July 1994 to July 2011. Glucose profiles, units of insulin and all variables with influence on mortality are analysed using joint modelling techniques.

RESULTS

Patients registered a survival rate of 85% at 1 year and 65% at 10 years, without differences in mortality between patients with and without diabetes. In glucose profiles, however, differences were observed between patients with and without diabetes: patients with diabetes registered lower baseline glucose values, which gradually rose until reaching a peak on days 2-3 and then subsequently declined, diabetic subjects started from higher values which gradually decreased across the first week. Patients with diabetes showed an association between mortality and age, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score (MELD) score and hepatitis C virus; among non-diabetic patients, mortality was associated with age, body mass index, malignant aetiology, red blood cell requirements and parenteral nutrition. Glucose profiles were observed to be statistically associated with mortality among patients without diabetes (P = 0.022) but not among patients who presented with diabetes prior to transplantation (P = 0.689).

CONCLUSIONS

Glucose profiles during the first week after liver transplantation are different in patients with and without diabetes. While glucose profiles are associated with long-term mortality in patients without diabetes, after adjusting for potential confounding variables such as age, cause of transplantation, MELD, nutrition, immunosuppressive drugs, and units of insulin administered, this does not occur among patients with diabetes.

The Long and Winding Road Toward Personalized Glycemic Control in the Critically Ill

Hyperglycemia is very common in critically ill patients and interventional studies of intensive insulin therapy with the goal of returning ICU glycemia to normal levels have demonstrated mixed results. A large body of literature has demonstrated that diabetes, per se, is not independently associated with increased risk of mortality in this population and that the relationship of glucose metrics to mortality is different for patients with and without diabetes. Moreover, these relationships are confounded by preadmission glycemia; in this regard, patients with diabetes and good preadmission glucose control, as reflected by HbA1c levels obtained at the time of ICU admission, are similar to patients without diabetes. These data point the way toward an era when blood glucose targets in the ICU will be "personalized," based on assessment of preadmission glycemia.

The GesTIO protocol experience: safety of a standardized order set for subcutaneous insulin regimen in elderly hospitalized patients

BACKGROUNDS

In non-critical hospitalized patients with diabetes mellitus, guidelines suggest subcutaneous insulin therapy with basal-bolus regimen, even in old and vulnerable inpatients.

AIM

To evaluate safety, efficacy, and benefit on clinical management of the GesTIO protocol, a set of subcutaneous insulin administration rules, in old and vulnerable non-ICU inpatients.

METHODS

Retrospective, observational study. Patients admitted to Geriatric Clinic of Padua were studied. 88 patients matched the inclusion criteria: type 2 diabetes or hospital-related hyperglycemia, ≥65 years, regular measurements of capillary glycemia, and basal-bolus subcutaneous insulin regimen managed by "GesTIO protocol" for five consecutive days.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

ratio of patients with blood glucose (BG) <3.9 mmol/l; number of BG per patient in target range (5-11.1 mmol/l); daily mean BG; and calls to physicians for adjusting insulin therapy.

RESULTS

Mean age was 82 ± 7 years. 9.1% patients experienced mild hypoglycaemia, and no severe hypoglycaemia was reported. The median number of BG per patients in target range increased from 2.0 ± 2 to 3.0 ± 2 (p < 0.001). The daily mean BG decreased from 11.06 ± 3.03 to 9.64 ± 2.58 mmol/l (-12.8%, p < 0.005). The mean number of calls to physicians per patient decreased from 0.83 to 0.45 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with GesTIO protocol allows a safe and effective treatment even in very old and vulnerable inpatients with a faster management insulin therapy.

Transitioning from intravenous to subcutaneous insulin in the medical intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of studies on transitions from IV insulin infusion (IVII) to subcutaneous (SC) insulin in the medical ICU (MICU).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of patients admitted to the Cleveland Clinic MICU from June 2013 to January 2014 who received IVII. We compared blood glucose (BG) control between 3 cohorts based on timing of basal insulin dose: (1) NB (no basal), (2) IB (incorrect basal), (3) CB (correct basal) at 5 time points post-IVII discontinuation (1, 4, 8, 12, and 24h). Insulin doses used for transitioning were compared with 80% of estimated 24h IVII total. Analysis was done using chi-square, ANOVA and t-tests.

