How to prevent and treat pharmacological hypoglycemias

• Published in: Revista clínica espanõla (English edition) 2014-05, Vol.214 (4), p.202-208
• Main Authors: Reyes García, R, Mezquita Raya, P
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; spa
• Subjects: Anticholesteremic Agents - therapeutic use; Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - physiopathology; Female; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia - drug therapy; Hypertension - drug therapy; Hypoglycemia - chemically induced; Hypoglycemia - prevention & control; Hypoglycemia - therapy; Hypoglycemic Agents - adverse effects; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Metformin - administration & dosage; Metformin - adverse effects; Metformin - therapeutic use; Middle Aged; Sulfonylurea Compounds - administration & dosage; Sulfonylurea Compounds - adverse effects; Sulfonylurea Compounds - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 2254-8874
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rce.2013.12.011

A 58 year-old woman with type 2 diabetes diagnosed 3 years before came to our clinic. Her treatment was metformin 850 mg every 12 hours and glimepiride 4 mg every 24 hours. After the initiation of glimepiride 9 months before her weight has increased 5 kg, and she suffers frequent hypoglycemias which have affected her while driving. Her BMI is 35.5 kg/m². She has a normal eye fund exam. She has hypertension treated with telmisartán and hidroclorotiazide with adequate control, and also hypercholesterolemia treated with atorvastatine 40 mg every 24 hours. Her blood test shows an HbA1c of 7.0%, normal values of microalbuminuria, total cholesterol 149 mg/dl, HDL cholesterol 52 mg/dl, LDL cholesterol 98 mg/dl and triglycerides 123 mg/dl. Her blood pressure is 129/81 mmHg, there was no orthostatic hypotension, and her peripheral neurological examination shows normal results. In summary, our case is a young woman with type 2 diabetes and obesity, without chronic complications and which has frequent hypoglycaemia. How must this woman be evaluated and treated?