Fig. 2

Admission and morning blood glucose concentrations (a), insulin dose (b), total caloric intake through enteral and parenteral nutrition (c) and plasma 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) concentrations (d) during the first 3 days in the ICU in a matched subset of critically ill children randomized to tight (dotted black line) or liberal (full gray line) glucose control. Data are shown as mean and standard error. Samples with undetectable 3HB concentrations were assigned the detection limit (0.04 mmol/L): 47 upon ICU admission (23 and 24 in tight and liberal group, respectively), 84 at day 1 (45 and 39 in tight and liberal group, respectively), 91 at day 2 (43 and 48 in tight and liberal group, respectively) and 92 at day 3 (46 in each group). * P ≤ 0.0001. For conversion of blood glucose in mg/dL to mmol/L, divide by 18