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Intensive insulin therapy treats hyperglycemia but increases the risk of hypoglycemia. Typically, intravenous dextrose is given to prevent hypoglycemia; however, enteral nutrition is preferred. We hypothesized that the provision of hypocaloric enteral nutrition would protect against hypoglycemia. A retrospective analysis was performed evaluating patients treated with intensive insulin therapy comparing the use of enteral nutrition versus a dextrose-only intravenous solution. Nutrition in the 2 hours before each blood glucose test was assessed, and the association with hypoglycemia (50 mg/dL or less) evaluated. Risk of hypoglycemia as a function of nutrition type and rate was estimated by multivariable regression. A total of 26,140 blood glucose tests were collected on 1289 patients. Hypoglycemia occurred in 6.4 per cent of patients. In regression models, enteral nutrition was the strongest protective factor against hypoglycemia (P < 0.001) with the largest risk reduction (steepest portion of the curve) occurring at 60 per cent goal. Hypocaloric enteral nutrition showed a greater risk reduction than a peripheral dextrose-only intravenous solution alone. In the setting of intensive insulin therapy, the provision of enteral nutrition, even if hypocaloric, is sufficient to protect against hypoglycemia. Future prospective studies should evaluate the efficacy of enteral nutrition in reducing the risk of hypoglycemia and whether lower rates of hypoglycemia correspond to improved outcomes.

Background: Intensive insulin therapy lowers blood glucose and improves outcomes but increases the risk of hypoglycemia. Typically, insulin protocols require a dextrose solution to prevent hypoglycemia. The authors hypothesized that the provision of balanced nutrition (enteral nutrition [EN] or parenteral nutrition [PN]) would be more protective against hypoglycemia (≤50 mg/dL) than carbohydrate alone., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of patients treated with intensive insulin therapy and surviving ≥24 hours. The computer-based insulin protocol requires infusion of D10W at 30 mL/h if EN or PN is not provided. Nutrition provision was assessed in 2-hour increments, comparing periods of blood glucose control with and without balanced nutrition. The risk of hypoglycemia for each blood glucose measurement was estimated by multivariable regression., Results: In total, 66,592 glucose measurements were collected on 1392 patients. Hypoglycemic events occurred in 5.8/1000 glucose tests after 2 hours without balanced nutrition compared to 2.2/1000 tests when balanced nutrition was given in the preceding 2 hours. In multivariable regression models, balanced nutrition was the strongest protective factor against hypoglycemia. Patients who did not receive balanced nutrition in the preceding 2 hours had a 3 times increase in the odds of a hypoglycemic event at their next glucose check (odds ratio = 3.6, P < .001). Providing carbohydrate alone was not protective., Conclusions: Balanced nutrition is associated with reduced risk of hypoglycemia. These results suggest that balanced nutrition should be given when insulin therapy is initiated. Future studies should evaluate the efficacy of EN vs PN in preventing hypoglycemia.

Background: Control of hyperglycemia improves outcomes, but increases the risk of hypoglycemia. Recent evidence suggests that blood glucose variability (BGV) is more closely associated with mortality than either isolated or mean BG. We hypothesized that differences in BGV over time are associated with hypoglycemia and can be utilized to estimate risk of hypoglycemia (<50 mg/dL)., Materials and Methods: Patients treated with intravenous insulin in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care center formed the retrospective cohort. Exclusion criteria included death within 24 h of admission. We describe BGV in patients over time and its temporal relationship to hypoglycemic events. The risk of hypoglycemia for each BG measurement was estimated in a multivariable regression model. Predictors were measures of BGV, infusions of dextrose and vasopressors, patient demographics, illness severity, and BG measurements., Results: A total of 66,592 BG measurements were collected on 1392 patients. Hypoglycemia occurred in 154 patients (11.1%). Patient BGV fluctuated over time, and increased in the 24 h preceding a hypoglycemic event. In crude and adjusted analyses, higher BGV was positively associated with a hypoglycemia (OR 1.41, P < 0.001). Previous hypoglycemic events and time since previous BG measurement were also positively associated with hypoglycemic events. Severity of illness, vasopressor use, and diabetes were not independently associated with hypoglycemia., Conclusions: BGV increases in the 24 h preceding hypoglycemia, and patients are at increased risk during periods of elevated BG variability. Prospective measurement of variability may identify periods of increased risk for hypoglycemia, and provide an opportunity to mitigate this risk., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Fear of the adverse effects of hypoglycemia has limited the widespread application of intensive insulin therapy (goal, 80-110 mg/dL) in the trauma population. We hypothesized that severe hypoglycemia (SH;