One-hour plasma glucose level after a 75 g oral glucose load and its relationship to gastric emptying in survivors of critical illness and stress hyperglycaemia

Abstract

Objective: A 1-hour plasma glucose level ≥ 8.6 mmol/L in a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test has been strongly associated with increased morbidity and mortality in outpatients without diabetes. Our primary aim was to evaluate the 1-hour plasma glucose level in a 75 g glucose tolerance test in survivors of critical illness with stress hyperglycaemia at 3 months after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge, with the secondary aims to evaluate the 2-hour plasma glucose level, glycated haemoglobin (HbA_1c), and gastric emptying.

Design:Post hoc analysis of a single-centre, prospective cohort study.

Setting: Single-centre, tertiary referral, mixed medical-surgical ICU.

Participants: Consecutively admitted patients aged ≥ 18 years who developed stress hyperglycaemia and survived to hospital discharge were eligible.

Interventions: Participants returned at 3 months after ICU discharge and underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test.

Main outcome measures: One- and 2-hour post load plasma glucose level, HbA_1c, and assessment of gastric emptying via an isotope breath test.

Results: Thirty-five patients (12 females; mean age, 58.5 years [SD, 10.5]; mean HbA_1c, 37.4 mmol/mol [SD, 7.0]) attended the followup. In 32/35 patients (91%) the 1-hour post load plasma glucose level was ≥ 8.6 mmol/L. There was a positive correlation between the plasma glucose level at 1 hour (r² = 0.21; P = 0.006), but no correlation between the 2-hour glucose level (r² = 0.006; P = 0.63) and gastric emptying.

Conclusion: Glucose intolerance, when defined as 1-hour glucose level ≥ 8.6 mmol/L following a 75 g oral glucose load, persists at 3 months in most survivors of stress hyperglycaemia and is dependent on the rate of gastric emptying. Longitudinal studies to characterise mechanisms underlying dysglycaemia and progression to diabetes in individuals with stress hyperglycaemia are indicated.