RESULTS

There were 269 patients (NB 166, IB 45, CB 58), 55% male with a mean age 58±16years. 103 patients (38%) had a transition attempted (IB 21%, CB 17%). The NB cohort had better BG than the IB cohort at all time points (p<0.001) but also lower HbA1c, prior DM diagnosis and home insulin use (p<0.001). IB and CB did not have significantly different BG with mean BG>180mg/dL at 4/5 time intervals. However, the dose of basal insulin used was less than 80% of estimated 24h IVII total (IB 21.4 vs 49.6U, CB 25vs 57.1U). Despite this, 15% of patients in the IB cohort and 24% of patients in the CB had hypoglycemic events.

CONCLUSION

The low rates of IV to SC insulin transitions raises the question of challenges to transitions.

Glycemic control in acute illness

Hyperglycemia is commonly observed in critical illness. A landmark large randomized controlled trial (RCT) reported that the incidence of hyperglycemia (blood glucose concentration > 108 mg/dl) was as high as 97.2% in critically ill patients. During the past two decades, a number of RCTs and several meta-analyses and network meta-analyses have been conducted to determine the optimal target for acute glycemic control. The results of those studies suggest that serum glucose concentration would be better to be maintained between 144 and 180 mg/dl. Although there have been studies showing an association of hypoglycemia with worsened clinical outcomes, a causal link has yet to be confirmed. Nonetheless, some researchers are of the view that the data suggest even mild hypoglycemia should be avoided in critically ill patients. Since acutely ill patients who receive insulin infusion are at a higher risk of hypoglycemia, a reliable devices for measuring blood glucose concentrations, such as an arterial blood gas analyzer, should be used frequently. Acute glycemic control in patients with premorbid hyperglycemia is a novel issue. Available literature suggests that blood glucose concentrations considered to be desirable and/or safe in non-diabetic critically ill patients might not be desirable in patients with diabetes. Moreover, the optimal target for acute blood glucose control may be higher in critically ill patients with premorbid hyperglycemia. Further study is required to assess optimal blood glucose control in acutely ill patients with premorbid hyperglycemia.

Hypoglycemia Reduction Strategies in the ICU

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We reviewed the strategies associated with hypoglycemia risk reduction among critically ill non-pregnant adult patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Hypoglycemia in the ICU has been associated with increased mortality in a number of studies. Insulin dosing and glucose monitoring rules, response to impending hypoglycemia, use of computerization, and attention to modifiable factors extrinsic to insulin algorithms may affect the risk for hypoglycemia. Recurring use of intravenous (IV) bolus doses of insulin in insulin-resistant cases may reduce reliance upon higher IV infusion rates. In order to reduce the risk for hypoglycemia in the ICU, caregivers should define responses to interruption of continuous carbohydrate exposure, incorporate transitioning strategies upon initiation and interruption of IV insulin, define modifications of antihyperglycemic therapy in the presence of worsening renal function or chronic kidney disease, and anticipate the effects traceable to other medications and substances. Institutional and system-wide quality improvement efforts should assign priority to hypoglycemia prevention.

Comparative Simulation Study of Glucose Control Methods Designed for Use in the Intensive Care Unit Setting via a Novel Controller Scoring Metric

BACKGROUND

Effective glucose control in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting has the potential to decrease morbidity and mortality rates and thereby decrease health care expenditures. To evaluate what constitutes effective glucose control, typically several metrics are reported, including time in range, time in mild and severe hypoglycemia, coefficient of variation, and others. To date, there is no one metric that combines all of these individual metrics to give a number indicative of overall performance. We proposed a composite metric that combines 5 commonly reported metrics, and we used this composite metric to compare 6 glucose controllers.

METHODS

We evaluated the following controllers: Ideal Medical Technologies (IMT) artificial-intelligence-based controller, Yale protocol, Glucommander, Wintergerst et al PID controller, GRIP, and NICE-SUGAR. We evaluated each controller across 80 simulated patients, 4 clinically relevant exogenous dextrose infusions, and one nonclinical infusion as a test of the controller's ability to handle difficult situations. This gave a total of 2400 5-day simulations, and 585 604 individual glucose values for analysis. We used a random walk sensor error model that gave a 10% MARD. For each controller, we calculated severe hypoglycemia (<40 mg/dL), mild hypoglycemia (40-69 mg/dL), normoglycemia (70-140 mg/dL), hyperglycemia (>140 mg/dL), and coefficient of variation (CV), as well as our novel controller metric.

