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Almost 100 years since the discovery of insulin, hypoglycaemia remains a barrier for people with type 1 diabetes to achieve and maintain blood glucose at levels which prevent long‐term diabetes‐related complications. Although hypoglycaemia is primarily attributable to the limitations of current treatment and defective hormonal counter‐regulation in type 1 diabetes, the central role of psycho‐behavioural factors in preventing, recognizing and treating hypoglycaemia has been acknowledged since the early 1980s. Over the past 25 years, as documented in the present review, there has been a substantial increase in psycho‐behavioural research focused on understanding the experience and impact of hypoglycaemia. The significant contributions have been in understanding the impact of hypoglycaemia on a person's emotional well‐being and aspects of life (e.g. sleep, driving, work/social life), identifying modifiable psychological and behavioural risk factors, as well as in developing psycho‐behavioural interventions to prevent and better manage (severe) hypoglycaemia. The impact of hypoglycaemia on family members has also been confirmed. Structured diabetes education programmes and psycho‐behavioural interventions with a focus on hypoglycaemia have both been shown to be effective in addressing problematic hypoglycaemia. However, the findings have also revealed the complexity of the problem and the need for a personalized approach, taking into account the individual's knowledge of, and emotional/behavioural reactions to hypoglycaemia. Evidence is emerging that people with persistent and recurrent severe hypoglycaemia, characterized by deeply entrenched cognitions and lack of concern around hypoglycaemia, can benefit from tailored cognitive behavioural therapy. What's new?: Since 1995, psycho‐behavioural research has demonstrated the profound psychological effects of hypoglycaemia on people with type 1 diabetes and their families.In addition to diabetes‐related factors, the research has identified modifiable psycho‐behavioural risk factors for recurrent severe hypoglycaemia and potential targets for interventions.Based on a biopsychosocial model of hypoglycaemia, psycho‐educational interventions have been shown to improve a person's symptom awareness, reduce fear, and lower the incidence of severe hypoglycaemia.Effective psycho‐educational interventions deserve to be integrated in routine diabetes care, supplemented with sensor‐based technologies for those in need.Further research is needed using the latest advances in diabetes and data collection technologies to progress understanding of the real‐time impact of hypoglycaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To develop an empirically derived short version of the Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey II that still accurately measures fear of hypoglycaemia. Methods Item response theory methods were used to generate an 11-item version of the Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey from a sample of 487 people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subsequently, this scale was tested on a sample of 2718 people with Type 1 or insulin-treated Type 2 diabetes taking part in DIALOG, a large observational prospective study of hypoglycaemia in France. Results The short form of the Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey II matched the factor structure of the long form for respondents with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, while maintaining adequate internal reliability on the total scale and all three subscales. The two forms were highly correlated on both the total scale and each subscale (Pearson's R > 0.89). Conclusions The short form of the Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey II is an important first step in more efficiently measuring fear of hypoglycaemia. Future prospective studies are needed for further validity testing and exploring the survey's applicability to different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes technology is rapidly advancing toward fully automated glucose control systems, but little is known about patient perspectives on these systems. This study aimed to gather qualitative and quantitative data on patient attitudes and concerns about using a personalized glucose advisory system (PGASystem) for diabetes management.Subjects and Methods: Fifty-six adults with type 1 diabetes on insulin pump therapy participated in focus group interviews following use of an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring for 4 weeks in a parent study to develop a PGASystem. Focus groups were transcribed and coded for thematic content.Results: All participants endorsed the desire to use a PGASystem, and the majority wanted advice from the system on all aspects of insulin delivery. However, participants indicated that they might be reluctant to follow such advice because of the following concerns: how the advice was generated, relinquishing control to automated technology, and inadequate personalization of the system. Participants believed the system would need to consider numerous factors related to their food, activities, and other personal information to provide optimally individualized advice. The majority also reported difficulties with behavioral event recording on their insulin pumps, and approximately one-third endorsed difficulty with accurate carbohydrate counting.Conclusions: Adults with type 1 diabetes appear to be enthusiastic about using a PGASystem system for their diabetes management but also have significant concerns affecting their overall willingness to follow such a system's advice. Addressing these concerns will be crucial in the future development of glucose advisory and control technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hypoglycemia-related neuroglycopenia disrupts cognitive-motor functioning, which can impact driving safety. Retrospective studies suggest that drivers with type 1 diabetes experience more collisions and citations than their nondiabetic spouses. We present the first prospective data documenting the occurrence of apparent neuroglycopenia-related driving performance impairments.Research Design and Methods: We completed the initial screening of 452 drivers from three geographically diverse centers who then reported monthly occurrences of driving "mishaps," including collisions, citations, losing control, automatic driving, someone else taking over driving, and moderate or severe hypoglycemia while driving.Results: Over 12 months, 52% of the drivers reported at least one hypoglycemia-related driving mishap and 