Update on strategies limiting iatrogenic hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia: Elucidating its circadian propensity and recovery time based on clinical parameters

BACKGROUND

Hypoglycemia is frequently associated with insulin therapy in diabetic patients; it leads to many short and long-term complications and even death if not addressed in time. This study was undertaken to observe the circadian propensity of hypoglycemia and its recovery time based on type 2 diabetes mellitus patients' clinical parameters.

METHODS

We included type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) hospitalized patients with the exclusion of patients suffering from critical illness. Data were collected for a period of three months (September to November 2019).

RESULTS

A total of 120 patients were included, comprising 60% males and 40% females. Approximately 55% of patients had hypoglycemic episodes at around 12 am- 6 am. The most common comorbidity present in these patients was hypertension (43.3%, P=0.931). Anemia (OR-3.765, CI-1.350-5.500, P=0.011), retinopathy (OR 6.066, CI-2.031-8.113, P=0.001), and duration of DM (OR-6.266, CI-2.209-7.774, P=0.001) were significantly associated with the recovery time of hypoglycemia, around 50±14.14min in the elderly population of age 60-70. People with BMI 22.5- 27.5 Kg/m2 took around 45.66 ± 19.37 min to recover after treatment.

CONCLUSION

Time taken to recover from hypoglycemic episodes vary with age and BMI. Associated comorbidities such as anemia, retinopathy, and DM duration had a significant bearing on the time taken to recover from hypoglycemia. Recovery time was directly proportional to BMI, a new finding that needs further molecular level evaluation. Circadian propensity of hypoglycemia in these patients have been identified in the early morning hours of the day.

Acute hypoglycemia and risk of cardiac arrhythmias in insulin-treated type 2 diabetes and controls

OBJECTIVE

Hypoglycemia is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease including cardiac arrhythmias. We investigated the effect of hypoglycemia in the setting of acute glycemic fluctuations on cardiac rhythm and cardiac repolarization in insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes compared with matched controls without diabetes.

DESIGN

A non-randomized, mechanistic intervention study.

METHODS

Insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 21, age (mean ± s.d.): 62.8 ± 6.5 years, BMI: 29.0 ± 4.2 kg/m2, HbA1c: 6.8 ± 0.5% (51.0 ± 5.4 mmol/mol)) and matched controls (n = 21, age: 62.2 ± 8.3 years, BMI 29.2 ± 3.5 kg/m2, HbA1c: 5.3 ± 0.3% (34.3 ± 3.3 mmol/mol)) underwent a sequential hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic clamp with three steady-states of plasma glucose: (i) fasting plasma glucose, (ii) hyperglycemia (fasting plasma glucose +10 mmol/L) and (iii) hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (plasma glucose < 3.0 mmol/L). Participants underwent continuous ECG monitoring and blood samples for counterregulatory hormones and plasma potassium were obtained.

RESULTS

Both groups experienced progressively increasing heart rate corrected QT (Fridericia's formula) interval prolongations during hypoglycemia ((∆mean (95% CI): 31 ms (16, 45) and 39 ms (24, 53) in the group of patients with type 2 diabetes and controls, respectively) with similar increases from baseline at the end of the hypoglycemic phase (P = 0.43). The incidence of ventricular premature beats increased significantly in both groups during hypoglycemia (P = 0.033 and P < 0.0001, respectively). One patient with type 2 diabetes developed atrial fibrillation during recovery from hypoglycemia.

CONCLUSIONS

In insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes and controls without diabetes, hypoglycemia causes clinically significant and similar increases in cardiac repolarization that might increase vulnerability for serious cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.

The risk factors of inpatient hypoglycemia: A systematic review

Hypoglycemia is an important and harmful complication of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) that often occurs in inpatient or outpatient settings. Hypoglycemia can be divided into two types, i.e. primary hypoglycemia when hypoglycemia is the main diagnosis for admission, whereas secondary hypoglycemia if hypoglycemia occurs during hospitalization. Hypoglycemia during hospitalization or secondary hypoglycemia may arise from various risk factors, such as advanced age, comorbid diseases, type of diabetes, previous history of hypoglycemia, body mass index, hyperglycemia therapy given, as well as other risk factors such as inadequate glucose monitoring, unclear or unreadable physician instructions, limited health personnel, limited facilities, prolonged fasting and incompatibility of nutritional intake and therapy administered. Hypoglycemia can lead to medical and non-medical impacts, such as increased mortality, cardiovascular disorders, cerebrovascular disorders, and increased health care costs and length of stay. The incidence of inpatient hypoglycemia can actually be prevented by controlling modifiable risk factors and also giving education about hypoglycemia to patients and health workers. We performed a literature research in Pubmed, EBSCOhost, and Scopus to review the possible risk factors for inpatient hypoglycemia. Eleven studies were retrieved. We presented the result of these studies as well as a brief overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, impact and preventive strategy.

