[Hypoglycemia, classification, therapy and preventable errors]

Hypoglycemia is a multifactorial problem that is caused by the interaction of numerous variables such as a individual pathophysiological response, treatment aspects and self control. In particular, the increasing use of intensified insulin therapy and thus the goal of normoglycemia has made hypoglycaemia to become a major hazard among the acute complications of diabetes mellitus. Early diagnosis and treatment is thus mandatory to reduce the increased morbidity and mortality of hypoglycaemia. Among the acute therapy of hypoglycaemia treatment includes a modification of diabetes therapy, patient education and a special training of hypoglycaemia awareness.