title: Reported hypoglycemia in Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: Prevalence and practices-a hospital-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypoglycemia tops the list of hurdles in preventing tight glycemic control in diabetic patients. It is even considered as a cardiovascular risk factor. However, it continues to be a neglected complication with very limited epidemiological data in our country.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the self-reported prevalence of hypoglycemia among type 2 diabetic patients and the practices adopted by them during and after the episodes to manage and avert future occurrences.
  
  
  METHODS
  It is a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study done using systematic random sampling selecting every 5thpatient attending the diabetic Out-Patient (OP) in a tertiary medical college hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 366 participants with median age of 60 years. Around 96% reported any one symptom of hypoglycemia, but 78% had eaten following the episode and got relieved of the symptoms. Weakness (76.2%) and dizziness (74%) were the most common symptoms reported by the patients. A quarter of them reported having severe attacks requiring somebody's assistance. Most patients resorted to timely meals (85%) to avert future attacks. Patients who took insulin along with oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs) were at a higher risk (OR = 2.3) for hypoglycemia compared to patients taking only OHAs (P< 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reported prevalence of hypoglycemia among type 2 diabetes patients is quite high. This finding reiterates the importance of enquiring and educating every diabetic patient about hypoglycemic episodes during every health visit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Vanishree
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shriraam
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Shriraam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahadevan
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anitharani
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Nalini Sirala
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Jagadeesh
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Sreelekha Bhaskara
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kurup
authors.affiliation: Vitamed Centre, Kottivakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Vidya
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Krishna G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Seshadri
keywords: Hypoglycemia; practices; prevalence; severity; type 2 diabetes