[Hypoglycemic complications of oral drug therapy of diabetes mellitus. 21 cases].

The authors present 21 cases of severe hypoglycaemic side effects in diabetics treated with oral sulphonylurea drugs, including two deaths. The medications involved the most frequently were glibenclamide followed by glybutamide and glicalzide. Such side effects often occur early and are unrelated to dose. The classical predisposing factors were noted : old age, renal insufficiency, hepato-cellular insufficiency, drug associations -- in particular oral anticoagulants and salicylates. The indications for such drugs in the treatment of diabetes are discussed. Their use seems doubly illogical in the case of late onset obesity diabetes since the latter is accompanied by cardiovascular complications. It is dangerous in the elderly, particularly sensitive to the risks of hypoglycaemia and in who the diagnosis of "diabetes" is too often made on inadequate grounds.