Low-dose continuous insulin therapy for diabetic ketoacidosis. Prospective comparison with "conventional" insulin therapy

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Patients with ketoacidosis were treated with insulin infusion at the rate of 6 units/h or with high-dose, intermittent s.c. administered insulin, with emphasis placed on hormonal responses. Basal glucagon, cortisol and growth hormone levels were elevated in both groups. Cortisol and growth hormone levels did not fall with therapy in either group, but glucagon levels fell in parallel with glucose levels in both groups. There was no difference in the time taken for glucose levels to fall below 250 mg/100 ml between groups. Whereas both methods of therapy appeared to be equally effective, low-dose infusion had advantages of ease of administration, a predictable, relatively linear rate of fall of glucose levels and ability to be stopped abruptly in the event of hypoglycemia.