Pilot Study of Intensive Care Unit Continuous Glucose Monitoring

The investigators believe that there remains a gap in implementing insulin infusions in critically ill patients to maximize the benefit and minimize adverse events like episodes of hypoglycemia. Based on the published experience with Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM), the investigators believe that it is safe to use in critically ill patients. Furthermore, the investigators believe that in combination with a protocol with low risk for hypoglycemia at baseline, that CGM can eliminate this risk fully.

In this study the investigators will:

1. Study the safety and feasibility of the continuous glucose monitor use in 20 critically ill patients for 7 days (the current maximum recommendation for sensor use). Safety data will include the rate of significant bleeding (hematoma) or infection (cellulitis) from sensor use. Feasibility data will evaluate the amount of missing glucose data over the 7-day sensor life.
2. Randomize patients treated with the current UVA intensive care insulin protocol for insulin management to the addition of "brakes" that reduce insulin administration based on continuous glucose monitoring data between hourly reference glucose data to prevent episodes of hypoglycemia (blood glucose \<70 mg/dl) and severe hypoglycemia (blood glucose \<50 mg/dl). This will serve as pilot data to power a larger study in the future.

The principle focus of this project is to collect pilot data for a larger study that will test the hypothesis that continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is safe in critically ill patients and provides important information that can prevent hypoglycemia. This study will determine the feasibility of CGM along with the current UVA intensive care insulin protocol in critically ill hyperglycemic patients as well as to provide some information that may help estimate differences necessary to power future studies.

The following statements summarize the background for this protocol:

1. Hyperglycemia is prevalent in critical illness, even without prior diabetes, and is associated with increased mortality.
2. The physiology between critical illness and hyperglycemia may be secondary to inappropriate tissue oxygenation or intense inflammatory mediator release leading to elevated counter-regulatory hormones that stimulate endogenous glucose production and promote insulin resistance.
3. Early research by Van den Berghe suggested that controlling hyperglycemia by insulin infusion improved outcomes; however, this has been contested in part by the Normoglycemia in Intensive Care Evaluation-Survival Using Glucose Algorithm Regulation (NICE-SUGAR) study.
4. The results of the NICE-SUGAR study may reflect differences in control glucose range or in the high incidence of hypoglycemia.
5. Hypoglycemia has been shown to be associated with increased mortality in the ICU.
6. Glucose variability is associated with ICU mortality.
7. Continuous glucose monitoring has been shown to be safe for up to 7 days in critically ill patients and may prevent episodes of hypoglycemia

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18 y.o. and above

  * Admitted to an intensive care unit
* Patient will require an insulin infusion or is currently prescribed an insulin infusion during the ICU admission.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Below 18 years of age
* Pregnancy
* Cancer, active diagnosis
* Moribund, Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)/Do Not Intubate (DNI), or death is predicted within 24 hours.
* Patients with diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state will be excluded as they are managed on a different insulin protocol
* Patients with type 1 diabetes will be excluded as they have unique insulin needs that might confound a pilot study.
* Plan for or anticipated need for any MRI during the study period
* Use of acetaminophen within 24 hours prior to enrollment
* Use of a medication on the UVa formulary containing maltose, galactose, or xylose that could affect a glucose dehydrogenase pyrroloquinoline quinine (GDH-PQQ) glucose test strip (hepatitis B immune globulin (HepaGamB®), tositumomab \[Bexxar®\], abatacept \[Orencia®\], Octagam 5%, and RH immune globulin \[WinRho®\])
* Lack of an appropriate abdominal site for insertion of the Dexcom sensor (e.g. extensive scarring, lack of adequate subcutaneous tissue, local infection, etc.)

Restrictions on use of other drugs or treatments.

* According to the Dexcom SEVEN® PLUS and G4 Platinum users manuals, the Dexcom System must be removed prior to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Therefore, if the subject requires an MRI, the sensor will be removed from the patient and the reason for removal will be noted. This will not be an Adverse Event, but will conclude the patient's participation in the study.
* If the subject requires the use of acetaminophen-containing medications as part of their clinical care while using the system sensor the subject will be out of the study because this drug may affect the performance of the device.
* If the subject requires use of a medication on the UVa formulary containing maltose, galactose, or xylose that could affect a glucose dehydrogenase pyrroloquinoline quinine (GDH-PQQ) glucose test strip (hepatitis B immune globulin \[HepaGamB®\], tositumomab \[Bexxar®\], abatacept \[Orencia®\], Octagam 5%, and RH immune globulin \[WinRho®\]) the subject will be out of the study because this drug may affect the performance of the unit glucometer used for reference values and calibration of the continuous glucose monitor. Study participation would be stopped at that time.