Lorenson JL, Cusumano MC, Stewart AM, Buhnerkempe MG, Sanghavi D. Fixed-rate insulin for adult diabetic ketoacidosis is associated with more frequent hypoglycaemia than rate-reduction method: a retrospective cohort study.
Int J Pharm Pract 2019;
27:380-385. [PMID:
30847977 DOI:
10.1111/ijpp.12525]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether hypoglycaemia incidence during management of adult diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) differed following transition from a fixed-rate insulin protocol to a protocol using an empiric insulin rate reduction after normoglycaemia.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed charts from adult patients managed with a DKA order set before and after order set revision. In cohort 1 (n = 77), insulin rate was 0.1 unit/kg/h with no adjustments and dextrose was infused at 12.5 g/h after glucose reached 250 mg/dl. In cohort 2 (n = 78), insulin was reduced to 0.05 unit/kg/h concurrent with dextrose initiation at 12.5 g/h after glucose reached 200 mg/dl. The primary outcome was hypoglycaemia (glucose < 70 mg/dl) within 24 h of the first order for insulin.
KEY FINDINGS
The 24-h incidence of hypoglycaemia was 19.2% in cohort 2 versus 32.5% in cohort 1; the adjusted odds ratio was 0.46 (95% confidence interval (CI) [0.21, 0.98]; P = 0.047). The 24-h use of dextrose 50% in water (D50W) was also reduced in cohort 2. No differences were seen in anion gap or bicarbonate normalization, rebound hyperglycaemia or ICU length of stay. In most patients who became hypoglycaemic, the preceding glucose value was below 100 mg/dl.
CONCLUSIONS
The insulin rate-reduction protocol was associated with less hypoglycaemia and no obvious disadvantage. Robust intervention for low-normal glucose values could plausibly achieve low hypoglycaemia rates with either approach.
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