RESULTS

For the controllers tested, we achieved the following median values for our novel controller scoring metric: IMT: 88.1, YALE: 46.7, GLUC: 47.2, PID: 50, GRIP: 48.2, NICE: 46.4.

CONCLUSION

The novel scoring metric employed in this study shows promise as a means for evaluating new and existing ICU-based glucose controllers, and it could be used in the future to compare results of glucose control studies in critical care. The IMT AI-based glucose controller demonstrated the most consistent performance results based on this new metric.

Transition from intravenous insulin to subcutaneous long-acting insulin in critical care patients on enteral or parenteral nutrition

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The optimal initial dose of subcutaneous (SC) insulin after intravenous (IV) infusion is controversial, especially in patients receiving continuous enteral nutrition (EN) or total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The aim of this study was to evaluate the strategy used at our hospital intensive care unit (ICU) in patients switched from IV insulin to SC insulin glargine while receiving EN or TPN.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was made of 27 patients on EN and 14 on TPN switched from IV infusion insulin to SC insulin. The initial dose of SC insulin was estimated as 50% of the daily IV insulin requirements, extrapolated from the previous 12h. A corrective dose of short-acting insulin (lispro) was used when necessary.

RESULTS

Mean blood glucose (BG) level during SC insulin treatment was 136±35mg/dL in the EN group and 157±37mg/dL in the TPN group (p=0.01). In the TPN group, mean BG was >180mg/dL during the first three days after switching, and a 41% increase in the glargine dose was required to achieve the target BG. In the EN group, mean BG remained <180mg/dL throughout the days of transition and the dose of glargine remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

In the transition from IV to SC insulin therapy, initial insulin glargine dose estimated as 50% of daily IV insulin requirements is adequate for patients on EN, but inadequate in those given TPN.

Endocrine and Metabolic Alterations in Sepsis and Implications for Treatment

Sepsis induces profound neuroendocrine and metabolic alterations. During the acute phase, the neuroendocrine changes are directed toward restoration of homeostasis, and also limit unnecessary energy consumption in the setting of restricted nutrient availability. Such changes are probably adaptive. In patients not recovering quickly, a prolonged critically ill phase may ensue, with different neuroendocrine changes, which may represent a maladaptive response. Whether stress hyperglycemia should be aggressively treated or tolerated remains a matter of debate. Until new evidence from randomized controlled trials becomes available, preventing severe hyperglycemia is recommended. Evidence supports withholding parenteral nutrition in the acute phase of sepsis.

Management of Type 1 Diabetes in the Hospital Setting

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this article was to review recent guideline recommendations on glycemic target, glucose monitoring, and therapeutic strategies, while providing practical recommendations for the management of medical and surgical patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) admitted to critical and non-critical care settings.

RECENT FINDINGS

Studies evaluating safety and efficacy of insulin pump therapy, continuous glucose monitoring, electronic glucose management systems, and closed loop systems for the inpatient management of hyperglycemia are described. Due to the increased prevalence and life expectancy of patients with type 1 diabetes, a growing number of these patients require hospitalization every year. Inpatient diabetes management is complex and is best provided by a multidisciplinary diabetes team. In the absence of such resource, providers and health care staff must become familiar with the features of this condition to avoid complications such as severe hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis, hypoglycemia, or glycemic variability. We reviewed most recent guidelines and relevant literature in the topic to provide practical recommendations for the inpatient management of patients with T1D.

Hyperglycemia on admission and hospitalization outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the association of admission blood glucose (ABG) and mortality in patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM) hospitalized for atrial fibrillation (AF).

HYPOTHESIS

Hyperglycemia on admission is a bad prognostic marker in patients with AF.

METHODS

Observational data were collected from electronic records of patients age ≥ 18 years hospitalized for AF in 2011-2013. Twelve-month data were available in all cases. ABG levels were classified as follows: 70 to 110 mg/dL, normal; 111 to 140 mg/dL, mildly elevated; 141 to 199 mg/dL, moderately elevated; ≥200 mg/dL, markedly elevated. Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess overall survival by ABG categories, adjusted for study variables. Primary outcome measure was mortality at end of follow-up.

