Intensive insulin therapy reduced mortality and morbidity in critically ill patients.

I n t e r v e n t i o n Patients were assigned to intensive (n = 765) or conventional (n = 783) insulin therapy. Intensive therapy was insulin infusion that was begun if the blood glucose level was > 6.1 mmol/L and adjusted to maintain normoglycemia (maximum insulin dose 50 IU/h). Conventional therapy was continuous insulin infusion by a pump that was begun if the blood glucose level was > 11.9 mmol/L and adjusted to maintain a blood glucose level between 10.0 and 11.1 mmol/L. All patients were given continuous intravenous glucose on ICU admission, and total enteral feeding was attempted as early as possible.