Blood glucose and prognosis of acute stroke.

To study the relation of blood glucose soon after the onset of stroke and outcome in terms of fatality and functional recovery 6 months later, two prospective studies were performed. Fasting blood glucose measured within 48 hours of onset was significantly higher in those who died than in those who survived. However, random blood glucose, mean daily blood glucose and HbA1 were not related to fatality or functional recovery. Fasting blood glucose levels soon after the stroke were significantly higher than those in the same patients measured 1 month later. These results suggest that the hyperglycaemia related to decreased survival is a stress response rather than an indication of preexisting diabetes mellitus but do not support the view that a high blood glucose level is itself harmful to the brain.