The Management of Glucocorticoid-Induced Hyperglycemia in Hospitalized Patients
The Management of Glucocorticoid-Induced Hyperglycemia in Hospitalized Patients
The investigators hypothesize that includes patient weight and glucocorticoid dose can be
 used to safely initiate insulin treatment in diabetic/hyperglycemic patients who are to be
 treated with pharmacological doses of glucocorticoids.
The target fasting serum glucose (FSG) and pre-meal SG was 90-140 mg/dL, and the random SG
 was less than 180 mg/dL, taking into consideration the ADA/AACE target glucose levels in
 non-ICU patients (15).

 The Glargine/Lispro Protocol included 0.2 unit/kg/day as insulin glargine once daily if the
 dose was between 40-80 units, or twice daily if the dose was less than 40 or more than 80
 units; plus 0.2 unit/kg/day as lispro divided between three meals for all insulin-naïve
 patients. A "coverage" dose of 0.1 unit/kg/day of lispro for each 10 mg of prednisone or its
 equivalent was divided between 3 meals. The maximum starting "coverage" dose was 0.4 units/kg
 per day.

 The prandial dose of lispro was increased by 10% if the pre-lunch, pre-dinner, or bedtime SG
 was between 141-200 mg/dL, and by 20% if the pre-lunch, pre-dinner or bedtime SG is >200
 mg/dL. The prandial dose of lispro was decreased by 10% if the pre-lunch, pre-dinner, or
 bedtime SG is between 70-89 mg/dL, and by 20% if the pre-lunch, pre-dinner or bedtime SG was
 less than 70 mg/dL.

 The Glargine/Lispro/NPH Protocol included 0.2 unit/kg/day as insulin glargine as per G/L;
 plus 0.2 unit/kg/day as lispro divided between three meals for all the insulin-naïve
 patients. A "coverage" dose of 0.1 unit/kg/day of Neutral Protamine Hagedorn (NPH) for each
 10 mg of prednisone or its equivalent was given twice daily with the administration of the
 glucocorticoid. The maximum starting "coverage" dose was 0.4 units/kg per day.

 The NPH dose was increased by 10% if the pre-lunch, pre-dinner, or bedtime SG is between
 141-200 mg/dL, and by 20% if the pre-lunch, pre-dinner or bedtime SG was greater than 200
 mg/dL. The NPH dose was decreased by 10% if the pre-lunch, pre-dinner, or bedtime SG was
 between 70-89 mg/dL, and by 20% if the pre-lunch, pre-dinner or bedtime SG was less than 70
 mg/dL.

 In both protocols glargine dose was increased by 10% if the fasting glucose value is 141-200
 mg/dL and by 20% if the fasting glucose value was more than 200 mg/dL, and decreased by 10%
 if the FSG was 70-89 mg/dL and by 20% if the FSG was less than 70 mg/dL.

 If the patient had an outpatient regimen which includes a total daily dose of insulin (TDI)
 that exceeded 0.4 unit/kg/day, then the same TDI was continued with 50% given as glargine
 once daily if the dose was between 40-80 units, or twice daily if the dose was less than 40
 or more than 80 units; and 50% given as lispro divided between three meals. The patient was
 still randomly assigned to either one of the two protocols as described previously.

 If the patient were on a TDI less than 0.4 unit/kg/day in addition to oral antidiabetic
 medications as an outpatient, then all the oral antidiabetic medications were discontinued
 and the patient was started on 0.5 unit/kg/day divided as 50% glargine given once daily if
 the dose was between 40-80 units, or twice daily if the dose was less than 40 or more than 80
 units; and 50% lispro divided between three meals. The patient was randomly assigned to
 either one of the two protocols based upon even and odd hospital numbers.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Admission for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbation.

 -  Treatment with pharmacological doses of glucocorticoids (GCs) ≥10 mg of prednisone or
 its equivalent if they are not on maintenance dose of GCs in the outpatient settings.

 -  Treatment with pharmacological doses of GCs ≥10 mg of prednisone or its equivalent
 above their maintenance dose of GCs in the outpatient settings.

 -  Have either a previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus which has been treated with diet
 or medications, hemoglobin A1c ≥6.5%, or confirmed inpatient hyperglycemia defined as
 a fasting laboratory glucose or finger stick reading ≥126 mg/dL or random glucose
 reading ≥200 mg/dL on two or more determinations.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 Unwilling to sign informed consent.