Insulin Therapy to Control Hyperglycemia in Diabetic Patients With Ischemic Stroke: A Comparative of Intravenous and Subcutaneous Injection

Background The stress hyperglycemia is different from diabetes and is common after an acute illness such as stroke. Objective This study aimed to compare the effect of intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SQ) insulin injections on controlling hyperglycemia in diabetic patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 242 diabetic patients with AIS referred to the Emergency Department of Poursina Hospital in Rasht, Iran. During the treatment, the patients were subjected to SQ or IV insulin protocols. In each group, patients’ blood glucose and potassium levels in the first 24 hours, along with other variables, were recorded and compared between the two groups using independent t-test, chi-square test, or repeated measures analysis of variance. Results The mean blood glucose levels in the SQ insulin group at the time of admission and 6 and 12 hours after admission were significantly lower than in the IV insulin group. The blood sugar reduction, especially 6 hours after admission, was considerably higher in the IV insulin group. The incidence of hypokalemia in the IV insulin group was significantly higher than in the SQ insulin group. In almost all cases, IV insulin administration resulted in a faster and more effective reduction in blood sugar levels within 6 hours after admission compared to the SQ administration. Also, patients with higher initial blood levels responded significantly better to IV insulin protocol in reducing blood sugar levels. Conclusion The IV insulin protocol is more effective than the SQ insulin protocol in controlling or reducing hyperglycemia in diabetic patients with AIS in the first hours of admission and does not cause serious complications.