[Severe hypoglycemia in diabetic children and adolescents: frequency and circumstances of occurrence]

In 103 children and adolescents aged 13.6+/-5.5 years with type I diabetes lasting for 5.9+/-3.1 years, we have retrospectively studied the frequency and circumstances of severe hypoglycemic episodes (coma and/or convulsions). There were 71 severe hypoglycemia during the 5 year follow-up period. One third of patients had one or more severe hypoglycemia during the 5 years, therefore 6.4% of patients had at least one severe hypoglycemia every year. 8.7% of patients had 3 or more hypoglycemia within 5 years. Both glycated hemoglobin and insulin dose were comparable in patients with, or without severe hypoglycemia. Only in one third of the hypoglycemic episodes an apparent cause was found. We conclude that, most often, severe hypoglycemia occur in diabetic children without an identifiable cause and without any direct relationship with the level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).