Intermittent Versus Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Intensive Care Unit

Launched by UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTRE LJUBLJANA · Jul 19, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at two different ways to monitor blood sugar levels in very sick patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Keeping blood sugar under control is important because it can affect how well someone recovers, but it’s hard to do because blood sugar can change quickly. The usual method involves taking frequent blood samples, which can be uncomfortable and cause some blood loss. This study will compare the usual way to a newer method called continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), which uses a small device to check blood sugar levels continuously without needing many blood draws. The trial aims to see if CGM is as accurate and helpful in managing blood sugar in critically ill patients.

To take part, patients need to be adults who are seriously ill and admitted to the ICU, with high blood sugar levels requiring insulin treatment through an IV. People who are pregnant, have certain types of diabetes or skin problems, or are expected to leave the ICU quickly won’t be eligible. Participants can expect close monitoring of their blood sugar using either the standard method or the CGM device, and the study team will compare how well each method works. This trial is not yet recruiting, but it hopes to find an easier and safer way to manage blood sugar in very sick patients.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • age ≥ 18 years
• • admission to the level 3 ICU
• • two consecutive blood glucose measurements \> 10.0 mmol/L
• • intravenous insulin therapy
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • expected ICU stay \< 48 hours
• • pregnancy
• • type 1 diabetes
• • diabetic emergencies (DKA, DAHS)
• • severe skin disease
• • severe neutropenia (\< 0.5 × 10\^9/L)
• • severe coagulopathy (thrombocytes \< 20 × 10\^9/L)
• • manufacturer-defined conditions (hydroxyurea use, acetaminophen more than 4 g daily)