Conventional approach to glucose management for diabetic patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

Continuous insulin infusion was not an effective mode of treatment in maintaining safe blood glucose levels (/dl) during the intraoperative period of diabetic patients requiring open-heart surgery. The two modifications investigated to gain better control of the blood glucose were a change in the base solution of the cardioplegia and the use of a sliding insulin scale. Fifty patients including Type I and Type II diabetics were selected for the purpose of this study. The patients were then randomly divided into two groups categorized by the type of cardioplegic solution administered and the mode of insulin treatment. Group I patients received a dextrose 5%-based cardioplegic solution and blood glucose was treated via continuous intravenous insulin infusion. Group II patients received normal saline 0.9%-based cardioplegic solution and blood glucose was treated via sliding scale. Blood glucose levels were monitored pre- and postcardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and every 30 min while on CPB. Glucose values were analyzed by group t test. A p value o