Hypoglycaemia cases increased by 39 per cent: Study

London : Hospital admissions with patients diagnosed by hypoglycaemia have seen a 39 per cent rise in last ten years, a study by an Indian-origin scientist has said.

Hypoglycemia is a short-term and avoidable complication of diabetes where the blood sugar of a person with diabetes drops to dangerously low levels.

"Given the continuous rise of diabetes prevalence, ageing population, and costs associated with hypoglycaemia, individual and national initiatives should be implemented to reduce the burden of hospital admissions for hypos," said Kamlesh Khunti, Professor at the University of Leicester.

According to the study, published in journal The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, most hypoglycaemic episodes are generally mild and can be self-treated by eating or drinking glucose tablets, sweets, sugary fizzy drinks or fruit juice. But if untreated hypoglycaemic can lead to coma, hospitalisation and death.

For the study, the researchers took 1,01,475 cases between 2005 and 2014. The number of admissions for the low blood sugar episodes increased from 7,868 in 2005 to 11,756 in 2010 representing a 49 per cent jump and then 10,977 in 2014, up 39 per cent in ten years.

During the study period, hospital length of stay, mortality and one-month readmissions decreased progressively and consistently.

"Accounting for diabetes prevalence, there was a reduction of admission rates, but this was down to an increase in newly-diagnosed people with Type 2 diabetes who have a much lower risk of hypoglycaemia," said Khunti.

The study also highlights on ways developed to help prevent and treat this chronic disease.