Sepsis is a medical emergency that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A high index of suspicion allows for source control and prompt treatment to prevent potential complications and improve patient outcomes. Sepsis is a potentially fatal condition that is characterized by the dysregulated immunologic host response to infection with associated end-organ dysfunction (Bullock et al., 2022). The extent of this response is dependent on pathogenic factors such as virulence and host factors such as advanced age and existing comorbidities (Bullock et al., 2022). The basis of formulation of accurate diagnosis on general and organ dysfunction clinical presentations and laboratory isolation of the causative organism.
Various correlations between diabetes and sepsis exist. Diabetes is a known predisposing factor for sepsis with controversial implications on higher sepsis-related morbidity and mortality. Dysregulation of blood sugar levels is a known effect of sepsis (Jiang et al., 2022). Stress-related hyperglycemia is encountered more frequently in comparison to hypoglycemia which occasionally occurs (Jiang et al., 2022). This may impair glycemic control in diabetic patients thus necessitating regular glycemic monitoring with appropriately tailored interventions. Resultant hyperglycemia is associated with an increased predisposition to in-hospital mortality (Jiang et al., 2022). Diabetic patients with sepsis are also more predisposed to acute renal failure, higher incidences of colonization by resistant microorganisms, more severe disease, and poorer prognosis as compared to non-diabetic individuals (Constantini et al., 2021). Diabetic patients with sepsis should be monitored closely to minimize possible adverse interactions and outcomes.
Dysregulated immune response, just like in sepsis, is common in diabetes as a consequence of chronic hyperglycemia. Concurrent occurrence especially in the setting of poor glycemic control is thus associated with heightened debilitating host response to infectious processes, accelerated progression of end-organ dysfunction, increased post-sepsis complications, and related mortality (Constantini et al., 2021). Adequate glycemic control by adherence to anti-diabetic medications and other clinical treatment recommendations may thus be pivotal in minimizing predisposition to sepsis and related outcomes.
References
Bullock, B., & Benham, M. D. (2022). Bacterial Sepsis. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
Costantini, E., Carlin, M., Porta, M., & Brizzi, M. F. (2021). Type 2 diabetes mellitus and sepsis: State of the art, certainties and missing evidence. Acta Diabetologica, 58(9), 1139–1151. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-021-01728-4
Order this paper