Mediterranean Journal Of Pharmacy And Pharmaceutical Sciences

Therapy and characteristics of hypoglycemia in admitted diabetic patients

Authors Details :
Samia A. Elmiladi,
Seham Elmurabth

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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> 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.