Association of severe hypoglycemia with mortality for people with diabetes mellitus during a 20-year follow-up in Denmark: a cohort study

AIMS

Severe hypoglycemia has a significant deteriorating effect on quality of life of the individual and has been associated with increased mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the mortality among people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes suffering from severe hypoglycemia in Denmark in the last two decades.

METHODS

People diagnosed with type 1 (n = 44,033) and type 2 diabetes (n = 333,581) were extracted from the complete population of Denmark from 1996 to 2017 via ICD-10 diabetes codes and ATC diabetes medication codes. People suffering from severe hypoglycemia (type 1 diabetes n = 8808, type 2 diabetes n = 5605) as identified from ICD-10 codes were then matched 1:1 by year of birth, gender and year of diabetes diagnosis with those without severe hypoglycemia. Cox proportional hazards models were constructed to analyze the effect of severe hypoglycemia on mortality.

RESULTS

For both people with type 1 (HR 1.11, CI 95% 1.06 to 1.17) and type 2 diabetes (HR 1.77, CI 95% 1.67 to 1.87) suffering from hypoglycemia, an increased mortality risk was observed, compared to people without severe hypoglycemia. An investigation of the death causes did not indicate an association between the severe hypoglycemic episodes and death.

CONCLUSION

In this study, severe hypoglycemic episodes increased the mortality risk for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The risk was higher among people with type 2 diabetes. Whether severe hypoglycemia is a symptom of other underlying illnesses increasing mortality risk or a risk factor itself needs further investigation.

Effect of induced hypoglycemia on inflammation and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes and control subjects

Intensive diabetes control has been associated with increased mortality in type 2 diabetes (T2DM); this has been suggested to be due to increased hypoglycemia. We measured hypoglycemia-induced changes in endothelial parameters, oxidative stress markers and inflammation at baseline and after a 24-hour period in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) subjects versus age-matched controls. Case-control study: 10 T2DM and 8 control subjects. Blood glucose was reduced from 5 (90 mg/dl) to hypoglycemic levels of 2.8 mmol/L (50 mg/dl) for 1 hour by incremental hyperinsulinemic clamps using baseline and 24 hour samples. Measures of endothelial parameters, oxidative stress and inflammation at baseline and at 24-hours post hypoglycemia were performed: proteomic (Somalogic) analysis for inflammatory markers complemented by C-reactive protein (hsCRP) measurement, and proteomic markers and urinary isoprostanes for oxidative measures, together with endothelial function. Between baseline and 24 -hours after hypoglycemia, 15 of 140 inflammatory proteins differed in T2DM whilst only 1 of 140 differed in controls; all returned to baseline at 24-hours. However, elevated hsCRP levels were seen at 24-hours in T2DM (2.4 mg/L (1.2-5.4) vs. 3.9 mg/L (1.8-6.1), Baseline vs 24-hours, P < 0.05). In patients with T2DM, between baseline and 24-hour after hypoglycemia, only one of 15 oxidative stress proteins differed and this was not seen in controls. An increase (P = 0.016) from baseline (73.4 ng/mL) to 24 hours after hypoglycemia (91.7 ng/mL) was seen for urinary isoprostanes. Hypoglycemia resulted in inflammatory and oxidative stress markers being elevated in T2DM subjects but not controls 24-hours after the event.

Mini-doses of glucagon to prevent hypoglycemia in children with type 1 diabetes refusing food: a case series

AIMS

Hypoglycemia in small children with type 1 diabetes is difficult to manage if nausea, vomit or food refusal occurs. If oral carbohydrate cannot be used, there is a hypothetical risk of severe hypoglycemia. The present article describes the effect on glucose of small doses of subcutaneous glucagon to revert hypoglycemia and prevent severe events in small children with type 1 diabetes using a continuous glucose monitoring.

METHODS

We analyzed 4 episodes of impending or mild hypoglycemia in 3 children with type 1 diabetes who refused to eat carbohydrates. Using a standard U-100 insulin syringe, children received one "unit" (10 μg) of glucagon subcutaneously for every year of age up to 15 units (150 μg). If the blood glucose did not increase within 30 min, the initial dosage was repeated at that time. Instructions were given by phone from the physician. At the following visit data from continuous glucose monitoring devices, insulin pump and glucometer were downloaded and reviewed retrospectively from the physician.

RESULTS

Blood glucose from continuous glucose monitoring after one and 2 h was 127 ± 80 mg/dl and 165 ± 78 mg/dl, respectively. After a glucagon injection, there was a single recurrence of hypoglycemia, requiring another shot. The glucagon was well tolerated, except for nausea, present before the injection. None of the children were taken to our hospital because of concerns for hypoglycemia.

