Clinical Effectiveness of a Nurse Driven Insulin Infusion Protocol With a Target Range of 80-110 Mg/Dl

A Practical Approach to Hyperglycemia Management in the Intensive Care Unit: Evaluation of an Intensive Insulin Infusion Protocol

“…Several other protocols have shown similar results, with a low percentage of blood glucose concentrations within the designated target range. 5,8,[13][14][15] Other investigators, on the other hand, evaluated the use of their insulin infusion nomogram in a sample of patients in the postoperative cardiothoracic surgical ICU. 11 Their nomogram was modeled off the same published nomogram 12 as used in the above-mentioned study 7 and was revised to meet a broader target blood glucose range of 80-150 mg/dl.…”

“…17 Some institutions have implemented the use of triggers for initiation of insulin infusions that range from a blood glucose concentration of greater than 110 mg/dl to a blood glucose concentration of greater than 170 mg/dl on multiple, successive measurements. 5,7,8,10,[14][15][16] After day 2 of the insulin infusion, a divergence of blood glucose concentrations appears when comparing the protocol group with the control group, with the protocol group showing superiority in percentage of blood glucose concentrations in the target range and mean morning blood glucose concentration. This may be explained by the mean time it took patients to reach the target range in both groups and the larger number of mean and median blood glucose measurements/patient in the protocol group.…”