Low blood sugar in elderly patients.

• In my experience, diabetes is generally over-treated in the frail elderly. 

• Side effects of diabetes medication includes low blood glucose or hypoglycaemia.

• Can low blood sugar cause confusion in the elderly- YES it can!

• Hypoglycaemia is a serious side effect of diabetes treatment in the elderly.

• Low blood glucose in the elderly causes-

  • confusion,

  • worsens dementia, Parkinson’s disease,

  • falls,

  • worsens balance,

  • causes lethargy

  • loss of energy, like “living in a fog”

• Hypoglycaemia can be prolonged so after eating sweets it can recur.

• Hypoglycaemia is commonly unrecognised by patients and Doctors.

• Low blood sugar levels in elderly may cause only subtle symptoms that the older person doesn’t always identify.

• Many older patients have their diabetes way over treated as if they were teenagers.

• Aggressive diabetic treatment of the frail elderly results in recurrent hypoglycaemia.

• What is considered low blood sugar in elderly- reading less than 6mmol/L.

For more information read Dr Peter Lipski’s book “Your Elderly Parents Failing Health. Is It Ageing Or A Treatable Condition”.