Hypoglycemia in the hospital

Abstract

Hypoglycemia is a common and serious complication of intensified insulin therapy in hospitalized patients and is reported in up to one-third of insulin-treated patients in the hospital. Clinical presentation varies between individuals and seems to be dependent on the severity and frequency of hypoglycemia as well as other co-morbidities. Increasing evidence suggests that hypoglycemia is independently associated with hospital mortality and increased length of hospital stay. Risk factors for hypoglycemia are numerous but intensity of the insulin therapy, advanced age, and severity of illness play important roles. Physicians should recognize the population at risk and try to prevent hypoglycemia by choosing safe glycemic goals and using appropriate adjustment of insulin dosage.