Newer uses of glucose-insulin-potassium regimen

Diabetic ketoacidosis and moderate degree of hyperglycemia can be managed by glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) regimen. The GIK regimen is also useful in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). But, the exact mechanism(s) of the beneficial action of GIK regimen is not known. I suggest that glucose-insulin can suppress the secretion and antagonize the harmful effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). If this is true, it suggests that GIK regimen may be useful in septicemia and septic shock, and other inflammatory conditions such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and cancer, conditions in which TNF alpha and MIF appear to play a major role.