Blood Glucose Variation in Hemodialysis Patients, Cross-sectional Study of Ter-tiary Center in Western Area Saudi Arabia

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Blood glucose control is challenging in hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this study, we aimed to characterize blood glucose fluctuations during HD in end-stage renal disease patients and predict risk factors for hypoglycemia. A cross-sectional study was performed including all adult patients receiving hemodialysis at a tertiary care hospital. Each patient was evaluated through three HD sessions. Descriptive analysis of all the demographic and outcomes variables was performed to establish blood glucose patterns during HD and hypoglycemic events during HD sessions.

We had a total of 20 patients, with a total of 60 HD sessions. The patients’ mean age was 45 years, and the mean duration since the initiation of HD was seven years. The mean blood sugar levels at pre-, mid-, and post-dialysis were 7.9 mmol/dl (CI 7.3-8.6), 6.4 mmol/dl (CI 5.9-6.9), and 5.9 mmol/dl (CI 5.4-6.3), respectively. There were six episodes of hypoglycemia, and all episodes except for one occurred in patients without a history of diabetes. None of the variables were found to have a statistically significant association with the development of hypoglycemia. There was a clear downward trend in blood glucose during the course of HD.