Background:
Patients with diabetes have a 3-fold greater chance of hospitalization compared to those without diabetes. The risk factors for hospitalizations in diabetic patients constitute poor glycemic control, longer diabetes duration, and coexisting morbidity. Other factors include, old age groups, insulin use, hypoglycemia, presence of chronic renal insufficiency and diabetes-related hospitalizations in the preceding year are other important risk factors. Aim: Our aim of the study is to report the causes, patient characteristics, and outcome of admissions of diabetic patients to the wards and emergency unit of Benha university hospital Methods: The study included 260 patients with known history of type 1 or 2 DM who were admitted from the emergency department, outpatient clinic ,and other departments of the hospital.Demographic data and laboratory investigations were collected. Results: The study constituted mainly type 2DM (90.4%). The mean age of the study population was 57± 14 years, most of them were females (55.8%).The median duration of diabetes was 10 years.The most common reason for diabetes related hospitalizations were chronic complications of DM, whereas sepsis is the most common reason of non diabetes related .The mortality rate was 26.9%, of overall deaths, cardiovascular disease was the most frequent( 47.7%).Conclusion: The most frequent reason for hospitalization in diabetic related admissions was chronic complications of diabetes. Whereas, sepsis is the most common cause in diabetic non related admissions.Cardiovascular disease is still the main cause of death among diabetics.