scieee Open visual document viewer

Self-reported non-severe hypoglycaemic events in Europe

Östenson, C G,Geelhoed-Duijvestijn, P,Lahtela, J,Weitgasser, R,Jensen, M Markert,Pedersen-Bjergaard, U

Abstract

AIMS: Hypoglycaemia presents a barrier to optimum diabetes management but data are limited on the frequency of hypoglycaemia incidents outside of clinical trials. The present study investigated the rates of self-reported non-severe hypoglycaemic events, hypoglycaemia awareness and physician discussion of events in people with Type 1 diabetes mellitus or insulin-treated Type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: People in seven European countries aged >15 years with Type 1 diabetes or insulin-treated Type 2 diabetes (basal-only, basal-bolus and other insulin regimens) were recruited via consumer panels, nurses, telephone recruitment and family referrals. Respondents completed four online questionnaires. The first questionnaire collected background information on demographics and hypoglycaemia-related behaviour, whilst all four questionnaires collected data on non-severe hypoglycaemic events in the preceding 7 days. RESULTS: Analysis was based on 11 440 respondent-weeks from 3827 respondents. All participants completed the first questionnaire and 57% completed all four. The mean number of events/respondent-week was 1.8 (Type 1 diabetes) and 0.4-0.7 (Type 2 diabetes, with different insulin treatments) corresponding to annual event rates of 94 and 21-36, respectively. A total of 63% of respondents with Type 1 diabetes and 49-64% of respondents with Type 2 diabetes, treated with different insulin regimens, who experienced hypoglycaemic events, reported impaired hypoglycaemia awareness or unawareness. A high proportion of respondents rarely or never informed their general practitioner/specialist about hypoglycaemia: 65% (Type 1 diabetes) and 50-59% (Type 2 diabetes). Overall, 16% of respondents with Type 1 diabetes and 26% of respondents with Type 2 diabetes reported not being asked about hypoglycaemia during routine appointments. CONCLUSION: Non-severe hypoglycaemic events are common amongst people with Type 1 diabetes and insulin-treated Type 2 diabetes in real-world settings. Many rarely or never inform their general practitioner/specialist about their hypoglycaemia and the real burden of hypoglycaemia may be underestimated.

Full text

Resea ch: Complica ions Sel - epo ed non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s in Eu ope C. G. O ¨s enson 1 , P. Geelhoed-Duij es ijn 2 , J. Lah ela 3 , R. Wei gasse 4,5 , M. Ma ke Jensen 6 and U. Pede sen-Bje gaa d 7 1 Depa men o Molecula Medicine and Su ge y, Ka olinska Ins i u e , S ockholm, Sweden, 2 Depa men o In e nal Medicine, Medical Cen e Haaglanden, The Hague, Ne he lands, 3 Depa men o Medicine, Uni e si y o Tampe e, Tampe e, Finland, 4 Depa men o In e nal Medicine, Diakonissen Hospi al Salzbu g, Salzbu g, Aus ia, 5 Depa men o In e nal Medicine, Salzbu g Gene al Hospi al, Pa acelsus Medical Uni e si y Salzbu g, Salzbu g, Aus ia, 6 No o No disk Scandina ia AB, Copenhagen, Denma k and 7 Depa men o Ca diology, Neph ology and Endoc inology, Hille ød Uni e si y Hospi al, Denma k Accep ed 18 June 2013 Abs ac Aims Hypoglycaemia p esen s a ba ie o op imum diabe es managemen bu da a a e limi ed on he equency o hypoglycaemia inciden s ou side o clinical ials. The p esen s udy in es iga ed he a es o sel - epo ed non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s, hypoglycaemia awa eness and physician discussion o e en s in people wi h Type 1 diabe es melli us o insulin- ea ed Type 2 diabe es melli us. Me hods People in se en Eu opean coun ies aged >15 yea s wi h Type 1 diabe es o insulin– ea ed Type 2 diabe es (basal-only, basal-bolus and o he insulin egimens) we e ec ui ed ia consume panels, nu ses, elephone ec ui men and amily e e als. Responden s comple ed ou online ques ionnai es. The i s ques ionnai e collec ed backg ound in o ma ion on demog aphics and hypoglycaemia- ela ed beha iou , whils all ou ques ionnai es collec ed da a on non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s in he p eceding 7 days. Resul s Analysis was based on 11 440 esponden -weeks om 3827 esponden s. All pa icipan s comple ed he i s ques