CONCLUSION

Mini-doses of glucagon given subcutaneously were effective and safe in preventing frank or impending hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes children refusing food.

Hypoglycaemic episodes increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac arrest in patients with type 2 diabetes-A nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

The impact of hypoglycaemic episode (HE) on the risk of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remains unclear. We hypothesized that HE increases the risk of both VA and SCA and that glucose-lowering agents causing HE also increase the risk of VA/SCA in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODS

Patients aged 20 years or older with newly diagnosed T2D were identified using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database. HE was defined as the presentation of hypoglycaemic coma or specified/unspecified hypoglycaemia. The control group consisted of T2D patients without HE. The primary outcome was the occurrence of VA (including ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation) and SCA during the defined follow-up periods. A multivariate Cox hazards regression model was used to evaluate the hazard ratio (HR) for VA or SCA.

RESULTS

A total of 54 303 patients were screened, with 1037 patients with HE assigned to the HE group and 4148 frequency-matched patients without HE constituting the control group. During a mean follow-up period of 3.3 ± 2.5 years, 29 VA/SCA events occurred. Compared with the control group, HE group had a higher incidence of VA/SCA (adjusted HR: 2.42, P = .04). Patients who had used insulin for glycaemic control showed an increased risk of VA/SCA compared with patients who did not receive insulin (adjusted HR: 3.05, P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

The HEs in patients with T2D increased the risk of VA/SCA, compared with those who did not experience HEs. Use of insulin also independently increased the risk of VA/SCA.

Hypoglycemia, Malnutrition and Body Composition

Hypoglycemia is one of the most significant factors to affect prognosis, and is detrimental to patients regardless of diabetes mellitus (DM) status. The classical paradigms dictate that hypoglycemia is a result of overtreatment with glucose lowering agents (iatrogenic hypoglycemia), or, as among patients without DM, this condition is attributed to disease severity. New information shows that hypoglycemia occurs among patients that have a tendency for it. Incident hypoglycemia is very prevalent in the hospital setting, occurring in 1:6 patients with DM and in 1:17 patients without DM (Leibovitz E, Khanimov I, Wainstein J, Boaz M; Diabetes Metab Syndr Clin Res Rev. 13:222-226, 2019).One of the major factors associated with incidence of hypoglycemia is the nutritional status on hospital admission and during the hospitalization. Assessment of nutritional status using questionnaires and biomarkers might be helpful in determining risk of hypoglycemia. Moreover, administration of oral nutritional supplements was shown to decrease this risk.It is also well known that a high burden of comorbidities is associated with an increased risk of hypoglycemia. For example, kidney disease, whether acute or chronic, was shown to increase the risk for hypoglycemia, as well as some endocrine disorders.In this review we elaborate on specific findings that are characteristic of patients at risk for developing hypoglycemia, as well as treatment aimed at preventing its occurrence.

Self-reported hypoglycemia in adult diabetic patients in East Gojjam, Northwest Ethiopia: institution based cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Hypoglycemia presents a barrier to optimum diabetes management and it is related to a negative impact on health-related quality of life, healthcare resource use, and work productivity. Despite the fact that the magnitude of hypoglycemia and factors associated with hypoglycemia in diabetic population were demonstrated in clinical trial settings; there is no adequate evidence concerning to the problem in real-world settings, in particular in the study area. The aim of the study was to assess the magnitude of hypoglycemia and factors associated with hypoglycemia among adult diabetic patients attending chronic follow up clinic at Debre Markos referral hospital, East Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia, 2017.

METHODS

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 394 sampled diabetic patients who were selected through systematic random sampling technique at Debre Markos referral hospital. Data were collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The collected data were entered and cleared using epi-data version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS version 20. We used bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models to identify variables for multivariate analysis and to identify associated factors for hypoglycemia, respectively.

RESULT

The study revealed that 279(70.8%) of diabetic patients had experienced hypoglycemic event since the diagnosis of diabetes. Patients with type 1 diabetes were more likely to have hypoglycemia as compared with type 2 diabetic patients. The factors found to be significantly associated with hypoglycemia included type 2 diabetes (AOR 0.34, 95%CI: 0.14, 0.82), duration of diabetes from 10 to 14 years (AOR 6.34, 95%CI: 2.12, 18.96) and insulin therapy (AOR 4.93, 95%CI: 2.05, 11.86). Diabetic patients who are government employees (AOR = 0.29, 95%CI: 0.11, 0.78) were less likely to have hypoglycemia when compared to farmers.

CONCLUSION

The magnitude of hypoglycemia was found to be high and significantly associated with occupation, type of diabetes mellitus, type of medication and duration of diabetes mellitus since diagnosis. Therefore, attention is needed from health-related governmental organizations and health care providers to decrease the burden of hypoglycemia and to address the major contributing factors.