Hypoglycemia. A daily challenge for diabetic patients – Health

Diabetes can lead to hypoglycaemic episodes that manifest as dizziness, ringing in the ears, inability to concentrate, difficult nights … For a long time, patients had no choice but to "re-emerge". Today, other effective and innovative solutions exist.

"For a patient with diabetes, hypoglycaemia is proven when blood sugar drops below 0.70 mg / dl g / l," says Dr. Lucy Chaillous, Chief of Endocrinology , metabolic diseases and nutrition at Nantes University Hospital. These seizures occur on average twice a week in an insulin-dependent diabetic (*).

"Generally, patients suffer from sweating, tremors, palpitations, mood changes, increased fatigue, headaches". In some cases, hypoglycemia remains silent: this form – known as asymptomatic – proves more difficult to prevent. Silent or not, these "crises" have an impact on everyday life. "When hypoglycemia occurs, the patient is interrupted in what he is doing and has to resuscitate and wait for the blood glucose to rise. Deficient in glucose, the brain is also manifest. Disturbances of concentration, vision or even episodes of confusion can occur, "says Dr. Chaillous.

Anticipate the "crisis", it is possible

However, hypoglycemia is not a fatality. Solutions already available are designed to protect the patient from hypoglycaemia. For example, Medtronic offers a system consisting of an external insulin pump and a glucose sensor coupled to the pump. This system makes it possible to stop the insulin arrival when there is a risk of hypoglycemia and to restart the administration when the glucose level rises.

Thanks to these systems, episodes of hypoglycaemia can thus be avoided. "This surplus value matters a lot at night. By intervening without waking the patient, this device ensures a better quality of sleep. The patient no longer has to apprehend a potential drop in blood sugar and is not awakened by possible discomfort, "says Dr. Chaillous.

Hypoglycemia, tomorrow I stop!

Decreasing the impact of hypoglycemia is now possible. Prior to World Diabetes Day, November 14th, a #StopHypo hypoglycaemia awareness initiative is offered to patients and caregivers.

Learn more

The people concerned are invited to give their testimony and to share their experiences on the website www.parlonsdiabete.fr They will also find a lot of information.

* Diabetes Control and Complications Research Group Trial. Effect of intensive diabetes treatment on the development of long-term complications in adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: Diabetes Control and Complications Trial. J Pediatr. 1994; 125: 177-88.