Clinical characteristics of hyperglycemic crises in patients without a history of diabetes

Willy Chou, Min Hsien Chung, Hsien Yi Wang, Jiann Hwa Chen, Wei Lung Chen, How Ran Guo, Hung Jung Lin, Shih Bin Su, Chien Cheng Huang, Chien Chin Hsu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims/Introduction: Hyperglycemic crises without a history of diabetes have not been well studied. We compared the clinical characteristics of patients with and without a history of diabetes, and evaluated the glycated hemoglobin levels. Materials and Methods: Consecutive adult patients (aged >18 years) visiting the emergency department (ED) between January 2004 and December 2010 were enrolled if they met the criteria for a hyperglycemic crisis. Patients were separated into those without and those with a history of diabetes. The 30-day mortality was the primary end-point. Results: We enrolled 295 patients who made 330 visits to the ED. Patients without a history of diabetes made up 24.5% (81/330) of the hyperglycemic crises. Patients without a history of diabetes were more prone than patients with a history of diabetes to be younger and male, and to have better consciousness and renal function, more significant diabetic signs and symptoms (e.g., thirst, polydipsia, polyuria and bodyweight loss), higher blood sugar, and less opportunity of infection and mortality. Most of the patients (93.8%, 76/81) had glycated hemoglobin of ≥6.5%. Conclusions: The present study delineates the clinical characteristics of patients with hyperglycemic crises, but without a history of diabetes. Most patients had glycated hemoglobin ≥6.5%, which raises the argument of using this biomarker for routine screening of diabetes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)657-662
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Diabetes Investigation
Volume5
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014 Nov 1

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Internal Medicine
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

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