Pros and cons of continuous glucose monitoring in the intensive care unit

Core Tip

Core Tip: Management of diabetes mellitus induced acute complications or treatment-related adverse events is particularly important in critically ill patients. The innovation of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) helps medical staffs to alert the emergence hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, which may decrease potential complications in patients in intensive care unit. The major limitation of CGM is the measurement of interstitial glucose levels rather than the real-time blood glucose levels; thus, there will be a time gap in the appropriate treatment of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia in patients. The European Union approved a state-of-art artificial intelligence directed loop system coordinated by CGM and a continuous insulin pump for diabetes control, providing a practical way to prevent acute adverse glycemic events related to antidiabetic therapy in critically ill patients.