Background: Hypoglycemia is a serious complication of diabetes therapy and in diabetic patients it is considered the most important barrier in achieving tight glycemic control, it can lead to permanent brain damage and increased mortality if not treated on time.
Objective: This study aimed to study the risk factors and outcome in diabetic patients with hypoglycemia.
Patients and methods: A total of 200 diabetics with an average age of 54.44± 10.17 years, 156 of them were non-hypoglycemic [euglycemic] group and 44 were hypoglycemic age-matched and sex matched group. Venous plasma glucose levels, lipid profile, glycated hemoglobin [HbAIc] were measured in all diabetic patients and urine samples were assessed.
Results: There was an association between hypoglycemia and occurrence of nephropathy, reverse association between occurrence of hypoglycemia and use of metformin alone. Also, there was significant association between hypoglycemia and the use of Metformin + Sulfonylureas [SU] and use of insulin alone. Increasing age, smoking, self-monitoring of DM, non-use of metformin and use of insulin alone were shown as risk factors for hypoglycemia with univariate regression analysis.
Conclusion: Hypoglycemia is a complication of diabetes that cannot be ignored because it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Advanced age, smoking and use of insulin were the common risk factors for hypoglycemia.