Summary
The present studies were designed to assess the percentage of HbA1c, frequency, and awareness of hypoglycaemia (H) during long-term intensive therapy (IT) of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). From 1981 to 1994, 112 IDDM patients were on IT. HbA1c was 7.17±0.16% (non-diabetic subjects 3.8–5.5%), the frequency of severe H 0.01±0.009 episodes/patient-year, frequency of mild symptomatic H 35.6±2.9 episodes/patient-year. IDDM patients with HbA1c ≤ 5.5% (Group I, n=10), between 6.1–7.0% (Group II, n=12), and ≥ 7.6% (Group III, n=11) were studied to assess responses of counterregulatory hormones, symptoms and cognitive function during experimental, stepped H. Compared to 18 non-diabetic subjects, Group I exhibited high thresholds (plasma glucose had to decrease more than normal to evoke responses), and impaired responses of adrenaline, unawareness of H and delayed onset of cognitive dysfunction at the lowest glycaemic plateau (2.3 mmol/l). Group II had normal thresholds and responses, whereas Group III had low thresholds. Frequency of mild H was higher in Group I (54.5±1.9 episodes/patient-year) than in Group II and III (33.7±3.5 and 20.4±2.5 episodes/ patient-year, respectively, p<0.001) and correlated with percentage of HbA1c (r=−0.82). In conclusion: IT can maintain near-normal HbA1c and is compatible with low frequency of severe H. However, if HbA1c is less than 6.0%, mild, symptomatic H is excessively frequent and causes impaired counterregulation and H unawareness. Efforts should be made not only to maintain HbA1c ≤ 7.0%, but also to prevent, recognize and reverse iatrogenic H unawarenes during long-term IT of IDDM by maintaining HbA1c>6.0%.
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Abbreviations
- IDDM:
-
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
- DCCT:
-
Diabetes Control and Complications Trial
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Pampanelli, S., Fanelli, C., Lalli, C. et al. Long-term intensive insulin therapy in IDDM: effects on HbA1c, risk for severe and mild hypoglycaemia, status of counterregulation and awareness of hypoglycaemia. Diabetologia 39, 677–686 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00418539
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00418539