ionnai e and 57% comple ed all ou . The mean numbe o e en s/ esponden –week was 1.8 (Type 1 diabe es) and 0.4–0.7 (Type 2 diabe es, wi h di e en insulin ea men s) co esponding o annual e en a es o 94 and 21–36, espec i ely. A o al o 63% o esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es and 49–64% o esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es, ea ed wi h di e en insulin egimens, who expe ienced hypoglycaemic e en s, epo ed impai ed hypoglycaemia awa eness o unawa eness. A high p opo ion o esponden s a ely o ne e in o med hei gene al p ac i ione / specialis abou hypoglycaemia: 65% (Type 1 diabe es) and 50–59% (Type 2 diabe es). O e all, 16% o esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es and 26% o esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es epo ed no being asked abou hypoglycaemia du ing ou ine appoin men s. Conclusion Non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s a e common amongs people wi h Type 1 diabe es and insulin– ea ed Type 2 diabe es in eal-wo ld se ings. Many a ely o ne e in o m hei gene al p ac i ione /specialis abou hei hypoglycaemia and he eal bu den o hypoglycaemia may be unde es ima ed. Diabe . Med. 31, 92–101 (2014) In oduc ion The goal o diabe es managemen o people wi h Type 1 o Type 2 diabe es melli us is o main ain no moglycaemia so as o educe diabe ic complica ions and he isk o mo ali y; howe e , he in ensi ica ion o he apy o achie e his goal may inc ease he incidence o hypoglycaemic episodes. Hypoglycaemia emains a common and unp edic able side e ec o insulin he apy, and has a nega i e physical and emo ional impac on people wi h diabe es [1]. Hypoglycae- mic episodes a e cha ac e ized as ei he se e e o non-se e e acco ding o whe he assis ance is equi ed om ano he indi idual, o whe he he pe son wi h diabe es can manage he e en alone, espec i ely [2,3]. Non-se e e hypoglycae- mic e en s accoun o 88–98% o all hypoglycaemic e en s Co espondence o: M. Ma ke Jensen. E-mail: mm j@no ono disk.com This pape was p e iously p esen ed as ollows: O ¨s enson CG, Geelhoed-Duij es ijn PH, Jensen MM, Pede sen-Bje gaa d U. Pa ien - epo ed hypoglycaemia in eal-wo ld se ings in se en Eu opean coun ies. ISPOR 15 h Annual Eu opean Cong ess 2012 A277 DB4. This is an open access a icle unde he e ms o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion-NonComme cial License, which pe mi s use, dis ibu ion and ep oduc ion in any medium, p o ided he o iginal wo k is p ope ly ci ed and is no used o comme cial pu poses. 92 ª2013 The Au ho s. Diabe ic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons L d on behal o Diabe es UK. DIABETICMedicine DOI: 10.1111/dme.12261 [4–6] and ha e been shown o a ec unc ioning [7], heal h- ela ed quali y o li e [4,8], heal hca e esou ce use [4] and wo k p oduc i i y [7]. Fu he mo e, hypoglycaemia p esen s a signi ican ba ie o op imum diabe es manage- men , as ea o hypoglycaemic e en s may cause exagge a ed a oidance beha iou and consequen ly subop imum insulin he apy and poo glycaemic con ol [9,10]. Whils he impo ance o educa ion abou he ecogni ion and ea men o hypoglycaemia is acknowledged in he cu en Eu opean Associa ion o he S udy o Diabe es and Ame ican Diabe es Associa ion consensus s a emen [11], he eal-wo ld le els o communica ion be ween heal hca e p o essionals and people wi h diabe es ega ding hypoglycaemia a e no ully unde - s ood. Da a on he equency o hypoglycaemia, speci ically non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s, ou side o clinical ial se ings a e limi ed and a ied [1,5,6,8]. The a iabili y o da a is p obably a ibu able o di e ing s udy popula ions (deg ee o selec ion, Type 1 diabe es and/o insulin- ea ed Type 2 diabe es), a ge s o glycaemic con ol, du a ion o ea men , me hods o da a collec ion and coun y co e age wi hin hese s udies. Ou aim was o in es iga e he eal-wo ld equency o sel - epo ed non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s, le els o impai ed hypoglycaemia awa eness and discussion o hypo- glycaemic e en s wi hin physician consul a ions. We used a mul i-coun y ques ionnai e-based su ey in a la ge non- in e en ional coho o people wi h Type 1 diabe es o insulin- ea ed Type 2 diabe es. The ques ionnai e also explo ed he heal h- ela ed impac and