For years physicians have known the importance of controlling blood glucose levels in diabetic patients, but only recently have they begun to realize its importance in treating critically ill patients—both those with and without diabetes.

In the past few years, several studies have shown that a range of patient outcomes can be significantly improved by tight glycemic control, a process of maintaining blood glucose levels within a narrow target range via frequent insulin administration. 

The rest of this article can be found in the November 2004 issue of Clinical Laboratory News. 

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