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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Oct;27(10):5844-5851.
doi: 10.1111/dom.16640. Epub 2025 Jul 23.

The association between inflammation and glucose levels in hospitalised patients with type 2 diabetes

Mikkel T Olsen  1   2 , Signe H Jensen  2 , Louise M Rasmussen  2 , Carina K Klarskov  2 , Birgitte Lindegaard  3   4 , Jonas A Andersen  4   5 , Hans Gottlieb  6 , Suzanne Lunding  7 , Kirsten Nørgaard  1   4 , Ulrik Pedersen-Bjergaard  2   4 , Katrine B Hansen  1 , Peter L Kristensen  2   4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The association between inflammation and glucose levels in hospitalised patients with type 2 diabetes

Mikkel T Olsen et al. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2025 Oct.

Abstract

Aims: Stress-induced hyperglycaemia can exacerbate existing diabetes. However, the relationship between inpatient inflammation and glucose levels is not well understood.

Materials and methods: This post hoc analysis utilised data from the DIATEC trial (N = 166), a two-arm randomised controlled trial comparing glucose management with real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) or point-of-care glucose testing in non-intensive care unit (non-ICU) patients with type 2 diabetes treated with a basal-bolus insulin regimen. Inflammation was measured as C-reactive protein (CRP) levels daily, and its association with daily glycaemic outcomes and insulin doses was assessed.

Results: For every 100 mg/dL increase in CRP, time in range 3.9-10.0 mmol/L (70-180 mg/dL) decreased by 3.6%-points (95% CI: 1.2-6.1, p = 0.004). An interaction was found between high CRP (>75.0 mg/dL) and high HbA1c (>51.0 mmol/mol or 6.8%), associated with an 8.9%-point reduction in TIR (95% CI: 3.8-14.1). Time above range >10.0 mmol/L (>180 mg/dL) increased by 3.3%-points (95% CI: 0.8-5.8, p = 0.009), and mean glucose increased by 0.2 mmol/L (95% CI: 0.02-0.4) (4.0 mg/dL, 95% CI: 0.4-7.0) for every 100 mg/dL increase in CRP. No significant associations were found between CRP and time below range <3.9 mmol/L (<70 mg/dL), glycaemic variability, hypoglycaemic events, or total daily insulin dose (all p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Elevated CRP levels only modestly increased glucose levels. This suggests that inflammation during hospitalisation has a limited effect on glucose levels in non-ICU patients with type 2 diabetes.

Keywords: clinical trial; continuous glucose monitoring (CGM); insulin resistance; type 2 diabetes.

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References

REFERENCES

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