Insulin Adverse Events Key in ED Visits, Particularly among Those over 80

​Diabetics age 80 or older are more likely than their younger counterparts to be taken to the emergency department (ED) and to be hospitalized on an emergency basis, according to  a November 14, 2013, Caring for the Ages articledescribing a presentation at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association. Using National Health Interview Survey data to estimate the number of diabetic patients nationwide, researchers examined hospital reimbursement codes from 2007 to 2011, identifying 97,745 ED visits related to insulin adverse events. Those ED visits represented about 6.5% of all ED visits related to adverse drug events.