Abstract:

Background: Hypoglycaemia is a treatment related complication of diabetes; elderly diabetes patients are at greater risk of developing Hypoglycaemia. Risk factors include longer duration of diabetes, history of previous Hypoglycaemia episodes, intensive glycaemic control, poor nutrition or missed meals. Sulfonylureas are oral hypoglycaemic agent most frequently associated with Hypoglycaemia; other oral hypoglaycaemic agents typically cause hypoglaycaemic only when used in combination with sulfonylureas.

Method: A cross sectional study design was conducted at internal medicine department at Bugando medical centre. The study included 196 diabetes mellitus patients attending outpatient’s clinic at Bugando medical centre. Data was collected through structured questionnaire with patients on oral hypoglcaemics. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20.

Results and Discussion: A total of 196 patients was interviewed in which all patients were on oral hypoglcaemic agents. 48 (24.5%) were on metformin alone, 2 (1%) were on glibenclamide alone 110 (56.1%) were on metformin/glibenclamide combination, 33 (16.8%) were on metformin/glimepiride combination, 2 (1%) were on pioglitazone alone and 1 (0.5%) were on glibenclamide/sitagliptin combination. There was a significant association between taking oral hypoglcaemic agents, delayed time to take meal and inadequate meals with Hypoglycaemia.

Conclusion: Associated risk factors of Hypoglycaemia found to be statistically significant were the use of oral hypoglycaemic agents especially sulfonylurea either alone or in combination with oral hypoglycaemic agents. Other risk factors include delayed time to take meal after oral hypoglcaemic agents and inadequate meals.