Hypoglycaemia symptom frequency, severity, burden, and utility among adults with type 1 diabetes and impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia: Baseline and 24-week findings from the HypoCOMPaSS study
Aims
To determine the frequency, severity, burden, and utility of hypoglycaemia symptoms among adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia (IAH) at baseline and week 24 following the HypoCOMPaSS awareness restoration intervention.
Methods
Adults (N = 96) with T1D (duration: 29 ± 12 years; 64% women) and IAH completed the Hypoglycaemia Burden Questionnaire (HypoB-Q), assessing experience of 20 pre-specified hypoglycaemia symptoms, at baseline and week 24.
Results
At baseline, 93 (97%) participants experienced at least one symptom (mean ± SD 10.6 ± 4.6 symptoms). The proportion recognising each specific symptom ranged from 15% to 83%. At 24 weeks, symptom severity and burden appear reduced, and utility increased.
Conclusions
Adults with T1D and IAH experience a range of hypoglycaemia symptoms. Perceptions of symptom burden or utility are malleable. Although larger scale studies are needed to confirm, these findings suggest that changing the salience of the symptomatic response may be more important in recovering protection from hypoglycaemia through regained awareness than intensifying symptom frequency or severity.
Funding
Prevention of recurrent severe hypoglycaemia: a definitive RCT comparing optimised MDI and CSII with or without adjunctive real-time continuous glucose monitoring
Diabetes UK
Find out more...Innovative Medicines Initiative. Grant Number: 777460
National Institute for Health Research
Cambridge National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre
European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme and EFPIA and T1D Exchange, JDRF
International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes (ACBRD)
History
Author affiliation
Diabetes Research Centre, University of LeicesterVersion
- VoR (Version of Record)