Dr. Vu Thi Le (Department of Emergency - Emergency, Central Military Hospital 108) shared: Hypoglycemia is a condition in which blood sugar levels drop below 70 mg/dL, causing the brain and organs not to be provided with enough energy to function. Compared to young people, the elderly are at higher risk of serious complications because the body's adaptability has declined.
The reasons why the elderly are prone to hypoglycemia come from many factors. The aging process impairs liver and kidney function, affecting the ability to store and mobilize glucose. Many people eat irregularly, skip meals or forget to eat, while still using diabetes medications such as insulin or Sulfonylurea. Some endocrine diseases such as hypothyroidism and adrenal insufficiency also disrupt the blood sugar regulation mechanism.
What is worrying is that hypoglycemia in the elderly is often difficult to recognize. If in young people, signs such as hand tremors, sweating, rapid heartbeat or feeling of hunger appear quite clearly, in the elderly, symptoms may be very faint. Many cases only manifest in fatigue, confusion, reduced concentration, staggering walking or sudden fainting, easily confused with stroke or dementia, slowing down the time for emergency treatment.
When blood sugar decreases for a long time, the brain is not provided with enough glucose, which will lead to brain cell damage, increasing the risk of memory decline, dementia or stroke. At the same time, patients are also prone to falls, fractures due to dizziness and loss of balance. Severe hypoglycemia can also cause heart rhythm disorders, cardiac arrest and death.
Doctors also note that some medications can increase the risk of hypoglycemia in the elderly, especially insulin, Sulfonylurea drugs, beta-blockers for cardiovascular treatment or some Fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Patients need to follow their doctor's instructions, do not arbitrarily change their dosage and monitor blood sugar regularly.
To prevent, the elderly should eat fully, not skip meals, maintain a balanced diet, check blood sugar regularly and bring fast-absorbing foods such as candy or biscuits to handle when there are signs of hypoglycemia. Families also need to pay attention and closely monitor because many elderly people do not recognize the warning symptoms themselves.
