Glycaemic control in insulin requiring diabetes patients receiving exclusive enteral tube feeding in an acute hospital setting

AimsOptimising glycaemic control for insulin requiring individuals during enteral feeding is important but difficult. We compare 3 insulin regimens with the aim of improving glucose control and reducing hypoglycaemia.MethodsComparison of 3 insulin/feed regimens: (1) A 20 h feed using a 30:70 premixed insulin (2) Three bolus (4 h) feeds combined with short acting analogue insulin and a basal long acting insulin. (3) A 24 h feed combined with a long acting analogue insulin. The study combined a retrospective analysis of regimen (1) with consecutive prospective analyses of (2) and (3).ResultsGlucose concentrations were suboptimal with higher values during the feeds (12.6 mmol/L ± 4.4 vs 10.3 ± 4.1 p < 0.001). Although there was no overall difference in glucose control between groups there was a reduction in hypoglycaemia during the feed in the bolus group (no hypoglycaemia during intermittent feeds p < 0.001).ConclusionsGlucose concentrations were relatively high overall. Short bolus feeding appears to reduce the frequency of hypoglycaemia. This is of clinical significance for this patient group.