Pros and cons of continuous glucose monitoring in the intensive care unit

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus affects people worldwide, and management of its acute complications or treatment-related adverse events is particularly important in critically ill patients. Previous reports have confirmed that hyperglycemia can increase the risk of mortality in patients cared in the intensive care unit (ICU). In addition, severe and multiple hypoglycemia increases the risk of mortality when using insulin or intensive antidiabetic therapy. The innovation of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) may help to alert medical caregivers with regard to the development of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, which may decrease the potential complications in patients in the ICU. The major limitation of CGM is the measurement of interstitial glucose levels rather than real-time blood glucose levels; thus, there will be a delay in the treatment of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia in patients. Recently, the European Union approved a state-of-art artificial intelligence directed loop system coordinated by CGM and a continuous insulin pump for diabetes control, which may provide a practical way to prevent acute adverse glycemic events related to antidiabetic therapy in critically ill patients. In this mini-review paper, we describe the application of CGM to patients in the ICU and summarize the pros and cons of CGM.

Keywords: Continuous glucose monitor; Diabetes; Hypoglycemia; Insulin; Intensive care unit.