Lifesaving Algorithm Wins Top Award for Pediatric Insulin Safety

ATLANTA, May 19, 2026 – A joint research team from technology firm Glytec and Advocate Health Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital has received a top innovation award for pioneering a safer, software-guided approach to treating one of the most dangerous conditions a child can face: diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The first-place recognition from the prestigious Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Innovation Incubator in Chicago validates a breakthrough that could transform care for critically ill children, especially infants and toddlers under two years old.

The award highlights the growing role of intelligent algorithms in enhancing patient safety and standardizing complex medical procedures. The winning research, presented in a poster titled "Algorithmic Insulin Management for Pediatric Hyperglycemic Crises: Expanding Precision Metabolic Control to All Pediatric Ages," provides compelling evidence that technology can help clinicians overcome the challenges of a notoriously difficult-to-manage pediatric emergency.

The High-Stakes Challenge of Pediatric DKA

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening complication of diabetes that occurs when the body, lacking sufficient insulin, begins to break down fat at a dangerous rate, producing high levels of acids known as ketones. For children, the condition can escalate rapidly, leading to severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and in the worst cases, cerebral edema—a devastating swelling of the brain. It is one of the most common and dangerous conditions seen in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs).

The standard treatment, known as the "two-bag method," is a complex and highly manual process. It requires nurses to continuously manage and titrate two separate IV bags—one with insulin and fluids, the other with fluids and dextrose—to slowly and carefully correct the child's blood sugar and metabolic state. This procedure demands constant vigilance and frequent, complex manual recalculations based on the child's changing condition.

The risk of human error is significant. A small miscalculation in insulin or fluid rates can have dire consequences, potentially causing blood sugar to drop too quickly or too low (hypoglycemia), which is also dangerous for the brain. The effectiveness of this manual method often depends heavily on the experience level of the nursing staff and the specific hospital's protocols, leading to variability in care and outcomes. This pressure is amplified in settings with high patient-to-nurse ratios or during staffing shortages, creating a precarious environment for the most vulnerable patients.

An Algorithm for Precision and Safety

This is the critical gap that Glytec's technology, centered on its Glucommander IV software, aims to fill. The FDA-cleared Class II medical device functions as an intelligent co-pilot for clinicians, replacing manual calculations with a sophisticated, evidence-based algorithm. The software provides precise, individualized IV insulin dosing recommendations that are adjusted for each child's weight and real-time glucose readings.

A crucial element of its design is that it supports, rather than replaces, clinical judgment. Every dosing recommendation generated by the algorithm must be reviewed and confirmed by a nurse or doctor before any insulin is administered. This human-in-the-loop system combines the precision and consistency of a validated algorithm with the essential oversight of a trained medical professional, creating multiple layers of safety.

The software, which is part of the broader GlytecOne platform, is currently cleared for use in hospitalized children between the ages of 2 and 17. By automating the complex calculations and providing clear, actionable guidance, it reduces the cognitive burden on clinicians, minimizes the potential for error, and helps ensure that every patient receives care that aligns with best practices.

Bridging the Expertise Gap in Critical Care

The implications of this technology extend far beyond the walls of major academic medical centers. One of the most significant challenges in pediatric DKA management is the nationwide shortage of pediatric endocrinologists. Many community and rural hospitals do not have these specialists on-site, forcing them to either transfer critically ill children to larger facilities—often hours away—or manage these complex cases with less specialized teams.

Software-guided dosing helps democratize this expert-level care. By embedding complex protocols into user-friendly software, Glucommander enables clinicians in any hospital to manage pediatric DKA with a high degree of safety and consistency. A nurse in a rural ICU, guided by the algorithm, can deliver a standard of care comparable to that of a major children's hospital. This has the potential to dramatically improve healthcare equity, ensuring a child's chances of a good outcome are not dictated by their zip code.

The platform's ability to integrate seamlessly with major electronic health record (EHR) systems, including Epic, Oracle Health (Cerner), and Meditech, is key to its practical utility. This integration streamlines workflows, eliminates the need for redundant data entry, and makes the dosing recommendations a natural part of the existing clinical process, facilitating wider adoption across diverse hospital systems.

A Fifteen-Year Journey to a Clinical Breakthrough

The SCCM award, which included a $5,000 prize, is not the result of a single discovery but the culmination of a long-term vision. It represents more than 15 years of persistent research and close clinical collaboration between Glytec and Dr. Umesh Narsinghani, a pediatric critical care physician at Advocate Health Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital.

"Winning this award reflects more than 15 years of clinical collaboration with Dr. Narsinghani," said Patrick Cua, CEO of Glytec, in a press statement. "His research has directly shaped how 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."

The data presented at the SCCM conference was powerful. The analysis of 1,372 children with DKA who were treated using Glucommander IV showed zero mortality and very low rates of hypoglycemia, reinforcing the software's strong safety record. This recent work builds upon a foundational 2009 study by Dr. Narsinghani and his colleagues, published in the Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, which was instrumental in securing Glucommander's initial FDA clearance for pediatric patients.

The recognition from the SCCM Innovation Incubator, an event dedicated to showcasing novel work in critical care, serves as powerful peer-reviewed validation from leaders in the field. It signals a broader shift in medicine toward embracing intelligent technologies that augment clinical decision-making and create a more reliable and safer healthcare environment. As hospitals continue to grapple with workforce challenges and the imperative to deliver consistent, high-quality care, this fusion of clinical expertise and algorithmic precision represents a vital step forward. Glytec and Advocate Health plan to continue their collaboration, aiming to build on this evidence and further expand the application of precision glycemic management across all pediatric care settings.