OBJECTIVE The use of remote real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in the hospital has rapidly emerged to preserve personal protective equipment and reduce potential exposures during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We linked a hybrid CGM and point-of-care (POC) glucose testing protocol to a computerized decision support system for continuous insulin infusion and integrated a validation system for sensor glucose values into the electronic health record. We report our proof-of-concept experience in a COVID-19 intensive care unit. RESULTS All nine patients required mechanical ventilation and corticosteroids. During the protocol, 75.7% of sensor values were within 20% of the reference POC glucose with an associated average reduction in POC of 63%. Mean time in range (70–180 mg/dL) was 71.4 ± 13.9%. Sensor accuracy was impacted by mechanical interferences in four patients. CONCLUSIONS A hybrid protocol integrating real-time CGM and POC is helpful for managing critically ill patients with COVID-19 requiring insulin infusion.

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Context The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created a need for remote blood glucose (BG) monitoring in the intensive care unit (ICU). Objective To evaluate feasibility and patient safety of a hybrid monitoring strategy of point of care (POC) BG plus continuous glucose monitor (CGM) in the ICU. Design Retrospective analysis. Setting ICU of an academic medical center. Patients Patients with COVID-19 on intravenous (IV) insulin. Intervention After meeting initial validation criteria, CGM was used for IV insulin titration and POC BG was performed every 6 hours or as needed. Main Outcome Measures Outcomes included frequency of POC BG, workflow, safety, and accuracy measures. Results The study included 19 patients, 18 with CGM data, mean age 58 years, 89% on mechanical ventilation, 37% on vasopressors, and 42% on dialysis. The median time to CGM validation was 137 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] 114-206). During IV insulin, the median number of POC values was 7 (IQR 6-16) on day 1, and declined slightly thereafter ( 71% reduction compared to standard of 24 /day). The median number of CGM values used nonadjunctively to titrate IV insulin was 11.5 (IQR 0, 15) on day 1 and increased thereafter. Time in range 70-180mg/dl was 64+/-23% on day 1 and 72+/-16% on day 2-7 while time <70 mg/dl was 1.5 +/-4.1% on day 1 and <1% on days 2-7. Conclusions This study provides data to support that CGM using a hybrid protocol is feasible, accurate, safe, and has potential to reduce nursing and staff workload.