Increased blood flow by insulin infusion targeting normoglycemia in patients with severe sepsis: Friend or foe?

Abstract

A small study in patients with severe sepsis suggested that insulin infused to normalize blood glucose levels increased forearm flow. This clinical observation supports the effect of insulin on the endothelium, as previously shown by in vitro studies and by in vivo animal models of critical illness, but the clinical consequences remain unclear. © 2010 BioMed Central Ltd.