Use of the accident and emergency department by patients with diabetes

Diabet Med. 1992 May;9(4):386-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.1992.tb01802.x.

Abstract

As part of a District-based audit of diabetes care all attendances (of diabetic and non-diabetic patients) at a local Accident and Emergency department were monitored over a 3-month period. A total of 9505 attendances took place of which 62 (0.7%) were by people with diabetes. This was no different from the expected number of attendances (61.5) based on the rates seen in non-diabetic individuals. Of these 62 attendances, 20 (by 15 individuals) were directly related to diabetes (hypoglycaemia 17, hyperglycaemia 1, for supplies of insulin or equipment 2). When these diabetes-specific attendances were removed from the total, the number of attendances (42) was significantly (p = 0.004) less than that expected. Diabetic males aged 0-19 years attended significantly more often than non-diabetic individuals of the same age but this excess was solely attributable to diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Diabetes Mellitus / therapy*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sex Characteristics
  • United Kingdom