Current state of glycemic control in critically ill subjects in a general intensive care unit

Vasileios Zochios¹, Jonathan Wilkinson², Jonathan Perry^1
1University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK; ²Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust, Northampton, UK

Abstract: Critically ill patients are predisposed to stress-induced hyperglycemia. Recent evidence suggests that uncontrolled hyperglycemia is associated with poor outcomes within the population of surgical and medical intensive care units. We retrospectively audited our practice in the management of hyperglycemia in the critically ill, in order to identify reasons and periods of time that deviations in blood glucose control are most likely, and to make recommendations on how to improve this. Our study showed poor compliance with the current recommendations for glycemic control in the critically ill and highlighted the need for a successful protocol for glycemic control in our institution. That should be carefully coordinated with the level of nutritional support and metabolic status of the acutely ill patient.

Keywords: hyperglycemia, critical illness, glycemic control, mortality