Hyperglycemia in nondiabetic patients during the acute phase of stroke

Objective: To determine patterns of hyperglycemic (HG) control in acute stroke. Methods: Anonymous survey through Internet questionnaire. Participants included Latin-American physicians specialized in neurocritical care. Results: The response rate was 74%. HG definition varied widely. Fifty per cent considered it when values were >140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L). Intravenous (IV) regular insulin was the drug of choice for HG correction. One fifth of the respondents expressed adherence to a protocol. Intensive insulin therapy (IIT) was used by 23%. Glucose levels were measured in all participants at admission. Routine laboratory test was the preferred method for monitoring. Reactive strips were more frequently used when monitoring was intensive. Most practitioners (56.7%) monitored glucose more than two times daily throughout the Intensive Care Unit stay. Conclusions: There is considerable variability and heterogeneity in the management of elevated blood glucose during acute phase of stroke by the surveyed Latin-American physicians.