RESULTS

The cohort included 1127 patients (45% male; median age, 75 ± 13 years), of whom 331 had DM. Mortality rates by ABG levels were 19% (77/407 patients), normal ABG; 26% (92/353 patients), mildly elevated ABG; 28% (69/244 patients), moderately elevated ABG; and 41% (50/123 patients), markedly elevated ABG. Data were analyzed for the entire cohort following adjustment for age, sex, CHADS₂ score, ischemic heart disease, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Compared with normal ABG, the adjusted hazard ratio for mortality was higher in patients with moderately elevated ABG (2.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.19-7.94, P < 0.05) and markedly elevated ABG (1.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-5.31, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with and without DM hospitalized for AF, moderately to markedly elevated ABG levels are associated with increased mortality.

Non-diabetic Hyperglycemia and Some of Its Correlates in ICU Hospitalized Patients Receiving Enteral Nutrition

INTRODUCTION

Hyperglycemia is a common occurrence in critically ill patients, and its prevalence in patients receiving nutritional support is much higher than in other patients. The non-diabetic form is associated with more undesirable outcomes. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of non-diabetic hyperglycemia and its correlates in patients receiving enteral nutrition.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed between March and December 2015. Seven hundred forty eight (748) patients were reviewed to see if they met the inclusion criteria. After random sequence numbering, 414 patients who were eligible for further assessment and data gathering were selected. Hyperglycemia was defined as the blood glucose levels higher than either 126 mg/dL, in the fasting state, or 180 mg/dL, in a random state. Blood glucose was measured by an ACCU-CHECK glucometer (Roche diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) three times, after ICU admission, in both fasting and random state. A pre-prepared form was used to extract data from hospital records. Data analysis was performed by SPSS 21 software.

RESULTS

In this group of hospitalized patients, the prevalence of non-diabetic hyperglycemia was 14/49 (60/414). In the hyperglycemic subgroup, mean FBS was 228.00±36.42, mean random BS was 183.19±43.94 and mean blood sugar on the first day of hospitalization was 203.60 ± 60.79. The mean age of patients was 56.64±19.79 years and the mean duration of hospitalization was 19.24±15.33 days. There was no significant relationship between enteral nutrition feeding volume and hyperglycemia. Majorly, patients aged above 60 years were hyperglycemic. The prevalence was higher in men than in women. Most patients were internal cases, but with the highest prevalence of hyperglycemia in surgical patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Since among different studied variables just diagnosed disease and the level of provided calorie showed significant differences between subgroup categories, so it can be suggested that designing on-time appropriate management programs based them can be effective on the administration of non-diabetic hyperglycemia and its undesirable consequences in such patients.

Remote Monitoring and Consultation of Inpatient Populations with Diabetes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Inpatient hyperglycemia is common and is linked to increased morbidity and mortality. We review current and innovative ways diabetes specialists consult in the management of inpatient diabetes.

RECENT FINDINGS

With electronic medical records (EMRs), remote monitoring and intervention may improve the management of inpatient hyperglycemia. Automated reports allow monitoring of glucose levels and allow diabetes teams to intervene through formal or remote consultation. Following a 2-year transition of our complex paper-based insulin order sets to be EMR based, we leveraged this change by developing new daily glycemic reports and a virtual glucose management service (vGMS). Based on a daily report identifying patients with two or more glucoses over 225 mg/dl and/or a glucose <70 mg/dl in the past 24 h, a vGMS note with management recommendations was placed in the chart. Following the introduction of the vGMS, the proportion of hyperglycemic patients decreased 39% from a baseline of 6.5 per 100 patient-days to 4.0 per 100 patient-days The hypoglycemia proportion decreased by 36%. Ninety-nine percent of surveyed medical and surgical residents said the vGMS was both important and helpful.

