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Self-reported non-severe hypoglycaemic events in Europe
C G Östenson1, P Geelhoed-Duijvestijn, J Lahtela
1Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Summary
Non-severe hypoglycaemia events are frequent in people with Type 1 diabetes and insulin-treated Type 2 diabetes. Many patients do not report these events to their doctors, potentially underestimating the condition's true impact.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Diabetes Management
- Public Health
Background:
- Hypoglycaemia significantly hinders optimal diabetes management.
- Real-world data on hypoglycaemia frequency outside clinical trials are limited.
- Understanding patient experiences is crucial for improving diabetes care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the rates of self-reported non-severe hypoglycaemic events.
- To assess hypoglycaemia awareness among patients.
- To examine physician discussion of hypoglycaemic events in Type 1 and insulin-treated Type 2 diabetes.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study across seven European countries.
- Recruitment via diverse channels including consumer panels and healthcare professionals.
- Online questionnaires collected data on demographics, behaviours, and hypoglycaemic events over 7-day periods.
Main Results:
- High annual event rates: 94 for Type 1 diabetes, 21-36 for Type 2 diabetes.
- Impaired awareness reported by 63% (Type 1) and 49-64% (Type 2) of those experiencing events.
- Low reporting rates to physicians (65% Type 1, 50-59% Type 2) and infrequent physician inquiry (16% Type 1, 26% Type 2).
Conclusions:
- Non-severe hypoglycaemia is common in real-world settings for Type 1 and insulin-treated Type 2 diabetes.
- Underreporting to healthcare providers suggests the true burden is underestimated.
- Improved communication and awareness are needed to address the impact of hypoglycaemia.
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