Hypoglycaemia unawareness in patients with type 1 diabetes

Abstract

Hypoglycaemia unawareness, defined at the onset of neuroglycopenia before the appearance of autonomic warning symptoms, is an serious problem in type 1 diabetes mellitus. It is often caused by recurrent or severe hypoglycaemia, which leads to the failure of the autonomic nervous system (hypoglycaemia-associated autonomic failure - HAAF). The hypoglycaemia awareness can be restored by avoiding episodes of hypoglycaemia. Management of hypoglycaemia unawareness is complex, and can only be achieved by a multifactorial intervention of clinical care and structured patient education. In patients in whom functional intensive insulin therapy with insulin analogue, continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion using insulin pumps are ineffective in the prevention of hypoglycaemia the implementation of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is advisable. CGM systems equipped with low glucose alarms and prediction alarms not only significantly reduce the risk of severe hypoglycaemia, but also significantly reduce the fear of hypoglycaemia and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The insulin pumps integrated with CGM automatically suspending insulin infusion when glucose is predicted to soon be low (PLGS) should be preferred in patient with hypoglycaemia unawareness. Hypoglycaemia management is complex and should also include structural education. Particular attention should be paid to the management of hypoglycaemia and appropriate use of modern therapy. The hypoglycaemia unawareness is very common among children under the age of 6 years who are unable to observe the early symptoms of hypoglycemia by themselves. This induces a high risk of frequent and severe hypoglycaemia, which can lead to structural changes in the brain, cognitive dysfunctions, poor mental abilities and behavioral disorders later in life.

Keywords: continuous glucose monitoring; hypoglycaemia unawareness; insulin pump; type 1 diabetes.