Endocrine Abstracts

Objectives: Pointing out all the problems and challenges that the medical staff encounters in the management of the patients with a terminal malignant disease with co-existing diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Medical documentation, laboratory results, US (Ultra Sound) etc.

Results: The study included patients hospitalized in the Gerontology Institute - Hospice “Sue Ryder”-Skopje, with a capacity of 75 beds, in the period of 2009–2011. During that period the institute hospitalized 212 patients, 35 of which had co-existing diabetes mellitus and a malignancy. All of the 35 patients were on an insulin therapy (Novomix, Mixtard 30, Insulatard, Levemir etc.) and a diabetic food regime. Most of the patients were with disseminated metastatic deposits in the lungs, liver, brain and bones.

Conclusions: Despite the insulin therapy and the diet regime it was not possible to regulate the glycemia in these patients with a severe illness. The glycemia reached a score of 29,0 mmol/L in some patients. There were no sings of hyperglycemia, which is unlike to happen in patients with Diabetes mellitus without co-existing malignancy.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.