Hypoglycemia: A Serious Complication for the Older Adult with Diabetes

Hypoglycemic events range from mild to severe and occur at an increased rate among older adults with diabetes. Some diabetes medications increase the risk of hypoglycemia, as can inadequate nutrition, cognitive impairment, and other factors. While hypoglycemia can often be easily treated, the physio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of nursing 2016-02, Vol.116 (2), p.34-39
Main Author: Ballin, Mary C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adults
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Ageing
Blood
CE Continuing Education
Cognitive change
Cognitive impairment
Diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - nursing
Education, Nursing, Continuing
Elderly people
Glucose
Humans
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia - complications
Male
Medical treatment
Nurses
Nursing
Nutrition
Older people
Risk Factors
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
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Summary:Hypoglycemic events range from mild to severe and occur at an increased rate among older adults with diabetes. Some diabetes medications increase the risk of hypoglycemia, as can inadequate nutrition, cognitive impairment, and other factors. While hypoglycemia can often be easily treated, the physiologic, sensory, and cognitive changes of aging can inhibit bodily mechanisms that produce warning symptoms of low blood glucose and impair the ability to recognize such symptoms when they occur. Severe hypoglycemic events in older adults can have devastating consequences. Nurses are well positioned to assess for hypoglycemia and to educate the growing population of older adults with type 2 diabetes on its prevention.
ISSN:0002-936X
1538-7488
DOI:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000480493.33351.97