Continuous glucose monitoring in the ICU: clinical considerations and consensus

Glucose management in intensive care unit (ICU) patients has been a matter of debate for almost two decades. Compared to intermittent monitoring systems, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can offer benefit in the prevention of severe hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia by enabling insulin infusions to be adjusted more rapidly and potentially more accurately because trends in glucose concentrations can be more readily identified. Increasingly, it is apparent that a single glucose target/range may not be optimal for all patients at all times and, as with many other aspects of critical care patient management, a personalized approach to glucose control may be more appropriate. Here we consider some of the evidence supporting different glucose targets in various groups of patients, focusing on those with and without diabetes and neurological ICU patients. We also discuss some of the reasons why, despite evidence of benefit, CGM devices are still not widely employed in the ICU and propose areas of research needed to help move CGM from the research arena to routine clinical use.

Glucose Control, Diabetes Status, and Mortality in Critically Ill Patients: The Continuum From Intensive Care Unit Admission to Hospital Discharge

OBJECTIVE

To describe the relationships among glycemic control, diabetes mellitus (DM) status, and mortality in critically ill patients from intensive care unit (ICU) admission to hospital discharge.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective investigation of 6387 ICU patients with 5 or more blood glucose (BG) tests and 4462 ICU survivors admitted to 2 academic medical centers from July 1, 2010, through December 31, 2014. We studied the relationships among mean BG level, hypoglycemia (BG level <70 mg/dL [to convert to mmol/L, multiply by 0.0555]), high glucose variability (coefficient of variation ≥20%), DM status, and mortality.

RESULTS

The ICU mortality for patients without DM with ICU mean BG levels of 80 to less than 110, 110 to less than 140, 140 to less than 180, and at least 180 mg/dL was 4.50%, 7.30%, 12.16%, and 32.82%, respectively. Floor mortality for patients without DM with these BG ranges was 2.74%, 2.64%, 7.88%, and 5.66%, respectively. The ICU and floor mean BG levels of 80 to less than 110 and 110 to less than 140 mg/dL were independently associated with reduced ICU and floor mortality compared with mean BG levels of 140 to less than 180 mg/dL in patients without DM (odds ratio [OR] [95% CI]: 0.43 (0.28-0.66), 0.62 (0.45-0.85), 0.41 (0.23-0.75), and 0.40 (0.25-0.63), respectively) but not in patients with DM. Both ICU and floor hypoglycemia and increased glucose variability were strongly associated with ICU and floor mortality in patients without DM, and less so in those with DM. The independent association of dysglycemia occurring in either setting with mortality was cumulative in patients without DM.

CONCLUSION

These findings support the importance of glucose control across the entire trajectory of hospitalization in critically ill patients and suggest that the BG target of 140 to less than 180 mg/dL is not appropriate for patients without DM. The optimal BG target for patients with DM remains uncertain.

A Comparison of Inpatient Cost Per Day in General Surgery Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Treated with Basal-Bolus versus Sliding Scale Insulin Regimens

BACKGROUND

The identification of cost-effective glycaemic management strategies is critical to hospitals. Treatment with a basal-bolus insulin (BBI) regimen has been shown to result in better glycaemic control and fewer complications than sliding scale regular insulin (SSI) in general surgery patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the effect on costs is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a post hoc analysis of the RABBIT Surgery trial to examine whether total inpatient costs per day for general surgery patients with T2DM treated with BBI (n = 103) differed from those for patients with T2DM treated with SSI (n = 99) regimens.

METHODS

Data were collected from patient clinical and hospital billing records. Charges were adjusted to reflect hospital costs. General linearized models were used to estimate the risk-adjusted effects of BBI versus SSI treatment on average total inpatient costs per day.

RESULTS

Risk-adjusted average total inpatient costs per day were $US5404. Treatment with BBI compared with SSI reduced average total inpatient costs per day by $US751 (14%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 20-4). Being treated in a university medical centre, being African American or having a bowel procedure or higher-volume pharmacy use significantly reduced costs per day.

CONCLUSIONS

In general surgery patients with T2DM, a BBI regimen significantly reduced average total hospital costs per day compared with an SSI regimen. BBI has been shown to improve outcomes in a randomized controlled trial. Those results, combined with our findings regarding savings, suggest that hospitals should consider adopting BBI regimens in patients with T2DM undergoing surgery.

