Increased hospital admissions for hypoglycemia in England over last 10 years

A University of Leicester study finds that significantly more people with diabetes in England have been hospitalised with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) during the last decade.
For this new study, which appears in online journal The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, researchers reviewed 101,475 hospital admissions in England for hypoglycemia between 2005 and 2014.
In 2005, there were 7,868 admissions for hypoglycemia, but this steadily rose to 11,756 in 2010. While this figure stabilised somewhat in 2010, when there were 10,977 admissions, the total admission over this period represents a 39 per cent increase for hypoglycemia.
Overall, the researchers noted that there was a 14 per cent increase in admissions when the total increase in hospital admissions in England was considered.
Around 72 per cent of admissions were patients aged 60 or older, while 18 per cent of patients had more than one admission during this period.
Although the rates of hospital admissions increased, there was a decrease in admissions for diabetes and length of hospital stay. Additionally, mortality and one-month readmissions also declined.
Study author Professor Kamlesh Khunti and colleagues believe some sort of intervention is needed to help patients with diabetes achieve better control of their blood sugar levels.
Khunti said: “Given the continuous rise of diabetes prevalence, aging population and costs associated with hypoglycemia, individual and national initiatives should be implemented to reduce the burden of hospital admissions for hypos.”
If you, or someone you know is struggling with hypoglycemia, then check out the Hypo Training Program. This free online course can help you improve your knowledge of the causes and symptoms of low blood sugar, and it only takes 30 seconds to join.
After taking the course, 88 per cent of people know how to spot a hypo, while 63 per cent experience fewer severe hypos six months after completing the program.