economic bu den o hypoglycaemia, he esul s o which a e o be p o ided in a ollow-on publica ion. Subjec s and me hods The ques ionnai e-based su ey was conduc ed be ween No embe 2011 and May 2012 and ec ui ed esponden s om Aus ia, Denma k, Finland, No way, Sweden, Swi ze - land and he Ne he lands. Responden s we e p ima ily ec ui ed ia exis ing la ge consume panels ha we e es ablished o e lec a ep esen a i e sample o he gene al diabe es popula ion, based on age, gende and o he demo- g aphic cha ac e is ics. Whe e su icien numbe s o espon- den s could no be iden i ied ia consume panels, o he me hods o ec ui men we e ini ia ed, including he use o ad e isemen s on diabe es- ela ed websi es and pa ien associa ion websi es (wi h a link o he sc eene o inclusion in he su ey), ace- o- ace ec ui men , elephone ec ui - men and subsequen e e als om iends/ amily. In addi- ion, some esponden s we e di ec ly ec ui ed a gene al p ac i ione clinics by nu ses who we e asked o iden i y pa icipan s and seek consen o pa icipa ion, be o e p o iding con ac de ails o hose eligible o ake pa in he su ey. All esponden s comple ed a sc eening s age o de e mine eligibili y o s udy inclusion. Be o e s udy en y, esponden s we e unawa e ha he su ey ela ed o hypo- glycaemia. A a ge o 600 esponden s pe coun y was se wi h an expec a ion ha he p obabili y o a hypoglycaemic e en would ha e a 95% CI o 4%. The inclusion c i e ia we e a diagnosis o ei he Type 1 diabe es o Type 2 diabe es om a heal hca e p o essional, cu en insulin ea men and age >15 yea s. In addi ion, esponden s we e equi ed o ead and speak he na i e language o he coun y in which hey esided and ha e an email add ess in o de o comple e he ques ionnai e online. Responden s we e o e ed a small incen i e o comple ion o he en i e su ey (€5–25), in line wi h cu en ma ke esea ch guidelines and o ensu e he e was no undue incen i e o pa icipa e. All esponden s we e anonymous acco ding o he egula ions and p ac ice o he ma ke esea ch go e ning bodies, he Eu opean Socie y o Opinion and Ma ke ing Resea ch [12] and he Eu opean Pha maceu- ical Ma ke Resea ch Associa ion [13]. Eligible esponden s we e in i ed by email o comple e an online ques ionnai e, in ou wa es. They ecei ed in i a- ions o he second, hi d and ou h ques ionnai es 7 days a e hey had comple ed he p e ious ques ionnai e. Ques ionnai es we e adap ed om hose used in a p e ious s udy [7], which had been designed using insigh s collec ed du ing ocus g oups on he impac o hypoglycaemia epo ed by people wi h diabe es [14]. Da a collec ed in he i s ques ionnai e included esponden demog aphics, p e ious expe ience wi h and awa eness o hypoglycaemia, he impac o hypoglycaemia and he numbe o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s and se e e hypoglycaemic e en s. Wha ’s new? •Limi ed da a exis on he equency o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s in people wi h Type 1 o Type 2 diabe es in eal-wo ld p ac ice, as non-se e e hypogly- caemic e en s, by de ini ion, do no equi e heal hca e p o essional in e ac ions (a e no ou inely egis e ed). •The equency o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s in eal-wo ld p ac ice may di e om ha obse ed in clinical ials because o he cha ac e is ics o clinical ial designs. •To ou knowledge, his is he i s s udy epo ing he equency o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s in eal-- wo ld p ac ice in he se en coun ies in ol ed in ou s udy. •Non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s a e common amongs people wi h Type 1 o insulin- ea ed Type 2 diabe es. •Many people wi h diabe es a ely o ne e in o m hei gene al p ac i ione /specialis abou hei hypoglyca- emia and he eal bu den may be unde es ima ed. ª2013 The Au ho s. Diabe ic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons L d on behal o Diabe es UK. 93 Resea ch a icle DIABETICMedicine Responden s we e also asked abou hypoglycaemia- ela ed discussions du ing gene al p ac i ione /specialis consul a- ions. Responden s who had expe ienced a non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en we e asked whe he hey no mally in o med hei gene al p ac i ione /specialis a e hey had had a hypoglycaemic e en . A non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en was de ined