The effect of a liberal approach to glucose control in critically ill patients with type 2 diabetes: a multicenter, parallel-group, open-label randomized clinical trial

Rationale: Blood glucose concentrations affect outcomes in critically ill patients, but the optimal target blood glucose range in those with type 2 diabetes is unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of a “liberal” approach to targeted blood glucose range during ICU admission.

Methods: This mutlicenter, parallel-group, open-label randomized clinical trial included 419 adult patients with type 2 diabetes expected to be in the ICU on at least three consecutive days. In the intervention group intravenous insulin was commenced at a blood glucose >252 mg/dl and titrated to a target range of 180–252 mg/dl. In the comparator group insulin was commenced at a blood glucose >180 mg/dl and titrated to a target range of 108–180 mg/dl. The primary outcome was incident hypoglycemia (<72 mg/dl). Secondary outcomes included glucose metrics and clinical outcomes.

Measurements and Main Results: By Day 28, at least one episode of hypoglycemia occurred in 10 of 210 (5%) patients assigned the intervention and 38 of 209 (18%) patients assigned the comparator (incident rate ratio, 0.21 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.09 to 0.49]; P < 0.001). Those assigned the intervention had greater blood glucose concentrations (daily mean, minimum, maximum), less glucose variability, and less relative hypoglycemia (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). By Day 90, 62 of 210 (29.5%) in the intervention and 52 of 209 (24.9%) in the comparator group had died (absolute difference, 4.6 percentage points [95% CI, −3.9% to 13.2%]; P = 0.29).

Conclusions: A liberal approach to blood glucose targets reduced incident hypoglycemia but did not improve patient-centered outcomes.

Clinical trial registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN 12616001135404).