Authors:
Cooper MN, O'Connell SM, Davis EA, Jones TW
Authors notes:
Diabetologia. 2013:1-7
Keywords:
Diabetes mellitus, Hypoglycaemia, Type 1 diabetic complications, Type 1 diabetes
Abstract:
Severe hypoglycaemia is a major barrier to optimising glycaemic control.
Recent changes in therapy, however, may have altered the epidemiology of severe hypoglycaemia and its associated risk factors.
The aim of this study was to examine the incidence rates and risk factors associated with severe hypoglycaemia in a contemporary cohort of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
Clinical visit data from 1,770 patients, providing 8,214 patient-years of data between 2000 and 2011 were analysed.
During follow-up, 841 episodes of severe hypoglycaemia were observed.
No difference in risk of severe hypoglycaemia was observed between age groups.
Good glycaemic control compared with the cohort average was not associated with an increased risk of severe hypoglycaemia.
When compared with patients on injection regimens, subjects aged 12-18 years on pump therapy were at reduced risk of severe hypoglycaemia.
In this population-based sample of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, contemporary therapy is associated with a changed pattern and incidence of severe hypoglycaemia.