2. DEFINITION
• Hypoglycemia or low blood glucose is a
clinical state associated with < 50mg/dl or
low plasma glucose with typical
symptoms.
• Whipples triad =
• venous plasma glucose <50mg/dl.
• Classical symptoms.
• Relief of symptoms with glucose.
3. DCCT Definition
• Event resulting in seizure,coma ,confusion or
symptoms like sweating,palpitation,hunger
with finger stick glucose < 50 mg/dl and
amelioration of symptom by elevation of blood
glucose.
• Prodromal symptoms occuring before the event
are well remembered.
• Severe hypoglycemic symptoms requiring
hospital admission and treatment with IV
glucose or glucagon.
4. Mechanisms for fasting hypoglycemia
Under production
hormone
deficiencies
enzyme defects
substrate deficiency
chronic infections.
drugs
Over utilization
hyper insulinism
insulinoma
exogeneous insulin
overdose.
auto immunity
Normal insulin level
extra pancreatic tumour
carnitine def, cachexia.
5. Fed state hypoglycemia
Early(alimentary)within 2-
3 hours after meals
• Alimentary
hyperinsulinism
• Postgastrectomy
• Functional(increased
vagal tone)
• Hereditary fructose
intolerance
• Galactosemia
• Leucine sensitivity
Late(occult diabetic) 3-5
hours after meals
• Delayed insulin release
due to beta cell
dysfunction
• Counter regulatory
deficiency of growth
hormone,glucagon,
cortisone,autonomic
response,epinephrine.
6. Factors that precipitate hypoglycaemia
Excessive insulin or SU administration-
- Error by patient or doctor.
- Poor matching to patient’s lifestyle.
Increased insulin bioavailability-
-Exercise.
-Injecting into abdomen.
-Change to human insulin/analogs
-Insulin antibodies.
-Mismatch of syringes
8. Hypoglycemia in non diabetic scenario
• ZE syndrome -Whipple’s triad, diarrhea ,muscle
wasting,tiredness. May be associated with
neurofibroma. 5 hour OGGT shows < 50mg/dl.
Serum insulin level-20micro units /ml, increased
proinsulin level.
• Hereditary fructose intolerance – enlarged
liver,jaundice,cirrhosis,albuminurIa,
aminoaciduria,mental retardation. Ingestion of
fruit leading to vomiting and hypoglycemia.
10. Grading of Hypoglycaemia
• Grade 1 or mild : patient can recognize
hypo and able to self treat
• Grade 2 or moderate : severe hypo prevents
patient from self treating but with assistance
oral treatment is possible.
• Grade 3 or severe : severe degree of
neuroglycopenia requiring parenteral
glucagon/dextrose.
11. Sequence of responses to decrements in
plasma glucose mg/dl
70 Counter regulation
60 Adrenergic symptoms
50 Neuroglycopenic symptoms
40 Lethargy
30 Coma
20 Convulsions
10 Permanent Damage Death
0
13. Nocturnal Hypoglycemia
Is common (biochem hypos occur frequently).
Asymptomatic/morning headache/hangover.
Often identified by partner: sweating, fretting.
May lead to sudden death.
Unsatisfactory time action profile of certain
insulins; physio defences against hypo reduced in
flat position; sympathetic responses to hypo
reduced in slow wave sleep
Dawn phenomenon vs Somogyi effect.
16. Hypoglycaemic Unawareness
• Absence of classical adrenergic warning
symptom,
More vulnerable to develop severe hypoglycaemia
Counter-regulatory failure :
Glucagon failure - 5 yr.to20 yr.
Adrenaline failure - follows then
• 25 times higher risk for severe hypoglycaemia
17. Hypoglycemia unawareness
Perception of early warning symptoms impaired.
Is not an all-or-none phenomenon.
Affects one quarter of Type 1 diabetic patients.
Correlates with glycemic control ? Duration of
diabetes ?
May be Acute or Chronic (Central autonomic
failure).
22. DD of hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic coma
Symptoms,signs and hypoglycemic coma hyperglycemic
coma
laboratory findings
Physical findings
pulse rate increased increased
pulse volume full weak
temperature may be decreased may be decreased
respiration shallow or normal rapid and deep
blood pressure normal,may be increased decreased
skin clammy,sweating dry
Tongue moist dry
tissue turgor normal reduced
eyeball tension normal reduced
breath no acetone acetone may be
present
reflex brisk reflexes diminished
reflexes
23. Symptoms,signs and hypoglycemic coma hyperglycemic
coma
laboratory findings
Laboratory tests
urine glucose -ve to +ve depending +ve
on time of last voiding
plasma glucose -ve to +ve +ve greater
than
200mg/dl
plasma acetone -ve usually present
plasma bicarbonate normal low less than
20mg/litre
plasma CO2 normal diminished
blood pH normal less than 7.35
24. MANAGEMENT ALGORITHM
Patient conscious
Oral glucose/sucrose
Patient unconscious
IV glucose (50%)
IM/SC glucagon
Recovery No recovery
I.V glucose (5%)
Follow up
-Identify cause
-Re-educate
25. CAUTION
Glucagon may lose effect with repeated
use.
Glucagon is contraindicated in SU induced
hypos.
SU induced hypoglycemia may be very
prolonged.It can be more fatal than insulin
induced hypoglycemia.
Duration of treatment depends on cause of
hypo
26. Measures to avoid hypoglycemia in patients
on insulin and/or sulfonylureas
• Do not delay,skip or reduce food intake.
• Take a snack before physical exercise.
• Avoid insulin injections in the limb which is actively involved
in the exercise.
• Avoid exercise during the peak time period of insulin action.
• When on human insulins,the time gap between insulin and food
should be 15 minutes.
• When on analogs, keep the time gap less than 5 minutes
• Do not use sulfonylureas in patients with hepatic/ renal
insufficiency.
• Ask the patient to avoid alcohol.
• In older diabetics do not insist on very tight control of blood
glucose;prefer short acting sulfonylureas
• Regularly monitor blood glucose.
27. Drugs causing hypo
• Increase in SU effect
• Salicylates, probenecid, sulfonamides,
nicoumalone, fluconazole [inhibits CYP2C9 which
metabolizes glimepiride], ketoconazole,
ciprofloxacin [inhibits CYP3A4 which
metabolizes glibenclamide], gatifloxacin
• Direct hypoglycemic effect
• ACE(I), disopyramide, SSRIs, quinine,
sulfamethoxazole, mefloquine, pentamidine,
doxycycline, ethanol
28. Neonatal hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia in the immediate
postpartum period needs recognition,as this
phenomenon is transient. Every newborn of
diabetic mothers must be given a 5%
glucose infusion for the first six hours and
subsequently blood glucose monitored to
prevent potentially fatal hypoglycemic
convulsions.
29. Take home message
• Single most important limiting factor in
maintaining strict glycemic control.
• Can be life threatening
• Delicate balance needs to be kept between
tight control & hypoglycemia.
• BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR HYPO
ALL THE TIME
