title: The psychosocial and financial impact of non-severe hypoglycemic events on people with diabetes: two international surveys.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the impact of nocturnal and daytime non-severe hypoglycemic events on healthcare systems, work productivity and quality of life in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  People with diabetes who experienced a non-severe hypoglycemic event in the 4 weeks prior to the survey were eligible to participate in a nocturnal and/or daytime hypoglycemia survey. Surveys were conducted in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Israel, Mexico and South Africa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 300 respondents were included in nocturnal/daytime hypoglycemia surveys (50/participating country/survey). All respondents with type 1 diabetes and 68%/62% (nocturnal/daytime) with type 2 diabetes were on insulin treatment. After an event, 25%/30% (nocturnal/daytime) of respondents decreased their insulin dose and 39%/36% (nocturnal/daytime) contacted a healthcare professional. In the week after an event, respondents performed an average of 5.6/6.4 (nocturnal/daytime) additional blood glucose tests. Almost half of the respondents (44%) reported that the event had a high impact on the quality of their sleep. Among nocturnal survey respondents working for pay, 29% went to work late, 16% left work early and 12% reported missing one or more full work days due to the surveyed event. In addition, 50%/39% (nocturnal/daytime) indicated that the event had a high impact on their fear of future hypoglycemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that nocturnal and daytime non-severe hypoglycemic events have a large financial and psychosocial impact. Diabetes management that minimizes hypoglycemia while maintaining good glycemic control may positively impact upon the psychological wellbeing of people with diabetes, as well as reducing healthcare costs and increasing work productivity.
authors: Northern Clinical School, E25 - Royal North Shore Hospital, The University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.
authors: Gregory
authors: G
authors: Fulcher
authors: Joelle
authors: J
authors: Singer
authors: Rutila
authors: R
authors: Castañeda
authors: Fadlo
authors: F
authors: Fraige Filho
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Maffei
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Snyman
authors: Meryl
authors: M
authors: Brod
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents
keywords: Daytime; Diabetes; Economics; Healthcare; Nocturnal; Non-severe hypoglycemia; Quality of life; Survey