Sjulin TJ, Strilka RJ, Huprikar NA, Cameron LA, Woody PW, Armen SB. Intermittent gastric feeds lower insulin requirements without worsening dysglycemia: A pilot randomized crossover trial.
Int J Crit Illn Inj Sci 2020;
10:200-205. [PMID:
33850829 PMCID:
PMC8033209 DOI:
10.4103/ijciis.ijciis_112_19]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
We hypothesized that critically ill medical patients would require less insulin when fed intermittently.
METHODS
First, 26 patients were randomized to receive intermittent or continuous gastric feeds. Once at goal nutrition, data were collected for the first 4-hr data collection period. Next, the enteral feed type was switched, goal nutrition was repeated, and a second 4-h data collection period was completed. The primary endpoint was the total amount of insulin infused; secondary endpoints were glucose concentration mean, maximum, minimum, and standard deviation, as well as episodes of hypoglycemia.
RESULTS
Sixteen of the 26 patients successfully completed the protocol. One patient experienced a large, rapid, and sustained decline in insulin requirement from liver failure, creating a bias of lesser insulin in the intermittent arm; this patient was removed from the analysis. For the remaining 15 patients, the average total amount of insulin infused was 1.4 U/patient/h less following intermittent feeds: P =0.027, 95% confidence interval (0.02, 11.17), and effect size 0.6. Secondary endpoints were statistically similar.
CONCLUSIONS
Critically ill medical patients who require an insulin infusion have a reduced insulin requirement when fed intermittently, whereas dysglycemia metrics are not adversely affected. A larger clinical study is required to confirm these findings.
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