Falling is the main cause for excess injuries in people with diabetes

Adapted from BMJ 24 August 2024

An Australian study has shown that people with both type one and type two diabetes are hospitalised for injury more often than the general population.

Most of these injuries happened due to falls.

People using insulin have 60% more chance of being hospitalised for injury. Type two diabetics who take sulphonylureas have also a raised risk.

My comments: These findings tend to indicate that hypoglycaemia is a cause of falls. There could also be other reasons. I recall visiting a woman who had two broken wrists. She had fallen in the street and had fallen off the kerb. I asked why she thought she fell. She said, “I can’t feel my feet.” As a fractured hip in older age is a major reason for losing independence it is important for diabetics to aim for as best blood sugar control as appropriate for them, but also to take care to reduce hypoglycaemia.