Severe hypoglycemia in the elderly diabetes.
- Author:
Hong Bae JEONG
1
;
Hong Woo NAM
;
Do Ho MOON
;
Jun Hwan WI
;
Yong Hoon KIM
;
Myoung Soo AHN
;
Hong Soon LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
DM education;
severe hypoglycemia;
elderly diabetes
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aged*;
Diabetes Mellitus;
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1;
Diet;
Eating;
Education;
Emergency Service, Hospital;
Humans;
Hypoglycemia*;
Insulin;
Self Care
- From:Journal of the Korean Geriatrics Society
1998;2(1):27-34
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Hypoglycemia is the most common therapeutic complication of diabetes mellitus and especially in elderly diabetic patients with diminished cardiac and cerebral circulation can cause serious tissue damage. Though many studies have attempted to evaluate hypoglycemia in IDDM or adult diabetic patients, few studies in the elderly. We have compared clinical characteristics of severe hypoglycemia in elderly diabetes with adult diabetes. METHODS: This study include 56 severe hypoglycemic patients who have admitted to emergency department of National Medical Center from march 1, 1992 to december 31, 1997. they are divided two group (adult group; 21, elderly group; 35) and authors investigate the cause, the symptom, the time of severe hypoglycemia, degree of education, treatment method in each group. RESULTS: 1) DM education was not well done in severe hypoglycemic patients. 2) The frequency of severe hypoglycemia in the elderly was more than adult (adult: 21 (38%), elderly 35 (62%)). 3) In both population, the most common symptom of severe hypoglycemia was neuroglycopenic symptom, especially in the elderly (adult: 57%, elderly: 77%). 4) Decreased food intake (49%) in the elderly and overdose of insulin (38%) in the adult were the most common cause of severe hypoglycemia. 5) Severe hypoglycemia occurred more often between midnight and 6 AM in the adult, between noon and 6 PM in the elderly. 6) The treatment of diabetes mellitus is insulin (71%) and oral hypoglycemic agent (29%) in the adult, oral hypoglycemic agent (51%) and insulin (49%) in the elderly. CONCLUSION: For prevention of severe hypoglycemia, we should emphasize the importance of DM education and especially elderly diabetic patients should be educated about the symptoms of hypoglycemia, the self-management of hypoglycemia, the need for a regular carbohydrate intake and more easy and effective diet program is require in elderly diabetes.
