Table 1.

Factors impacting critical illness-induced dysglycaemia

Continued growth of abnormal glucose homeostasis in adults

Heterogeneous intensive care unit patient population

Uncertainty as to whether hyperglycaemia may cause adverse outcomes, or may simply be the effect of counterregulatory hormone surge indicating severity of illness

Need for further clarification of the incidence of co-existing factors in the development of and role of hypoglycaemia (< 80 mg/dl) on intensive care unit outcome

Ongoing debate over the ideal method and frequency of glucose measurement, the optimal glucose level to maintain in adult intensive care unit populations, and the modulation of glucose variability