Glycemic Goals
Although several organizations have issued guidelines for outpatient glucose management, no guidelines or protocols have been formulated for inpatient management. Maintaining glucose levels between 140 and 180 mg/dL is recommended for the majority of hospitalized patients.1 Individualized goals for younger patients without comorbidities (with previous stable glucose control before admission), or for the elderly, terminally ill, or those with extensive comorbidities (eg, congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, and renal failure), have been established for use in the outpatient setting, but no recommendations exist for inpatient glycemic goals for these different groups.
Standardized glycemic goals for certain populations of hospitalized patients have suggested that targets < 110 mg/dL are not recommended and may lead to poor outcomes, especially in critically ill patients.1 Recent studies failed to show a significant improvement in mortality with intensive glycemic control.3 and 4
Hyperglycemia in the hospital (blood glucose > 140 mg/dL) can increase the risk of infections, delay wound healing, and possibly prolong the length of hospital stay. Hyperglycemia has been associated with endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, acidosis, caloric and protein losses, electrolyte imbalances, impairment of neutrophil function, and potential exacerbation of myocardial and cerebral ischemia.2
Conversely, hypoglycemia (blood glucose < 70 mg/dL), if brief and mild, may not have long-term sequelae, but severe hypoglycemia (blood glucose < 40 mg/dL) could provoke neurologic effects or seizures, or could trigger arrhythmias or other cardiac events.5 Possible causes of hypoglycemia in the hospital include variability in insulin sensitivity related to the underlying illness, changes in counterregulatory hormonal responses to procedures or illnesses, prolonged nothing-by-mouth (NPO) status, variable doses of dextrose fluids or glucocorticoid therapy, unexpected decreases in food intake or emesis, interruption of enteral or parenteral nutrition, sepsis, concurrent malignancy, use of quinolone antibiotics, or worsening of hepatic or renal function. Providers should be proactive in reducing insulin doses in such settings.