5% reported six or more. These mishaps were related to mileage driven, history of severe hypoglycemia, and use of insulin pump therapy.Conclusions: Many individuals with type 1 diabetes report hypoglycemia-related driving events. Clinicians should explore the recent experiences with hypoglycemia while driving and the risk of future events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe hypoglycemia (SH) can be a significant problem for patients around the world with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). To avoid SH, patients need to better manage, and reduce the occurrence of, preceding mild hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia Anticipation, Awareness and Treatment Training (HAATT), developed in the United States specifically to address such issues, was evaluated at short- and long-term follow-up in a medically, economically and culturally different setting; Bulgaria. Sixty adults with T1DM and a history of recurrent SH (20 each from Sofia, Russe, and Varna, Bulgaria) were randomized to Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) or SMBG+ HAATT. For 6 months before and 1 to 6 and 13 to 18 months after intervention, participants recorded occurrence of moderate, severe, and nocturnal hypoglycemia. For 1-month pre- and post-intervention, participants completed daily diaries concerning their diabetes management. Relative to SMBG, HAATT produced significant improvement in occurrence of low BG, moderate, severe, and nocturnal hypoglycemia, and detection and treatment of low BG (p values < .05 to < .001), with no compromise in metabolic control. At long-term follow-up, HAATT participants continued to have significantly fewer episodes of moderate and severe hypoglycemia. These findings suggest that a structured, specialized psycho-educational treatment program (HAATT) can be highly effective in managing hypoglycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study examined the dynamics of postprandial glucose (PPG) and symptoms among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in their natural environment. Using a hand-held computer for 70 trials, 36 adults with T2DM rated symptoms, performed tests, and measured their blood glucose (BG). Results: The mean peak PPG value was 11.3 mmol/L achieved 2-3 hours after meal, while highest symptom ratings and cognitive slowing were observed within the first hour after meal, at a time corresponding to the steepest slope of PPG increase. Thus, we hypothesized that postprandial symptoms maybe related to a higher rate of BG increase, which was confirmed by high correlations (r = 0.5-0.75) between symptom ratings and BG rate of increase. Conclusions: We conclude that postprandial symptom elevation is related to the rate of BG increase, thus treatments designed to limit the magnitude of post-meal BG fluctuation may reduce its symptomatic and cognitive consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The intensive treatment of diabetes to achieve strict glycemic control is a common clinical goal, but it is associated with an increased incidence of hypoglycemia. Becoming hypoglycemic while driving is a hazardous condition and may lead to a greater incidence of driving mishaps. This study investigated whether diabetes is associated with increased risk of driving mishaps and correlates of such a relationship.Research Design and Methods: During routine visits to diabetes specialty clinics in seven U.S. and four European cities, consecutive adults with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and nondiabetic spouse control subjects (n = 341, 332, and 363, respectively) completed an anonymous questionnaire concerning diabetes and driving.Results: Type 1 diabetic drivers reported significantly more crashes, moving violations, episodes of hypoglycemic stupor, required assistance, and mild hypoglycemia while driving as compared with type 2 diabetic drivers or spouse control subjects (P < 0.01-0.001). Type 2 diabetic drivers had driving mishap rates similar to nondiabetic spouses, and the use of insulin or oral agents for treatment had no effect on the occurrence of driving mishaps. Crashes among type 1 diabetic drivers were associated with more frequent episodes of hypoglycemic stupor while driving, less frequent blood glucose monitoring before driving, and the use of insulin injection therapy as compared with pump therapy. One-half of the type 1 diabetic drivers and three-quarters of the type 2 diabetic drivers had never discussed hypoglycemia and driving with their physicians.Conclusions: Type 1 diabetic drivers are at increased risk for driving mishaps, but type 2 diabetic drivers, even on insulin, appear not to be at a higher risk than nondiabetic individuals. Clinical and treatment factors appear to increase risk, e.g., more frequent hypoglycemia while driving, method of insulin delivery, and infrequent self-testing before driving. Physicians are encouraged to talk to their type 1 diabetic patients about hypoglycemia and driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Blood glucose awareness training (BGAT) has been shown to improve awareness of blood glucose (BG) fluctuations among adults with type 1 diabetes. This study investigates the long-term (12-month) benefits of BGAT-2.Research Design and Methods: A total of 73 adults with type 1 diabetes participated in a 6-month repeated baseline design with a 12-month follow-up. At 6 months and 1 month before BGAT-2 and at 1,6, and 12 months after BGAT-2, subjects used a handheld computer for 50 trials and completed psychological tests. Throughout assessment, subjects completed diaries, recording occurrences of diabetic ketoacidosis, severe hypoglycemia, and motor vehicle violations During follow-up, 50% of the subjects received booster training.Results: During the first and last halves of both the baseline period and the follow-up period, dependent variables were generally stable. However, from baseline to follow-up, BGAT-2 led to 1) improved detection of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia; 2) improved judgment regarding when to lower high BG, raise low BG, and not drive while hypoglycemic; 3) reduction in occurrence of diabetic ketoacidosis, severe hypoglycemia, and motor vehicle violations; and 4) improvement in terms of worry about hypoglycemia, quality of life, and diabetes knowledge. Reduction in severe hypoglycemia was not associated with a worsening of metabolic control (HbA1). The presence or absence of booster training did not differentially affect these benefits.Conclusion: BGAT has sustained broad-ranging benefits, independent of booster intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]