Hypoglycemia in children with diabetes: incidence, counterregulation and cognitive dysfunction

Hypoglycemia remains a critical problem in the treatment of IDDM and often limits our ability to consistently achieve excellent glycemic control. Ongoing studies will be important to increase our understanding of the factors responsible for its occurrence and the impact that hypoglycemia may have, particularly for the brain. Significant differences have been documented between adults and children in the incidence of this complication of insulin therapy as well as in the counterregulatory hormone responses to hypoglycemia and its effects on the CNS. While children with diabetes still need insulin treatment, the prevention of hypoglycemia will be a central aim of management. This will depend on effective and expert diabetes education and support for the patient and his or her family along with better efforts to achieve more physiological insulin replacement.