TABLE 1

Possible causes of normoglycemia or hypoglycemia in dialysis patients who previously required insulin

Decreased renal clearance of insulin
Decreased hepatic clearance of insulin
Impaired renal insulin degradation
Increased insulin half-life for reasons other than renal or hepatic conditions
Decline in renal gluconeogenesis
Deficient catecholamine release
Other impacts of uremia on glucose homeostasis
Diminished food intake because of problems such as anorexia, diabetic gastroparesis
Protein-energy wasting (malnutrition-inflammation complex)
Loss of body weight and fat mass
Comorbid conditions
Hypoglycemia during hemodialysis treatments
Effects of peritoneal dialysis on glucose metabolism
Prescribed medications
Imposed dietary restrictions
Low hemoglobin A1c owing to confounding by uremia or anemia
  • Kovesdy CP, Park JC, Kalantar-Zadeh K. Glycemic control and burnt-out diabetes in ESRD. Semin Dial 2010; 23:148–156. Copyright John Wiley and Sons, 2010; used with permission.