Long-term glucose homeostasis in patients on homeparenteral nutrition

Glycated haemoglobin (Hb A1c) was used as a marker of long-term hyperglycaemia in patients receiving high glucose loads for home parenteral nutrition (HPN). Thirty-six patients received a median weekly glucose delivery of 2000 g (800–4200) at a median infusion rate of 11.8 mg/kg/min (5.0–19.2). There was no correlation between Hb A1c (median- 3.1%, range 2.0–6.3%) and glucose infusion rate or weekly glucose load. It is concluded that significant prolonged hyperglycaemia does not appear to be a problem in patients on HPN managed by this unit.