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Hypoglycemia, Diabetic

Afsha Rais Kaisani, MD, FAAFP, Niyomi De Silva, MD and Abdullah Shuaib, DO Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Abnormally low concentration of glucose in circulating blood of a patient with diabetes mellitus (DM); often referred to as an insulin reaction 
  • Level 1: hypoglycemia alert value. ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Discuss timing of episodes, awareness, frequency, and causes (1).

  • Symptoms vary considerably between individuals.

  • Adrenergic symptoms

    • Hunger, trembling, pallor, sweating, shaking, pound...

TREATMENT

Fast-acting carbohydrates (CHO) at the hypoglycemia alert value of 70 mg/dL or less. 

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Glucose: pure glucose preferred; any form of CHO that contains glucose should be effectiv...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Discuss hypoglycemia prevention at all visits. 

DIET

  • Alcohol consumption may place patients with diabetes at increased risk for delayed hypoglycemia (1)[A].

  • CHO sou...

REFERENCES

1
American Diabetes Association. 6. Glycemic Targets: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022 Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Suppl1):S83–S96.
2
Seaquist  ER, Anderson  J, Chi...

ADDITIONAL READING

Thompson  AE. JAMA patient page. Hypoglycemia. JAMA.  2015;313(12):1284. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]  

SEE ALSO

  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1

  • Algorithm: Hypoglycemia

CODES

ICD10

  • E11.649 Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hypoglycemia without coma

  • E10.649 Type 1 diabetes mellitus with hypoglycemia without coma

  • E13.649 Oth diabetes mellitus with hypoglycemia without coma

SNOMED

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Abnormally low concentration of glucose in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM); often referred to as an insulin reaction

  • Treatment includes:

    • Immediate administration of glucose—in form ...

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