The association between hypoglycemia and hospital use, food insufficiency, and unstable housing conditions: a cross-sectional study among patients with type 2 diabetes in Sudan

• Main Author: Hyder Osman Mirghani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019-02-01
• Series: BMC Research Notes
• Subjects: Hypoglycemia risk; Food insufficiency; Type 2 diabetes; Sudan
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-019-4145-z

Abstract Objectives Hypoglycemia is associated with mortality and healthcare utilization. We aimed to assess hypoglycemia risk and Hospital use among Sudanese patients with type 2 diabetes. Results One hundred and fifty-nine patients with type 2 diabetes attending a diabetes center in Omdurman, Sudan during the period from June to September 2018were approached. A structured questionnaire based on hypoglycemia risk and Hospital use, Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was used to interview the patients. Participants (age 58.13 ± 9.96 years), 4.4%, 14.5%, and 81.1% were at high, moderate, and low hypoglycemia respectively, 66% reported food insufficiency, while 15.1% had unstable housing conditions. No relationship was evident between the hypoglycemia risk, gender, unstable housing conditions, food insufficiency, fasting plasma glucose,HbA1c, and the duration since the diagnosis of diabetes. A considerable number (18.9%) of Sudanese patients with diabetes were at moderate/high risk of hypoglycemia and Hospital use, including hypoglycemia risk and hospital use assessment in the holistic care of diabetes are recommended.