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Updated: Aug 13, 2026
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Study of In Vivo Glucose Metabolism in High-fat Diet-fed Mice Using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) and Insulin Tolerance Test (ITT)
Published on: January 7, 2018
Glucose metabolism and insulin therapy
Lies Langouche1, Greet Van den Berghe
1Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Critical Care Clinics
|January 10, 2006
Summary
Strict glycemic control using insulin therapy in critically ill patients improves survival and reduces complications. This approach prevents glucose toxicity and offers additional metabolic benefits, enhancing overall patient outcomes in intensive care units.
Area of Science:
- Critical care medicine
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic disorders
Background:
- Hyperglycemia is prevalent in critically ill patients, correlating with higher mortality rates.
- Previous research indicates a link between elevated blood glucose and adverse outcomes in intensive care settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of maintaining normoglycemia on survival and morbidity in surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients.
- To explore the mechanisms by which insulin therapy confers clinical benefits beyond glucose control.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale randomized controlled study was conducted on surgical ICU patients.
- Insulin therapy was employed to maintain strict glycemic control.
Main Results:
- Maintaining normoglycemia through insulin therapy significantly improved survival rates.
- A reduction in morbidity was observed in patients managed with strict glycemic control.
- Insulin demonstrated benefits beyond glucose-lowering, including metabolic and non-metabolic effects.
Conclusions:
- Strict glycemic control with insulin therapy is a key intervention for improving outcomes in critically ill patients.
- Insulin's multifaceted actions, including preventing glucose toxicity, contribute to its survival and morbidity benefits.
- The findings support the routine use of insulin for managing hyperglycemia in surgical ICUs.
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