as symp oms o hypoglycaemia (e.g. swea ing, shaking, headache) wi h o wi hou a blood glucose measu emen , o a low blood glucose measu emen (≤3.1 mmol/L) wi hou symp oms, ha he indi idual managed wi hou assis ance om ano he pe son. A se e e hypoglycaemic e en was de ined as an e en o low blood glucose le el needing help om a hi d pa y o manage (e.g. help om a amily membe o a heal hca e p o essional, including eme gency oom isi s and hospi aliza ion). Ques- ions also e e ed o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s occu ing du ing he day ime o he nigh - ime (while he esponden was in bed/asleep). The subsequen ques ion- nai es ocused only on he numbe o non-se e e hypogly- caemic e en s and he impac o hese e en s. Comple ion o he su ey in ou wa es p o ided da a o he numbe o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s occu ing o e he pas 4 weeks, whils minimizing he ecall pe iod (i.e. ou 7-day pe iods we e epo ed). The es ima ed o al amoun o ime o comple e all ou ques ionnai es was 35 min. Ques ion- nai es we e comple ed anonymously bu esponses could be acked ac oss he ou wa es by an iden i ica ion numbe assigned a s udy ini ia ion. Limi s o uppe and lowe en y alues we e included wi hin he ques ionnai e o minimize e oneous alues. In addi ion, da a we e cleaned using a logical consis ency check ha allowed he emo al o indi idual answe s o which inco ec calcula ions had been made by a esponden (e.g. whe e longe ea men du a ion han diabe es du a ion was epo ed), o he emo al o he esponden om he en i e analysis in ins ances whe e ype o diabe es was no known o whe e e oneous epo ing o simple demog aphic a iables occu ed (e.g. diabe es du a ion longe han cu en age). The a e o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s was calcula ed using da a om all esponden s who comple ed a leas one wa e o he su ey. The i s ques ionnai e collec ed da a o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s in he las 4 weeks and he las 7 days. All subsequen wa es epo ed only he numbe o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s in he las 7 days, so he es ima ed weekly a es om he 4-week a e p o ided in wa e one could be ma ched wi h he weekly a es epo ed by he ou imes 7-day a es ac oss wa es one, wo, h ee and ou . Annual e en a es we e calcula ed using he subsequen wa e mean e en a e pe esponden -week mul iplied by 52. The ela ionships be ween demog aphic ac o s and he annual a e o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s we e analysed in eg ession models. The con inuous dependen a iable o he annual e en a e was es ima ed by combining wo a iables: he 4-weekly non-se e e hypoglycaemia e en a e and, o esponden s who did no expe ience a hypoglycaemic e en in he p e ious 4 weeks, answe s o he ques ion, ‘How o en do you no mally ha e non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s?’ This analysis used da a collec ed du ing he i s wa e o he su ey. Analysis on Type 1 and Type 2 diabe es was ca ied ou sepa a ely. Reg ession analyses we e conduc ed o he whole s udy popula ion, as he s udy was no designed o c oss-coun y compa isons. The classi ica ion sys em o awa eness o hypoglycaemia was based on a p ospec i ely alida ed s udy by Pede sen- Bje gaa d e al. 2003 [15]. Any esponden who answe ed ‘some imes’ o ‘ne e ’ o he ques ion, ‘Can you eel when you blood suga is low?’ was classi ied as being unawa e o hypoglycaemia, hose who answe ed ‘usually’ we e classi ied as ha ing impai ed awa eness and hose who answe ed ‘always’ we e classi ied as awa e. S anda d desc ip i e me hods (means/pe cen age and s an- da d de ia ions) we e used o epo esul s o esponden s in he ollowing ou g oups: people wi h Type 1 diabe es, people wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-only/long-ac ing insulin-only he apy, people wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-bolus/bo h sho - and long-ac ing insulin he apy, o people wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing ano he o m o insulin he apy. Compa isons we e pe o med using - es s and a P alue <0.05 was conside ed o indica e s a is ical signi icance. Resul s A o al o 3959 esponden s ac oss se en coun ies we e ec ui ed o he s udy and 132 (3.3%) we e excluded as a esul o inadequa e ques ionnai e comple