Insulin Therapy and Glycemic Control in Hospitalized Patients With Diabetes During Enteral Nutrition Therapy

OBJECTIVE To compare two subcutaneous insulin strategies for glycemic management of hyperglycemia in non-critically ill hospitalized patients with diabetes during enteral nutrition therapy (ENT). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Fifty inpatients were prospectively randomized to receive sliding-scale regular insulin (SSRI) alone (n = 25) or in combination with insulin glargine (n = 25). NPH insulin was added for persistent hyperglycemia in the SSRI group (glucose >10 mmol/l). RESULTS Glycemic control was similar in the SSRI and glargine groups (mean +/- SD study glucose 8.9 +/- 1.6 vs. 9.2 +/- 1.6 mmol/l, respectively; P = 0.71). NPH insulin was added in 48% of the SSRI group subjects. There were no group differences in frequency of hypoglycemia (1.3 +/- 4.1 vs. 1.1 +/- 1.8%; P = 0.35), total adverse events, or length of stay. CONCLUSIONS Both insulin strategies (SSRI with the addition of NPH for persistent hyperglycemia and glargine) demonstrated similar efficacy and safety in non-critically ill hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes during ENT.