Management of Inpatient Hyperglycemia and Diabetes in Older Adults

Adults aged 65 years and older are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population, and their number is expected to double to 89 million between 2010 and 2050. The prevalence of diabetes in hospitalized adults aged 65-75 years and over 80 years of age has been estimated to be 20% and 40%, respectively. Similar to general populations, the presence of hyperglycemia and diabetes in elderly patients is associated with increased risk of hospital complications, longer length of stay, and increased mortality compared with subjects with normoglycemia. Clinical guidelines recommend target blood glucose between 140 and 180 mg/dL (7.8 and 10 mmol/L) for most patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). A similar blood glucose target is recommended for patients in non-ICU settings; however, glycemic targets should be individualized in older adults on the basis of a patient's clinical status, risk of hypoglycemia, and presence of diabetes complications. Insulin is the preferred agent to manage hyperglycemia and diabetes in the hospital. Continuous insulin infusion in the ICU and rational use of basal-bolus or basal plus supplement regimens in non-ICU settings are effective in achieving glycemic goals. Noninsulin regimens with the use of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors alone or in combination with basal insulin have been shown to be safe and effective and may represent an alternative to basal-bolus regimens in elderly patients. Smooth transition of care to the outpatient setting is facilitated by providing oral and written instructions regarding timing and dosing of insulin as well as education in basic skills for home management.

Starving for survival-how catabolic metabolism fuels immune function

Infections disturb homeostasis and often induce a switch to catabolic organismal metabolism. During catabolism, increased systemic availability of glucose, fatty acids and ketone bodies is observed, and recent evidence indicates that these metabolites might serve an immunomodulatory function. However, whereas our understanding of direct pathogen recognition by the host immune system is quite detailed, much less is known about the immunobiology of the metabolic host response to infection. In this review article we briefly discuss how pathogens induce 'dys-homeostasis' systemically, locally, and within cells, and provide examples of how such changes can shape immune-functionality during the course of an infection.

Clinical impact of hyperglycemia on days 0-7 after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

In order to clarify the association between hyperglycemia during the early period after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) and adverse outcomes, we retrospectively analyzed 563 consecutive patients who underwent allo-SCT at our institute between 2008 and 2015. Patients were categorized into three groups according to mean fasting blood glucose levels on days 0-7 (normoglycemia group<110 mg/dL, n=347; mild hyperglycemia group 110-149 mg/dL, n=192 and moderate/severe hyperglycemia group≥150 mg/dL, n=24). The median follow-up was 2.7 years. Patients in the moderate/severe hyperglycemia group had significantly worse characteristics. The cumulative incidences of 2-year non-relapse mortality (NRM) and the probabilities of 2-year overall survival (OS) in the normoglycemia, mild hyperglycemia and moderate/severe hyperglycemia groups were 7.5%, 19% and 29%, respectively (P<0.01), and 69%, 53% and 33%, respectively (P<0.01). In multivariate analyses, hyperglycemia was an independent predictor of high NRM (vs normoglycemia; mild hyperglycemia, hazard ratio (HR) 2.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.56-4.18; moderate/severe hyperglycemia, HR 4.46, 95% CI 1.92-10.3) and poor OS (vs normoglycemia; mild hyperglycemia, HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.14-2.07; moderate/severe hyperglycemia, HR 1.61, 95% CI 0.89-2.91). In conclusion, hyperglycemia on days 0-7 after allo-SCT was associated with inferior outcomes.

Management of critically ill patients with diabetes

Disorders of glucose homeostasis, such as stress-induced hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, are common complications in patients in the intensive care unit. Patients with preexisting diabetes mellitus (DM) are more susceptible to hyperglycemia, as well as a higher risk from glucose overcorrection, that may results in severe hypoglycemia. In critically ill patients with DM, it is recommended to maintain a blood glucose range between 140-180 mg/dL. In neurological patients and surgical patients, tighter glycemic control (i.e., 110-140 mg/d) is recommended if hypoglycemia can be properly avoided. There is limited evidence that shows that critically ill diabetic patients with a glycosylated hemoglobin levels above 7% may benefit from looser glycemic control, in order to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and significant glycemic variability.

Nonlinear model predictive glycemic control of critically ill patients using online identification of insulin sensitivity

In critically ill patients suffering from hyperglycemia, it has been recently shown that mortality and morbidity can be reduced by keeping blood glucose within the range of 80-110 mg/dL. However, maintaining glycemia within such range is difficult due to the time variability in insulin sensitivity in critically ill patients. In this paper, we propose a novel glycometabolism model of critically ill patients with an insulin sensitivity parameter and develop a nonlinear model predictive glycemic control system with online identification of insulin sensitivity at one-hour intervals. Simulation results show that our system keeps 70% of BG measurements within the range of 80-110 mg/dL without any severe hypoglycemic incidents, which indicates the effectiveness and safety of our system.

