Outcomes of Hypoglycemia Treated by Standardized Protocol in a Community Hospital

Abstract

Hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes was treated by a standardized protocol in a 300-bed community hospital. Patient outcomes were studied retrospectively using data from medical records. Hypoglycemia was defined as a blood glucose level below 80 mg/dL when symptoms were present, or 60 mg/dL regardless of symptoms. Treatment consisted of 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate repeated every 15 minutes until the blood glucose level was above 80 mg/dL. The blood glucose level was then rechecked one hour after treatment. Data from 179 episodes were evaluated. In 153 (85%) cases, the blood glucose levels were within the target range (80-200 mg/dL) at the conclusion of treatment. In 135 (76%) cases, the blood glucose level at one hour following treatment was within the same target range.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Brodows RG , Williams C. , Amatruda JM Treatment of insulin reactions in diabetics. JAMA 1984;252:3378-81.

Slama G. , et al. The search for an optimized treatment of hypoglycemia: carbohydrates in tablets, solution, or gel for the correction of insulin reactions. Arch Int Med 1990;150:589-93.

Adler PA Serum glucose changes after administration of 50% dextrose solution: pre- and in-hospital calculations. Am J Emer Med 1986;4:504-6.