Figure 2. The pathogenesis of sepsis is associated with a deregulation in glucose metabolism.

Both high and low glucose levels correlate with sepsis severity. Initially, a hyperglycemic response is observed in both animal models and in human patients, presumably resulting from insulin resistance and altered glycogen metabolism. This allows redirection of glucose to immune cells supporting aerobic glycolysis and thus immune function, and also leads to lactate production. In later stages, hypoglycemia could be observed as a consequence of several factors. In contrast to animal models, hypoglycemia is less frequently observed in human patients.