Diabetes risks of low blood sugar mostly underestimated

Acute hypoglycaemia often involves underestimated dangers
In diabetes threatening health-threatening derailment of blood sugar levels, not only in the form of elevated blood sugar levels, but also in the form of hypoglycemia, the experts said at a press conference on "Unterzucker - underestimated risk of high risk for work and road traffic" in Vienna , Although the problem of high blood sugar levels in diabetics is well known, the more frequent and dangerous complication of diabetes mellitus is hypoglycaemia.

Hypoglycaemia is the most common acute complication of diabetes. By lowering the blood sugar level below a certain value, the brain is no longer sufficiently supplied with the energy supplier sugar, the note in the release to the press conference on Thursday. Experts such as Martin Schaffenrath from the Hauptverband der österreichischen Sozialversicherungsträger (HVB), Professor Bernhard Schwarz from the Center for Public Health of the Medical University of Vienna, Professor Hermann Toplak and Professor dr. Thomas C. Wascher of the Austrian Diabetes Society (ÖDG) and Dr. med. Walter Wintersberger from Spectra Marktforschung informed the conference about hypoglycaemia and its consequences.

The risks of diabetic diabetes are often underestimated. (Image: fovito / fotolia.com)

Limitations of perception to the point of powerlessness
The experts reported that hypoglycaemia not only causes enormous harm to well-being, but moreover often involves underestimated dangers. If the brain can no longer be adequately supplied with the energy source of sugar, this limits the ability to act.

"Above all, dizziness and limited ability to perceive or even fainting have, depending on the respective situation, a considerable potential for a risk to oneself or others", explains Prof. Dr. med. Bernhard Black.

Through extensive education, "awareness" must be created among those affected in order to recognize signs of hypoglycemia in good time and avoid possible risk situations for themselves and the environment. The current press conference is intended to be the starting signal for a large-scale information campaign on the topic of low sugar.

Origin of hypoglycemia
The vice-chairman of the ÖDG, Professor Toplak, describes hypoglycaemia as a "condition in which symptoms develop that result from low blood sugar." Hypoglycemia always sets in when "too much insulin is added in the body there are few nutrients or a combination of both. "Typical symptoms include" difficulty concentrating, confusion, speech problems, drowsiness, drowsiness or blurred vision ". In addition, hypoglycaemia may cause headaches or dizziness. In particular, diabetics who take blood sugar-lowering drugs - especially type 1 diabetics who are treated with insulin - are more affected by hypoglycaemia.

Furthermore, patients with type 2 diabetes who are on medication with insulin or with sulfonylureas have a significantly increased risk of hypoglycaemia.

Customized drug selection required
ÖDG President Professor Wascher explains that as a result of treatment with sulfylureas often therapy-induced, severe hypoglycaemia occur because the insulin levels in the body by the drugs rise. In this case, a choice of therapy, which corresponds to the respective patient situation, must take place taking into account certain influencing factors and possible side effects.

For example, in the selection of antidiabetic drugs for people with impaired renal function, increased attention is needed as the rate of severe hypoglycaemia in advanced renal insufficiency increases. Here, modern substances could help to eliminate the risk as possible, so Wascher.

As a further factor, the age, the profession and, above all, the willingness of patients to handle the medication are generally decisive for drug selection.

Dangers at work and in traffic
Based on a survey of doctors and patients in 2010 and 2015, according to the expert from Spectra Marktforschung, around 40,000 people are affected by hypoglycaemia each year in Austria (around 430,000 diagnosed diseases according to the Austrian Diabetes Report 2013)..

In addition, the survey showed that "six out of ten people remember having experienced one or more hypoglycaemic events during their illness - usually during exercise, during work and also - which can be particularly dangerous - while driving ", Dr. Wintersberger from the Spectra market research. In the job and in the traffic, it is therefore essential for the self-protection and the protection of the environment to recognize the warning signs of hypoglycemia in an emergency and to react properly.

However, there are also those affected, in which changes in consciousness or behavioral problems suddenly and without typical warning signs set, so they can take no countermeasures. Professor Schwarz therefore advises those affected "that it is imperative that they inform each other about the specific risks involved." Supervisors, for example, need to be informed about this in order to minimize the risk of self and other hazards. (Fp)