ion. The emaining 3827 esponden s comple ed he ini ial su ey, wi h 76, 66 and 57% comple ing wa es wo, h ee and ou , espec i ely, esul ing in a o al o 11 440 esponden -week eco ds. The demog aphics o esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es and hose wi h Type 2 diabe es a e shown in Table 1 and we e simila ac oss coun ies (da a no shown). Di e ences be ween esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es and esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es we e consis en wi h hose expec ed (age, diabe es du a ion e c.). Age and BMI we e nega i ely co ela ed wi h he annual a e o non–se e e hypoglycaemic e en s (P<0.05). Female gende and du a ion o insulin ea men we e posi i ely co ela ed wi h he annual e en a e (P<0.05). The mean sel - epo ed non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en a e was 1.8 pe esponden -week o esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es and 0.5 o esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es (Table 2). Indi idual coun y da a a e also epo ed in Table 2. Ra es o esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es we e 0.4 ( esponden s ecei ing basal-only/long-ac ing insulin-only he apy), 0.7 ( esponden s ecei ing basal-bolus/bo h sho - and long-ac ing insulin he apy) and 0.5 ( esponden s ecei ing ano he o m o insulin he apy; Table 2). The calcula ed mean annual e en a es we e he e o e 91.0, 20.3, 35.4 and 27.0 in he ou g oups (Table 2). The 94 ª2013 The Au ho s. Diabe ic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons L d on behal o Diabe es UK. DIABETICMedicine Sel - epo ed non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s in Eu ope C. G. € Os enson e al. p opo ion o noc u nal non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s we e sligh ly g ea e in esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es han in esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es: 22% (Type 1 diabe es), 32% ( esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-only/long-ac ing insulin-only he apy), 22% ( espon- den s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-bolus/bo h sho - and long-ac ing insulin he apy) and 27% ( esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing ano he o m o insulin he apy; Table 2). Fou -week non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en a es ecalled by esponden s in ques ionnai e one we e simila o, al hough sligh ly lowe han, hose collec ed o e he ou wa es o he s udy (Table 2). The mean numbe o sel - epo ed se e e hypoglycaemic e en s expe ienced in he las yea was 0.7 o esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es, 0.1 o esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-only/long-ac ing insulin-only he - apy, 0.2 o esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-bolus /bo h sho - and long-ac ing insulin he apy and 0.2 o esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing ano he o m o insulin he apy (Table 2). O e all, 76% o s udy esponden s (87% o esponden s wi h Type 1 and 59–78% o esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es) had p e iously expe ienced a hypoglycaemic e en a any poin (i.e. no jus in he s udy ecall pe iod). In esponden s who had p e ious expe ience o hypoglycaemic e en s, impai ed awa eness was epo ed by 53% o espon- den s wi h Type 1 diabe es, 45% o esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-only/long-ac ing insulin he apy only, 43% o esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-bolus/bo h sho - and long-ac ing insulin he apy and 43% o esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing ano he o m o insulin he apy (Table 3). A u he 10, 19, 6 and 8% we e classi ied as unawa e o each esponden ype, espec i ely. Responden s wi h Type 1 diabe es who we e unawa e had signi ican ly highe a es o non-se e e hypo- glycaemic e en s han hose who we e always awa e (P<0.05; Table 3). Among esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-only/long-ac ing insulin-only he - apy and esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-bolus/bo h sho - and long-ac ing insulin he apy, esponden s wi h impai ed awa eness had signi ican ly highe non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en a es han hose who we e awa e (P<0.05). In esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing ano he o m o insulin he apy, signi - ican ly lowe non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en a es we e obse ed in unawa e esponden s han in esponden s who we e always awa e (P<0.05; Table 3). Signi ican ly highe a es o se e e hypoglycaemic e en s we e epo ed by esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es classi ied ei he as unawa e o as ha ing impai ed awa eness, compa ed wi h awa e esponden s (P<0.05). A high p opo ion o esponden s who had expe ienced a non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s a ed ha hey ‘ a ely’ o ‘ne e ’ in o med hei gene al p ac i ione /specialis abou hei hypoglycaemia: 65% ( esponden s wi h Type 1 Table 1 Responden - ela ed cha ac e is ics Type 1 diabe es Type 2 diabe es Numbe o esponden s, n(%) 1631 (43) 2196 (57) Mean (SD) age*44.3 (14.1) 60.3 (10.7) Gende , emale, n(%) † 722 (44) 735 (33) Educa ion, n(%) ‡ P ima y school 244 (15) 393 (18) High school 808 (49) 1147 (52) Uni e si y (plus PhD. o highe ) 517 (32) 558 (25) O he 62 (4) 98 (5) Mean (SD) BMI*25.87 (4.88) 31.54 (6.39) Smoking, n(%) § Smoke 458 (28) 450 (20) Ex-smoke 418 (26) 1008 (46) Non-smoke 755 (46) 738 (34) Diabe es du a ion, n(%) <2 yea s 20 (1) 41 (2) 2–5 yea s 220 (14) 317 (15) 5–9 yea s 145 (10) 394 (19) 10–14 yea s 197 (13) 546 (26) 15 +yea s 957 (62) 806 (38) Insulin ea men ype, n(%) ¶ Long-ac ing insulin only 134 (8) 812 (37) Bo h sho - and long-ac ing insulin 1058 (65) 942 (43) O he insulin ypes 439 (27) 442 (20) Du a ion o insulin ea men , n(%)** <2 yea s 113 (7) 311 (14) 2–5 yea s 189 (12) 741 (35) 5–9 yea s 136 (9) 394 (18) 10 +yea s 1101 (72) 659 (32) HbA 1c§ Mean mmol/mol (SD); 61 (16.1) 60 (16.9) Na ional Glycohaemoglobin S anda disa ion P og amme%, (SD) 7.7 (1.5) 7.6 (1.5) Medical complica ions, none epo ed, n(%) †† 1036 (64) 1148 (52) *Signi ican nega i e co ela ion wi h yea ly numbe o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s ( o bo h Type 1 diabe es and Type 2 diabe es, acco ding o eg ession analysis; P<0.05). †Signi ican posi i e co ela ion wi h yea ly numbe o non- se e e hypoglycaemic e en s ( o bo h Type 1 diabe es and Type 2 diabe es, acco ding o eg ession analysis; P<0.05). ‡Signi ican (P<0.05) nega i e co ela ion wi h yea ly numbe o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s (Type 2 diabe es only). §No signi ican co ela ion wi h yea ly numbe o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s. ¶Va iable no included in he eg ession analysis. **Du a ion o insulin ea men was co ela ed wi h diabe es du a ion, and hus du a ion o ea men was included in he eg ession analysis. A signi ican posi i e co ela ion was ound be ween du a ion o ea men and yea ly numbe o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s ( o bo h Type 1 diabe es and Type 2 diabe es; P<0.05). ††Medical complica ions we e co ela ed wi h age. Medical complica ions we e no signi ican ly associa ed wi h yea ly numbe o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s, independen o hei associa ion wi h age. Ques ionnai e op ions o medical complica ions included: None, Eye p oblems, Neu opa hy, Ca dio ascula disease, Renal disease, Ampu a ions, O he (please speci y). ª2013 The Au ho s. Diabe ic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons L d on behal o Diabe es UK. 95 Resea ch a icle DIABETICMedicine Table 2 Sel - epo ed, ecalled a es o hypoglycaemic e en s Ra es based on 11440 w epo s om 3827 esponden s To al: N=3827; 11440 w Aus ia: n=553; 1773 w Swi ze land: n=395; 1116 w Denma k: n=601; 1894 w Finland: n=628; 1364 w Ne he lands: n=692; 2456 w No way n=379; 918 w Sweden n=579; 1919 w Mean (SD) sel - epo ed NSHE a e pe esponden pe week* Type 1 diabe es 1.8 (2.3) 1.6 (2.3) 1.4 (1.8) 1.9 (2.4) 1.3 (2.1) 2.0 (2.5) 1.8 (2.2) 2.0 (2.5) Type 2 diabe es: BOT 0.4 (1.1) 0.3 (0.8) 0.4 (0.9) 0.5 (1.5) 0.2 (0.6) 0.5 (1.2) 0.4 (1.0) 0.4 (1.1) Type 2 diabe es: BB 0.7 (1.3) 0.5 (1.1) 0.6 (1.0) 0.7 (1.6) 0.5 (1.1) 0.7 (1.2) 1.0 (1.7) 0.9 (1.7) Type 2 diabe es: O he 0.5 (1.2) 0.4 (0.8) 0.7 (1.2) 0.4 (1.0) 0.2 (0.6) 0.9 (1.7) 0.6 (1.2) 0.4 (0.7) Mean annual calcula ed NSHE a es (52 weeks)* Type 1 diabe es 91.0 84.8 73.3 98.8 67.1 105.0 93.1 106.1 Type 2 diabe es: BOT 20.3 15.1 18.7 23.4 