Dr. Nguyen Quang Bay, Head of the Department of Endocrinology - Diabetes, Bach Mai Hospital shared that the department has just admitted a 90-year-old man in Hanoi to the emergency room in a coma due to severe hypoglycemia, with only 1.7 mmol/L remaining. It is worth mentioning that this is the second time he has encountered a similar incident in just one month.
Previously, the patient was prescribed a combination of Glimepiride 2mg + Metformin 500mg - a drug with strong effects, easily causing hypoglycemia if taken at the wrong dose. After the first emergency treatment, the doctor changed to Linagliptin 5mg - a lighter-acting drug, safer for the elderly. However, because his family did not take the old medicine, he accidentally took a medicine containing Glimepiride + Metformin to drink, causing his blood sugar to drop deep and had to be hospitalized for emergency care again. Fortunately, the patient was taken to the hospital in time and recovered well.
Dr. Nguyen Quang Bay added that this case is not an isolated case. Elderly people often suffer from many chronic diseases and have to use many different types of medicine, so it is easy to take old medicine, medicine from others at home, or choose between diabetes medicine and blood pressure medicine, stomach medicine... The risk increases when they are given long-term medicine for many months without anyone closely monitoring them.
According to doctors, hypoglycemia is one of the most common emergency situations in elderly diabetic patients. Initial symptoms are often shaking hands, sweating, dizziness, and drowsiness. If not treated promptly, the patient can quickly fall into a coma.
Experts recommend that to prevent unfortunate incidents:
The family should arrange each type of medicine separately, and remove old medicine when changing the new prescription.
Clearly note the time, dosage and purpose of each drug.
Caregivers need to check periodically and support patients to take the right medicine, on time.
When there are unusual signs ( Fatigue, shaking, confusion, cold sweating), it is necessary to check blood sugar immediately and take them to the hospital early.
Using drugs properly not only helps control diseases effectively but also protects the safety of elderly patients - the most vulnerable group in diabetes treatment.