Clinical aspects of changes in water and sodium homeostasis in the elderly

The population of elderly individuals is increasing worldwide. With aging, various hormonal and kidney changes occur, both affecting water homeostasis. Aging is a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and many features of CKD are reproduced in the aging kidney. Dehydration and hyperosmolarity can be triggered by diminished thirst perception in this population. Elderly with dementia are especially susceptible to abnormalities of their electrolyte and body water homeostasis and should be (re-)assessed for polypharmacy. Hypo- and hypernatremia can be life threatening and should be diagnosed and treated promptly, following current practice guidelines. In severe cases of acute symptomatic hyponatremia, a rapid bolus of 100 to 150 ml of intravenous 3% hypertonic saline is appropriate to avert catastrophic outcomes; for asymptomatic hyponatremia, a very gradual correction is preferred. In summary, the body sodium (Na+) balance is regulated by a complex interplay of environmental and individual factors. In this review, we attempt to provide an overview on this topic, including dehydration, hyponatremia, hypernatremia, age-related kidney changes, water and sodium balance, and age-related changes in the vasopressin and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

The optimal blood glucose level for critically ill adult patients

BACKGROUND

Glycaemic control is recognized as one of the important aspects in managing critically ill patients. Both hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia independently increase the risk of patient mortality. Hence, the identification of optimal glycaemic control is of paramount importance in the management of critically ill patients.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this literature review is to examine the current status of glycaemic control in critically ill adult patients. This literature review will focus on randomized controlled trials comparing intensive insulin therapy to conventional insulin therapy, with an objective to identify optimal blood glucose level targets for critically ill adult patients.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A literature review was conducted to identify large randomized controlled trials for the optimal targeted blood glucose level for critically ill adult patients published since 2000. A total of eight studies fulfilled the selection criteria of this review.

RESULTS

With current human and technology resources, the results of the studies support commencing glycaemic control once the blood glucose level of critically ill patients reaches 10 mmol/L and maintaining this level between 8 mmol/L and 10 mmol/L.

CONCLUSION

This literature review provides a recommendation for targeting the optimal blood glucose level for critically ill patients within moderate blood glucose level target range (8-10 mmol/L). The need for uniformed glucometrics for unbiased reporting and further research for optimal blood glucose target is required, especially in light of new technological advancements in closed-loop insulin delivery and monitoring devices.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

This literature review has revealed a need to call for consensus in the measurement and reporting of glycaemic control using standardized glucometrics.

PERSPECTIVES ON LEARNING AND CLINICAL PRACTICE IMPROVEMENT FOR DIABETES IN THE HOSPITAL: A REVIEW OF EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTIONS FOR PROVIDERS

OBJECTIVE

The management of inpatient hyperglycemia and diabetes requires expertise among many health-care providers. There is limited evidence about how education for healthcare providers can result in optimization of clinical outcomes. The purpose of this critical review of the literature is to examine methods and outcomes related to educational interventions regarding the management of diabetes and dysglycemia in the hospital setting. This report provides recommendations to advance learning, curricular planning, and clinical practice.

METHODS

We conducted a literature search through PubMed Medical for terms related to concepts of glycemic management in the hospital and medical education and training. This search yielded 1,493 articles published between 2003 and 2016.

RESULTS

The selection process resulted in 16 original articles encompassing 1,123 learners from various disciplines. We categorized findings corresponding to learning outcomes and patient care outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Based on the analysis, we propose the following perspectives, leveraging learning and clinical practice that can advance the care of patients with diabetes and/or dysglycemia in the hospital. These include: (1) application of knowledge related to inpatient glycemic management can be improved with active, situated, and participatory interactions of learners in the workplace; (2) instruction about inpatient glycemic management needs to reach a larger population of learners; (3) management of dysglycemia in the hospital may benefit from the integration of clinical decision support strategies; and (4) education should be adopted as a formal component of hospitals' quality planning, aiming to integrate clinical practice guidelines and to optimize diabetes care in hospitals.