Abstract
We investigated glucose metabolism in septic patients during hyperglycemic clamps and compared the different levels of insulinemia and glycemia. Methods: In 10 nondiabetic. stable septic patients on mechanical ventilation with baseline glycemia > 6mmol/L and continuous insulin infusion, 3 steps of hyperinsulinemic clamp were performed after 8 hours without caloric intake.
In step 1, the targets were insulinemia of 250 mIU/L and glycemia of 5mmol/; in step 2, insulinemia of 250 mIU/L and glycemia of 10 mmol/L; in step 3, insulinemia of 1250 mIU/L and glycemia of 5 mmol/L. Glucose uptake was calculated as the amount of glucose per time needed to maintain the target level of glycemia.
Glucose oxidation was calculated from indirect calorimetry and urinary nitrogen losses. Values are provided as means +/- SD.
A two-way analysis of variance and Scheffe's method were used for statistical analysis and p <.05 was considered significant. Conclusion: At insulinemia 250 mIU/L, a glucose level of 10 mmol/L seems to increase glucose uptake, oxidation, and storage compared with glycemia 5 mmol/L.
This glucose uptake and oxidation at glycemia 10 mmol/L is comparable with the effect of extremely high insulinemia (1250 mIU/L) clamped at glycemia 5 mmol/L. A higher level of blood glucose or a high level of insulinemia significantly increases glucose uptake but not energy expenditure