Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, poses a serious health threat for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The findings from a study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology indicate hypoglycemia may lead to deaths related to heart disease in CKD patients.

The study included information from over 240,000 individuals. The occurrence of hypoglycemia was higher in patients with CKD compared to those without kidney disease. This included patients with and without diabetes. The risk of hypoglycemia was highest in patients with CKD and diabetes. The study also showed putting patients on intensive glucose-lowering medications can lead to an increased risk of hypoglycemia and does not prolong their survival.

This article originally appeared in the May 2009 issue of AAKP Diet Tips & Bits.