10.4 24.4 20.3 22.4 Type 2 diabe es: BB 35.4 27.6 32.2 38.5 25.0 34.3 50.4 45.8 Type 2 diabe es: O he 27.0 18.7 36.9 21.8 12.5 44.7 29.6 18.7 P opo ion o NSHE ha occu whils sleeping, %* Type 1 diabe es 22 19 20 22 31 13 19 20 Type 2 diabe es: BOT 32 22 49 27 22 33 18 39 Type 2 diabe es: BB 22 22 28 24 33 16 26 20 Type 2 diabe es: O he 27 15 42 38 39 25 11 19 Based on all esponden s comple ing wa e 1, n=3825 Mean (SD) sel - epo ed NSHE 4 week a e † Type 1 diabe es 6.3 (8.2) 5.5 (6.9) 6.0 (7.8) 7.7 (9.3) 4.2 (7.6) 7.9 (9.1) 6.3 (8.0) 7.4 (7.6) Type 2 diabe es: BOT 1.2 (3.2) 0.7 (1.7) 0.8 (1.6) 1.6 (4.3) 0.5 (1.4) 1.5 (4.2) 1.2 (2.1) 1.5 (3.5) Type 2 diabe es: BB 2.6 (5.1) 1.6 (2.4) 2.1 (3.9) 3.1 (6.2) 1.6 (2.9) 3.1 (5.0) 2.5 (3.3) 3.5 (7.9) Type 2 diabe es: O he 1.7 (3.9) 1.3 (2.5) 0.6 (1.3) 1.4 (3.0) 0.8 (1.1) 3.4 (5.7) 2.9 (7.1) 1.5 (2.6) Based on all esponden s comple ing wa e 1, n=3820 Mean (SD) numbe o SHEs in he las yea ‡ Type 1 diabe es 0.7 (2.4) 0.7 (2.1) 0.6 (2.0) 0.6 (2.3) 0.6 (2.0) 0.9 (2.3) 1.0 (3.2) 0.9 (2.8) Type 2 diabe es: BOT 0.1 (0.8) 0.1 (0.5) 0.2 (0.6) 0.1 (0.2) 0.1 (0.3) 0.1 (0.3) 0.2 (0.6) 0.3 (1.6) Type 2 diabe es: BB 0.2 (0.8) 0.2 (0.6) 0.5 (1.4) 0.1 (0.6) 0.1 (0.3) 0.2 (0.9) 0.4 (1.4) 0.1 (0.4) Type 2 diabe es: O he 0.2 (0.8) 0.2 (0.5) 0.3 (1.1) 0.3 (1.3) 0.1 (0.4) 0.2 (0.5) 0.1 (0.3) 0.1 (0.3) w, esponden week; NSHE, non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en ; BOT, basal-only/long-ac ing insulin-only he apy; BB, basal bolus/sho - and long-ac ing insulin he apy; SHE, se e e hypoglycaemic e en ; O he , e.g. mixed insulin. *All esponden -weeks epo ed; includes all esponden s ega dless o whe he comple ing all ou ques ionnai es. †All esponden s comple ing wa e 1 ( wo esponses we e emo ed because o e oneous answe s o his ques ion). ‡All esponden s comple ing wa e 1 (se en esponses we e emo ed because o e oneous answe s o his ques ion). 96 ª2013 The Au ho s. Diabe ic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons L d on behal o Diabe es UK. DIABETICMedicine Sel - epo ed non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s in Eu ope C. G. € Os enson e al. diabe es), 50% ( esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-only/long-ac ing insulin-only he apy), 59% ( espon- den s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-bolus/bo h sho - and long-ac ing insulin he apy) and 53% ( esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing ano he o m o insulin he apy; Table 4). The lowes le el o communica ion was epo ed in he Ne he lands (da a no shown). The p opo ion o esponden s in he Ne he lands who a ely o ne e in o med hei gene al p ac i ione /specialis abou hei hypoglycae- mic e en s was 86% ( esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es), 64% ( esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-only he apy/long-ac ing insulin-only he apy), 77% ( esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-bolus/bo h sho - and long-ac ing insulin he apy) and 79% ( esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing ano he o m o insulin he apy). E en a es o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s we e signi ican ly highe o esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es o Type 2 diabe es who a ely o ne e in o med a physician abou hei non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s (P<0.05). When esponden s we e asked abou opics discussed du ing gene al p ac i ione /specialis consul a ions, 17% (Type 1 diabe es), 28% (Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-only/ long-ac ing insulin-only he apy), 26% (Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-bolus/bo h sho - and long-ac ing insulin he apy) and 21% (Type 2 diabe es ecei ing ano he o m o insulin he apy) o esponden s s a ed ha hei gene al Table 3 Sel - epo ed esponden awa eness o hypoglycaemia and co esponding e en a es in esponden s who had p e iously expe ienced a hypoglycaemic e en Responden s, N=2925* Type 1 diabe es, n=1420 Type 2 diabe es BOT, n=479 BB, n=736 O he , n=290 Can you eel when you blood suga is low? Always awa e,% 36 36 51 49 Impai ed awa eness,% 53 45 43 43 Unawa e,% 10 19 6 8 Mean (SD) NSHE a es o hose esponden s who a e awa e, ha e impai ed awa eness o a e unawa e Always awa e 1.7 (2.3) 