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Survey reveals low hypoglycemia awareness among patients with diabetes
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American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists 20th Annual Meeting
SAN DIEGO — More than half of surveyed patients with type 2 diabetes reported experiencing episodes of hypoglycemia during daily activities, and many are unaware of potential causes of the complication, according to results of a survey commissioned by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
“Hypoglycemia is fairly common and, unfortunately, is underappreciated and underreported,” Etie S. Moghissi, MD, vice president of AACE, told Endocrine Today. “We know that patients [with diabetes] are aware of the importance of controlling high blood sugar, but they may not know the risks associated with extremely low blood sugar.”
The survey polled 2,530 Americans with type 2 diabetes about their experience with and knowledge of hypoglycemia. Responses were collected online during November and December 2010 by the Harris Interactive Chronic Illness Panel.
Fifty-five percent of patients reported having experienced hypoglycemia in the past. Forty-two percent reported experiencing symptoms at work, 26% while exercising and 19% while driving. Moghissi, who is also associate clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, said these data are concerning. Having a hypoglycemic episode during driving increases the risk for car accidents, and most people exercise alone, she said. Further, for patients who work with heavy machinery or other materials that require special attention, experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia at work can be extremely dangerous.
The severity of hypoglycemia experienced by respondents was also troubling, Moghissi said, with about 20% requiring assistance from another party. Six percent of patients also visited EDs for their hypoglycemia, which increased some of the health care costs associated with diabetes.
In addition, although many patients recognized the common symptoms of hypoglycemia, such as sweating, shaking and dizziness, most were unable to identify the causes of their hypoglycemia.
“We know that the most common causes of hypoglycemia are skipping meals, certain diabetes medications and excessive exercise. The important finding of this study is that, to our surprise, many patients were unaware of these precipitating factors,” Moghissi said. “There is definitely a gap in knowledge, and it is important to inform our patients to not only recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia and treat them early but to educate them about the causes as well.”
To address this knowledge gap, AACE, with support from Merck, recently launched the Blood Sugar Basics program. The program’s website is equipped with downloadable tools and interactive elements, such as quizzes and diaries, to provide patients with information about glucose control and facilitate education between patients and health care providers. As the website develops, new features will be added, Moghissi said.
“As a physician caring for patients with diabetes, finding the right balance is always at the front of my mind,” she said. “That’s why it is important to set appropriate goals and choose the right medications for patients with type 2 diabetes in order to avoid hypoglycemia.”
For more information about the Blood Sugar Basics program, visit www.bloodsugarbasics.com. – by Melissa Foster
Disclosure: Dr. Moghissi reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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