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Severe hypoglycemic episodes: A persistent threat for children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus and their families

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Abstract

Background: As lowering glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels is still the main goal of insulin treatment, severe hypoglycemia (SH) remains a common experience in children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1 DM) and their families. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the incidence and the clinical features of SH episodes in our Centre in the last 20 yr. Subjects and Methods: We analyzed SH incidence in 269 patients (pts) diagnosed from 1990 to 2010 (total follow-up 2212.9 pts/yr). Inclusion criteria were at least 3 visits/yr and 1-yr follow-up. SH episode was defined as any condition of low blood glucose requiring third-party assistance. Results: 50.2% of patients experienced at least 1 SH episode for a total of 345 episodes. Whole incidence was 15.6/100 pts/yr, slightly different between first and second decade (12.6 vs 16.5, p=0.047). HbA1c at the time of SH was lower in the non-basal bolus group (7.4±1.3 vs 8.2±1.4; p=0.0001) and worsened 3 months later (p=0.0001). Impaired awareness was the main or only symptom in 43.5%. SH occurred at night in 32% of patients; they were significantly younger than those with SH at other times. Five SH episodes or more occurred in 8.1% of patients who presented a lower HbA1c, a younger age and shorter disease duration than the other patients. HbA1c at first SH was negatively correlated with number of SH (r=−0.20; p=0.05). Conclusions: Despite the advent of new insulin regimens, we confirm that SH still represents a relevant risk and a current threat for patients with T1DM and their families.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 11, 40138, Bologna, Italy

    G. Maltoni MD, S. Zucchini, M. Scipione, A. Rollo, C. Balsamo, C. Bertolini, F. Baronio, R. Rondelli & A. Pession

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  1. G. Maltoni MD
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  2. S. Zucchini
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  3. M. Scipione
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  4. A. Rollo
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  5. C. Balsamo
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  6. C. Bertolini
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  7. F. Baronio
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  8. R. Rondelli
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Correspondence to G. Maltoni MD.

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Maltoni, G., Zucchini, S., Scipione, M. et al. Severe hypoglycemic episodes: A persistent threat for children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus and their families. J Endocrinol Invest 36, 617–621 (2013). https://doi.org/10.3275/8896

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