Endocrinology Research and Practice
Original Article

Aetiology of Spontaneous Hypoglycaemia in a South African Hospital

1.

Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of health Sciences, Nelson Mandela Central Hospital/Walter Sisulu University, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Endocrinol Res Pract 2017; 21: 42-46
DOI: 10.25179/tjem.2017-56542
Read: 2019 Downloads: 526 Published: 01 June 2017

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To determine the etiology of spontaneous hypoglycaemia at admissions in Nelson Mandela Central Hospital, Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Material and Method: A retrospective review of medical records for the patients admitted with spontaneous hypoglycaemia from January 2008 till December 2015 was carried out. The medical records of patients with blood glucose levels <2.5 mmol/L were reviewed for age, gender, relevant medications, alcohol history, retroviral status, blood glucose, plasma insulin, C-peptide, ketone, cortisol, IGF-1 level, liver and kidney function, and documented etiology of hypoglycaemia.

Results: There were 26 patients (65.4% females) with the mean age of 39.6±22.3 years (range 13−95 years). The mean blood glucose levels during hypoglycemic episodes were 1.6±0.6 mmol/L (range 0.5–2.9 mmol/L). Half of the patients (n=13/26) were retroviral positive. Hypoglycemia was associated with the elevated or inappropriately normal plasma insulin levels in 35.3% subjects and with the suppressed plasma insulin levels in 64.7% of cases. Eight cases of spontaneous hypoglycemia were pregnancy related. All pregnancy related cases of hypoglycemia were noted in retroviral positive subjects. The main cause for hypoglycemia was hypocortisolism.

Discussion: The admissions in the case of spontaneous hypoglycemia were mainly due to hypocortisolism. All pregnant and postpartum patients with spontaneous hypoglycemia were retroviral positive.

 

 

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