Glytec and Advocate Health Achieve Groundbreaking Pediatric Insulin Safety Innovation

Glytec and Advocate Health: Pioneering Pediatric Insulin Safety

In a remarkable achievement, Glytec and Advocate Health Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital earned the top innovation award at the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Innovation Incubator in Chicago. Their work focuses on improving insulin safety for pediatric patients, particularly those suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This breakthrough emphasizes the importance of software-guided insulin dosing, significantly advancing the standard of care for young patients.

The award-winning poster, titled "Algorithmic Insulin Management for Pediatric Hyperglycemic Crises Expanding Precision Metabolic Control to All Pediatric Ages," highlights clinical evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of software-assisted insulin dosing for infants and toddlers under two years old. The poster's co-authors include Umesh Narsinghani, MD, Robby Booth, MBA, and Jordan Messler, MD, who collectively represent a convergence of medical expertise and innovative technology.

Glytec's CEO, Patrick Cua, reflected on the significance of this achievement, stating, "Winning this award reflects more than 15 years of clinical collaboration with Dr. Narsinghani. His research has directly shaped the way Glucommander® supports clinicians caring for some of the most vulnerable children in the hospital. We are grateful to SCCM for the recognition and to Advocate Health for the partnership that made this work possible."

DKA poses severe risks to pediatric patients, necessitating a careful approach to treatment. Traditional methods, such as the two-bag technique, require nurses to manually calculate fluid and insulin rates, risking potential errors that can lead to dire complications. This situation is exacerbated in community and rural hospitals lacking on-site pediatric endocrinologists, increasing the challenges in managing these critical cases.

Glucommander stands out as the leading FDA-cleared insulin management software designed explicitly for hospitalized children aged 2 to 17. By providing dosing recommendations that are customized for each child's weight, clinicians can ensure that insulin is administered safely and effectively. Before any insulin is given, healthcare providers are required to review and confirm the recommendations generated by the software. This system not only facilitates better care but also integrates seamlessly with hospital electronic health records, enhancing overall patient management.

The clinical outcomes referenced in the award-winning poster stemmed from a comprehensive evaluation of 1,372 children treated for DKA using Glucommander IV. Remarkably, this group exhibited zero mortality and recorded extremely low rates of dangerously low blood sugar levels, which further supports the software's safety and efficacy in pediatric care. The foundational data for this significant finding dates back to a pivotal 2009 study conducted by Dr. Narsinghani and his colleagues, which played a crucial role in securing Glucommander's initial FDA clearance for pediatric use.

Glytec’s collaboration with Advocate Health is set to evolve further, with ongoing research and additional publications planned to expand upon the evidence for pediatric care. This commitment to advancing insulin management demonstrates the shared dedication of both organizations to improve health outcomes for young patients suffering from diabetes.

About Glytec

Glytec is at the forefront of making glycemic care safer and more efficient across hospitals and health systems. They achieve this through the GlytecOne platform, which integrates the Glucommander software—a Class II medical device for algorithm-based insulin dosing—alongside a robust clinical data visualization and analytics system. This combination enables better glycemic management and supports quality improvement initiatives. Currently, Glytec's solutions are trusted by over 400 hospitals and have garnered the support of more than 100 patents and peer-reviewed publications. With seamless integration capabilities with major electronic health record systems such as Epic, Oracle Health (Cerner), and Meditech, Glytec is poised to redefine glycemic care in hospital settings. For more information, visit glytec.com or follow Glytec on LinkedIn.