Hypoglycemia and diabetes: increased need for awareness

Abstract

Hypoglycemia is an abnormally low plasma glucose concentration that may expose individuals to potential harm. It is associated with treatment of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes-related hypoglycemia may result in various complications, reduced quality of life, and increased costs. Hypoglycemia, therefore, impacts patient management and must be considered by primary healthcare practitioners at the forefront of diabetes care. This paper reviews the impact of hypoglycemia on patients and healthcare practitioners in the clinical setting.

Recognizing hypoglycemia and its risk factors and identifying high-risk patients can assist with prevention and management. Prevention rather than treatment of hypoglycemia is preferable by individualizing glycemic goals, considering hypoglycemia risk factors, and continuing professional support. Education of patients and healthcare practitioners is also a key factor in hypoglycemia prevention. Although several newer-generation therapies and treatment strategies for type 2 diabetes have a lower risk of hypoglycemia than established agents, long-term safety data are currently lacking. Thus, choice of therapy is important, with hypoglycemic risk varying according to drug selection.

Keywords:

• Diabetes
• Education
• Hypoglycemia
• Primary care

Transparency

Declaration of funding

Writing/editorial support funded by Sanofi US Inc.

Author contributions: The contents of the paper and the opinions expressed within are those of the authors, and it was the decision of the authors to submit the manuscript for publication. The authors contributed to the writing of this manuscript, including critical review and editing of each draft, and approval of the submitted version.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

C.Sh. has disclosed that he is an Advisory Board member and Speaker for Sanofi US Inc., Sanofi Global, and Boehringer Ingelheim/Lilly; an Advisory Board member for Bristol-Myers Squibb/AstraZeneca; and a Speaker for Novartis, Forest Pharmaceuticals, Warner Chilcott, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. D.H. has disclosed that she is an Advisory Board member/Consultant for Boehringer Ingelheim/Lilly, Sanofi, Roche, Abbott, Cequr and Janssen; and a Speaker for Boehringer Ingelheim/Lilly, Sanofi, AstraZeneca, and Janssen. C.Sa. has disclosed that he is a Speaker for Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Vivus, and Valeritas; and a Consultant for Sanofi, Tandem Diabetes, and Boehringer Ingelheim/Lilly.

CMRO peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Acknowledgments

The authors received writing/editorial support in the preparation of this manuscript provided by Pim Dekker Ph.D. of Excerpta Medica, funded by Sanofi US Inc.