Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
12:08

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital

Published on: June 11, 2012

Hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes

Salomon Banarer1, Philip E Cryer

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, ACB 3rd Floor, Suite 83G11, 550 Jackson Street, Louisville, KY 40209, USA.

The Medical Clinics of North America
|August 17, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Iatrogenic hypoglycemia, often caused by insulin therapy, hinders diabetes management. Reducing hypoglycemia risks and improving glucose counterregulation are key to better glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Diseases
  • Diabetes Management

Background:

  • Iatrogenic hypoglycemia is a significant clinical challenge in managing diabetes, particularly in advanced type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • Hypoglycemia in these patients arises from excessive therapeutic insulin combined with diminished physiological and behavioral defenses against low blood glucose.
  • This complication impedes achieving optimal glycemic control and impacts patient quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the clinical problem of iatrogenic hypoglycemia in advanced type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • To discuss the mechanisms contributing to hypoglycemia in insulin-treated diabetic patients.
  • To emphasize the need for strategies to minimize hypoglycemia risk and improve overall glycemic management.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical literature and established understanding of diabetes pathophysiology.
  • Analysis of factors contributing to hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  • Discussion of risk reduction strategies and glycemic control principles.

Main Results:

  • Iatrogenic hypoglycemia is a primary limitation in achieving effective glycemic management for diabetes.
  • The risk increases as type 2 diabetes progresses towards insulin deficiency.
  • Effective management involves a combination of hypoglycemia risk reduction and aggressive glycemic therapy.

Conclusions:

  • Minimizing hypoglycemia risk is achievable through proactive strategies and understanding patient-specific factors.
  • Improved glucose counterregulation and risk factor consideration are crucial for safe and effective diabetes care.
  • There is an ongoing need for enhanced treatment regimens to better manage diabetes while avoiding hypoglycemia.

More Related Videos

Osmotic Minipump Implantation for Increasing Glucose Concentration in Mouse Cerebrospinal Fluid06:21

Osmotic Minipump Implantation for Increasing Glucose Concentration in Mouse Cerebrospinal Fluid

Published on: April 7, 2023

Hyperglycemic Clamp and Hypoglycemic Clamp in Conscious Mice07:35

Hyperglycemic Clamp and Hypoglycemic Clamp in Conscious Mice

Published on: January 26, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction01:26

Type II Diabetes I: Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, in which target tissues such as the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue respond poorly to insulin. It is also associated with inadequate compensatory insulin secretion, where pancreatic β-cells fail to produce sufficient insulin. Together, these abnormalities lead to persistent hyperglycemia.EtiologyT2DM develops through a complex interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental or...
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology01:24

Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology

PathophysiologyType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM ) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and progressive pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, leading to impaired glucose homeostasis. It results from interactions among genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and metabolic stressors, such as overnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.Insulin Resistance and Glucose DysregulationEarly T2DM involves insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and the liver.
Hypoglycemia01:26

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a blood glucose level below 70 mg/dL. It commonly occurs in individuals using insulin or insulin-secreting drugs, but may also arise in non-diabetic conditions. People with type 1 diabetes are at the highest risk because they depend on exogenous insulin. People with type 2 diabetes are also at risk, especially when treated with insulin or medications such as sulfonylureas, which increase insulin release regardless of blood glucose levels. It develops when insulin levels exceed...
Hyperglycemia01:29

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia is an abnormally high blood glucose level. It is diagnosed by fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (or OGTT) ≥200 mg/dL, random glucose ≥200 mg/dL with symptoms, or HbA1c ≥6.5%. However, HbA1c results may be unreliable in certain conditions, such as anemia or hemoglobinopathies, and the diagnosis should be confirmed unless classic symptoms are present. Postprandial hyperglycemia is typically considered significant when glucose levels exceed 180 mg/dL two...