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. 2014 Mar;4(2):165-176.
doi: 10.2217/DMT.13.73.

Understanding hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients

Raphael D Hulkower  1 , Rena M Pollack  2 , Joel Zonszein  2
Affiliations

Understanding hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients

Raphael D Hulkower et al. Diabetes Manag (Lond). 2014 Mar.

Abstract

Controlling blood glucose in hospitalized patients is important as both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia are associated with increased cost, length of stay, morbidity and mortality. A limiting factor in stringent control is the concern of iatrogenic hypoglycemia. The association of hypoglycemia with mortality has led to clinical guideline changes recommending more conservative glycemic control than had previously been suggested, with the use of patient specific approaches when appropriate. Healthier, stable patients may be managed with stricter control while the elderly and severely ill may be managed less aggressively. While the avoidance of hypoglycemia is essential in clinical practice, recent studies suggest that a higher mortality rate occurs in spontaneous rather than iatrogenic hypoglycemia. Therefore, inpatient hypoglycemia may be viewed more as a biomarker of disease rather than a true cause of fatality.

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Website

    1. Stanisstreet D, Walden E, Jones C, Graveling A. The hospital management of hypoglycaemia in adults with diabetes mellitus. Guidelines developed by joint British Diabetes Society and Diabetes UK. (Revised September 2013). www.diabetologists-abcd.org.uk/subsite/JBDS_IP_Hypo_Adults_Revised.pdf. Recent inpatient guideline statement on management of hypoglycemia led by the Joint British Diabetes Society and Diabetes UK. Discusses risk factors, causes, management and treatment of hypoglycemia.

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