Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Hypoglycemia is a complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) with high morbidity and mortality. Risk of hypoglycemia is affected by the type and duration of DM, use of insulin or oral antidiabetic agents, dietary habits and comorbidities. In this study, we aimed to understand frequency and causes of hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 DM in Turkish population and especially collect data about hypoglycemia in geriatric population.

Methods: Between May and August 2017, one hundred and eigthy three patients who applied to Endocrinology and Metabolism and Geriatric Medicine Policlinics of Gazi University Faculty of Medicine were included in this study. These patients answered the questionnaire which had multiple choice questions about their hypoglycemia experiences. Also clinical information of these patients taken in last 3 months was achieved from digital archive.

Results: In this study, hypoglycemia frequency was 59.2% in non-geriatric population (n=142), and 46.3% in geriatric population (n=41). However, frequency of nocturnal hypoglycemia was 22.0% in geriatric population and 2.4% of this was severe; whereas, in non-geriatric patients, frequency of nocturnal hypoglycemia was 13.4% and none was severe. In geriatric patients who had duration of diabetes less than ten years, frequency of hypoglycemia was 23.5% and more than ten years was 62.5%. In 50.0% of geriatric patients who were on intensive insulin treatment had mild-moderate nocturnal hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia frequency in non-geriatric patients with diabetic complications was 1.5%, but in geriatric patients it was 10.0%. 37.5% of geriatric patients with atherosclerotic heart disease were experiencing hypoglycemia and 12.5% of them were experiencing hypoglycemia every day.

Conclusion: In this study, hypoglycemia was detected in approximately half of the patients with type 2 DM and geriatric patients had more nocturnal hypoglycemia episodes. We should take measures for prevention of hypoglycemia and its detrimental effects especially in geriatric patients.

Keywords: Hypoglycemia, nocturnal hypoglycemia, geriatric population