A system for peri-operative blood glucose control in diabetes mellitus

A pocket computer has been programmed to control the rate of administration of insulin given to diabetic patients having open heart surgery. Twelve diabetic patients were studied. Five had coronary artery bypass grafting, and seven had heart valve surgery. During operation 122 out of 162 (75%), and post-operatively 291 out of 360 (81%) blood glucose concentrations were between 4.0 and 8.0 mmol l-1. Five hundred and fifteen values out of 552 (99%) were below 12.0 mmol l-1. There was no hypoglycaemia. The lowest measured blood glucose concentration was 3.7 mmol l-1. The computer is readily available, easy to use by inexperienced personnel, and cheap.