Risk factors for developing hypoglycaemia in hospital. Adapted from Walden E, Stanisstreet D, Graveling A et al. The hospital management of hypoglycaemia in adults with diabetes mellitus, 3rd edn. Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care, 2018.22
| Medical issues | Lifestyle issues |
|---|---|
| Strict glycaemic control. | Increased exercise (relative to usual). |
| Previous history of severe hypoglycaemia. | Irregular lifestyle. |
| Long duration of type 1 diabetes. | Alcohol. |
| Duration of insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes. | Increasing age. |
| Lipohypertrophy. | Early pregnancy. |
| Impaired hypoglycaemic awareness. | Breast feeding. |
| Severe hepatic dysfunction. | No or inadequate monitoring. |
| Impaired renal function including those on renal replacement therapy. | Reduced carbohydrate intake/absorption. |
| Sepsis. | Anorexia, poor appetite / interruption of enteral feeding. |
| Inadequate treatment of previous hypoglycaemia. | Irregular meals. |
| Terminal illness. | Food malabsorption eg gastroenteritis pancreatic enzyme insufficiency, coeliac diabetes and gastroparesis. |
| Cognitive dysfunction/dementia. | Bariatric surgery involving bowel resection. |
| Frailty. | |
| Reduction in steroids. |