Therapy and characteristics of hypoglycemia in admitted diabetic patients
Abstract
Hypoglycemia
is a common complication of intensive diabetes mellitus therapy. This study was
aimed to review the profile of admitted Libyan cases of non-pregnant adults and
adolescents. A retrospective study for patients admitted to Tripoli Diabetes
Hospital, Tripoli, Libya. Data were collected from medical files of diabetic
patients with hypoglycemia from January 2017 to July 2018. Thus, during this
period, a total of 29 cases with hypoglycemia were admitted to the hospital.
Their age was ranged from 18 to 86 years in which 76.0% were female, 25.0% were
non-smokers, 59.0% were married and 55.0% were non-employers. Patients with
diabetes mellitus (86%) showed hypoglycemia attack per month of 3.90 ± 2.25.
From the 25 cases with diabetes mellitus, 7.0% were newly diagnosed (> one
year), 45.0% their duration of diabetes mellitus were more than 9 years and
35.0% were less than nine years. Their Hemoglobin A1C was on target (6.5–7.0%)
in 21.0% of the cases, in which 17.0% were on below target range (< 6.5%)
and 38.0% with poor control (> 7.0%). 14.0% were on glibenclamide, 3.0% on
glimepiride and 69.0% on insulin. Patients on insulin therapy twice daily in
28.0%, triple in 17.0% and basal bolus regime in 24.0%. Hypoglycemia
unawareness was presented in 17.0%, hypoglycemia was major in 45.0% of the
cases, and in 38.0% were in daytime. Insulin induced hypoglycemia were in
66.0%, and suicidal attempt were in 10.0%. Exercise induced hypoglycemia 10.0%
and 3.0% of cases with malignancy induced hypoglycemia. Co-exist systemic
illness was mainly absent in 69.0% but cardiovascular diseases in 14.0% and
renal diseases in 7.0%. Majority of cases were discharged in good condition
(86.0%) and 14.0% discharged against medical advice. Hypoglycemia mostly occurs
in patients with diabetes mellitus treated with insulin and in most the cases
were reversible and saved with good management. Thus, patient education is a
fundamental issue in prevention and reducing complications of hypoglycemia in
patients with diabetes mellitus.
