Nocturnal hypoglycemia in insulin-treated patients with diabetes mellitus at Hue Central Hospital

Tóm tắt

Objective: To investigate nocturnal hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes mellitus treated with insulin. Methods and subjects: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 103 hospitalized patients with diabetes mellitus receiving insulin therapy at Hue Central Hospital from March 2024 to September 2025. Convenience sampling was applied. Study variables were collected through medical history taking, clinical examination, and laboratory assessments, including history of hypoglycemia, insulin regimens, HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, capillary blood glucose at 8:00 p.m., and capillary blood glucose at 3:00 a.m. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20.0. Results: Patients without a history of hypoglycemia accounted for the highest proportion (60,2%); those experiencing hypoglycemia once and twice each accounted for 15,5%, while patients with more than two hypoglycemic episodes accounted for 8,7%. Mixed insulin regimens were the most commonly used therapy (53,4%), followed by a basal–bolus regimen (three rapid-acting injections and one long-acting injection) at 18,4%, and long-acting insulin therapy at 28,2%. Only 9,7% of patients achieved the target HbA1c level, and 26,5% achieved target fasting plasma glucose levels. The mean pre-bedtime blood glucose and nocturnal blood glucose levels were 13,93 ± 5,96 mmol/L and 9,69 ± 4,78 mmol/L, respectively. The prevalence of nocturnal hypoglycemia in the study population was 12,6%. Conclusions: Glycemic control remained suboptimal in this insulin-treated population, with low rates of target HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose achievement. Although most patients had no prior hypoglycemia, nocturnal hypoglycemia was still common, highlighting the need for optimized insulin regimens and closer nighttime glucose monitoring.