Abstract: Objective To explore the variation of insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and glucose and correlation in children with sepsis. Methods Forty-two children with sepsis in pediatric intense care unit were enrolled from January 2009 to January 2010. In the morning (2nd morning) after admission, the blood glucose, serum IGF-I, cortisol, insulin, IL-6, and IGF-binding protein-I (IGFBP-1) were detected. In the 3rd and 5th morning, the serum IGF-1 was detected again. According to the blood glucose level of the 2nd morning, the children with sepsis were divided into hyperglycemia group and normal group. Meanwhile, 60 healthy children were served as control group. The data had been compared among three groups. Results In the 2nd morning, the levels of blood glucose, serum IGF-I, cortisol, insulin, and IL-6 were significantly different among three groups (all P<0.05), but the serum IGFBP-I was not significantly different (P>0.05). Compared with control group, the sepsis children with hyperglycemia and with normal blood glucose all had significantly higher serum levels of cortisol and IL-6, and significantly lower serum level of IGF-I. In the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th morning, the serum levels of IGF-1 were not significantly changed with time in sepsis children with hyperglycemia and with normal blood glucose (all P>0.05). Meanwhile, there were no significant differences in the serum levels of IGF-1 between sepsis children with hyperglycemia and with normal blood glucose in the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th morning (all P>0.05). In children with sepsis, the blood glucose and serum IGF-1 was not correlated in the next morning (r=0.152, P=0.267). Conclusions The serum level of IGF-I decreased but maintain stable in children with sepsis. The change of blood glucose may be not related with IGF-I.