Fractures are not only debilitating for patients. They also constitute 61% of fall-related costs in the United States. That’s why hypoglycemia due to overtreatment of diabetes is so dangerous. Hypoglycemia leads to a 2-fold risk of fall -related events in hypoglycemic elderly patients with diabetes. Hypoglycemia not only leads to an elevated risk of fractures, it also is the cause of head injuries, long-term care placements and hospital admissions in patients < 75 years and 75 years and older.
Kachroo S, Kawabata H, Colilla S, et al. Association between hypoglycemia and fall-related events in type 2 diabetes mellitus: analysis of a U.S. commercial database. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2015;21(3):243-53.