Murthy MS, Duby JJ, Parker PL, Durbin-Johnson BP, Roach DM, Louie EL. Blood glucose response to rescue dextrose in hypoglycemic, critically ill patients receiving an insulin infusion.
Ann Pharmacother 2015;
49:892-6. [PMID:
25986006 DOI:
10.1177/1060028015585574]
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Abstract
BACKGROUND
There is inadequate guidance for clinicians on selection of the optimal dextrose 50% (D50W) dose for hypoglycemia correction in critically ill patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the blood glucose (BG) response to D50W in critically ill patients.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis was conducted of critically ill patients who received D50W for hypoglycemia (BG < 70 mg/dL) while on an insulin infusion. The primary objective of this study was to determine the BG response to D50W. The relationship between participant characteristics and the dose-adjusted change in BG following D50W was analyzed using simple and multiple linear mixed-effects models.
RESULTS
There were 470 hypoglycemic events (BG < 70 mg/dL) corrected with D50W. The overall median BG response was 4.0 (2.53, 6.08) mg/dL per gram of D50W administered. Administration of D50W per protocol resulted in 32 episodes of hyperglycemia (BG > 150 mg/dL), resulting in a 6.8% rate of overcorrection; 49% of hypoglycemic episodes (230/470) corrected to a BG >100 mg/dL. A multivariable GEE analysis showed a significantly higher BG response in participants with diabetes (0.002) but a lower response in those with recurrent hypoglycemia (P = 0.049). The response to D50W increased with increasinginsulin infusion rate (P = 0.022). Burn patients experienced a significantly larger BG response compared with cardiac, medical, neurosurgical, or surgical patients.
CONCLUSIONS
The observed median effect of D50W on BG was approximately 4 mg/dL per gram of D50W administered. Application of these data may aid in rescue protocol development that may reduce glucose variability associated with hypoglycemic episodes and the correction.
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