A U.S. study of 920 ICU admissions demonstrated that suboptimal glucose control, as defined by time weighted average glucose values above 180 mg/dL, was associated with an increase in the hospital mortality rate from 21.7% to 40.9%, and an increase in the hospital length of stay of almost 7 days.

For more information check out this article in The American Journal of Medicine titled Hyperglycemia in Medically Critically Ill Patients: Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes.Hyperglycemia increases length of stay for both diabetic and nondiabetic trauma patients.

Hyperglycemia increases length of stay for both diabetic and nondiabetic trauma patients.

In a retrospective U.S. study of 95,764 trauma patients, it was noted that non-diabetic patients with hyperglycemia (> 180 mg/dL) were seven times more likely to die and had hospital lengths of stay that were 6 days longer. The diabetic patients with hyperglycemia were twice as likely to die and had hospital lengths of stay that were 2.5 days longer.

For more information check out this article in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery titled Hyperglycemia in nondiabetic adult trauma patients is associated with worse outcomes than diabetic patients: An analysis of 95,764 patients.


Targeting a lower glucose range reduces hospitals costs in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery

In a prospective randomized controlled trial of 288 patients undergoing CABG surgery, it was noted that total hospital costs were reduced by an average of $3,654 per patient when the glucose control target was 100-140 mg/dL, versus the group of patients whose glucose control target was 141-180 mg/dL. 

For more information check out this article in the Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications titled Hospitalization costs and clinical outcomes in CABG patients treated with intensive insulin therapy.

Hypoglycemia increases mortality rate, length of stay, and costs in hospitalized diabetic patients

In a retrospective study comparing 8,234 hospitalized diabetic patients with hypoglycemia (< 70 mg/dL) to 95,579 hospitalized diabetic patients without hypoglycemia, it was noted that the occurrence of hypoglycemia doubled the mortality rate, increased the length of stay by more than 6 days, and increased hospital charges by more than $30,000.

For more information check out this article in Endocrine Practice titled Economic and Clinical Impact of Inpatient Diabetic Hypoglycemia.