Incidence of hypoglycemia and nutritional intake in patients on a general medical unit

Hypoglycemia can be a frequent occurrence in hospitalized diabetic patients on a general medical unit. Identified risk factors for such episodes have been linked to nutritional status, nutrient intake, and treatment regimes. This preliminary study identified the occurrence of hypoglycemia in 28% of the study population. Risk factors of low kilocalorie and carbohydrate intake were not associated with a higher incidence of hypoglycemia; however, the combination of a reduced carbohydrate intake and a low serum albumin level was found to be a more accurate clinical indicator of patients at risk for hypoglycemia. Areas to enhance care were also identified. A need to increase documentation related to nutritional intake, treatment, and patient response to treatment was identified. The lack of standardized treatment for hypoglycemia was also noted. Educational programming and the development of documentation tools and practice guidelines has had a dramatic effect on decreasing the incidence of hypoglycemia on one general medical unit.