0.5 (1.0) 0.8 (1.5) 0.7 (1.4) Impai ed awa eness 1.9 (2.2) 0.6 (1.2) † 0.9 (1.5) † 0.7 (1.2) Unawa e 2.6 (3.0) † 0.4 (1.0) 0.7 (1.1) 0.3 (0.7) † Mean (SD) SHE a es o hose esponden s who a e awa e, ha e impai ed awa eness o a e unawa e Always awa e 0.4 (1.8) 0.2 (0.6) 0.2 (0.9) 0.2 (0.5) Impai ed awa eness 0.8 (1.9) † 0.2 (1.1) 0.2 (0.7) 0.2 (1.2) Unawa e 2.7 (5.2) † 0.1 (0.5) 0.4 (1.0) 0.2 (0.5) BOT, basal-only/long-ac ing insulin-only he apy; BB, basal-bolus/sho - and long-ac ing insulin he apy; O he , e.g. mixed insulin; NSHE, non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en ; SHE,se e e hypoglycaemic e en . *All esponden s who had p e iously expe ienced a NSHE a any poin (i.e. no jus in he s udy ecall pe iod; n=2925). †P<0.05 signi icance agains always awa e. Table 4 Communica ion be ween esponden s and gene al p ac i ione s/specialis s All esponden s, N=3827* Type 1 diabe es, n=1631 Type 2 diabe es BOT, n=812 BB, n=942 O he , n=442 Gene al p ac i ione /specialis did no ask abou hypoglycaemia du ing ou ine appoin men s,%* 17 28 26 21 All esponden s who ha e e e expe ienced a NSHE, N=2925 † Type 1 diabe es, n=1420 Type 2 diabe es BOT, n=479 BB, n=736 O he , n=290 P opo ion o esponden s a ely o ne e in o ming hei gene al p ac i ione /specialis o a hypoglycaemic e en , % † 65 50 59 53 Mean (SD) NSHE a es o hose esponden s communica ing e sus hose who do no ell hei gene al p ac i ione /specialis † Always/Mos ly 1.5 (1.9) 0.4 (0.9) 0.6 (1.0) 0.6 (0.9) Ra ely/Ne e 2.2 (2.3) ‡ 0.6 (1.0) ‡ 1.0 (1.5) ‡ 0.8 (1.2) BOT, basal-only/long-ac ing insulin-only he apy; BB, basal-bolus/sho - and long-ac ing insulin he apy; O he , e.g. mixed insulin; NSHE, non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en . *All esponden s comple ing ques ionnai e one (n=3827). †All esponden s who ha e e e expe ienced a NSHE (n=2925). ‡P<0.05 signi icance. ª2013 The Au ho s. Diabe ic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons L d on behal o Diabe es UK. 97 Resea ch a icle DIABETICMedicine p ac i ione /specialis ‘did no ask abou hypoglycaemia du ing ou ine appoin men s’ (Table 4). Discussion and conclusions This s udy cap u es he sel - epo ed, ecalled a es o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s and se e e hypoglycaemic e en s in bo h people wi h Type 1 diabe es and hose wi h insulin- ea ed Type 2 diabe es, and shows ha hypoglycae- mic e en s emain a common ad e se e en o insulin he apy in bo h g oups. The majo i y o he published li e a u e on hypoglycaemic e en a es includes only people wi h Type 1 diabe es, o is ocused on epo ing se e e hypoglycaemic e en s only, and may no adequa ely e lec he equency o hypoglycaemic e en s (especially non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s) ac oss he insulin- ea ed diabe es popula ion. In con as , he p esen s udy explo ed he equency o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s and se e e hypoglycaemic e en s in people wi h Type 1 diabe es and people wi h insulin- ea ed Type 2 diabe es ac oss se en Eu opean coun ies. The ecalled a es o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s o esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es (1.8 pe esponden , pe week) in his s udy a e compa able wi h esul s om h ee p e iously conduc ed s udies in No he n Eu ope, which epo ed non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en a es o 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 pe esponden , pe week [6,16,17]. Ra es o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s o esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es in he cu en s udy a e highe han hose epo ed in a p ospec i e single-cen e s udy in Sco land, UK (0.4–0.7 s 0.3 pe esponden , pe week) bu his a ia ion may be a ibu able o di e ences in he geog aphical egion, Type 2 diabe es ea men egimen, and s udy sample size, o he way in which hypoglycaemic e en s had been de ined [5]. Hypo- glycaemic e en s occu ed less equen ly in esponden s wi h insulin- ea ed Type 2 diabe es compa ed wi h esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es, and p e ious s udies sugges he equency o se e e hypoglycaemic e en s in Type 2 diabe es o be app oxima ely one- hi d o ha expe ienced by people wi h Type 1 diabe es [5,18]. The esul s epo ed in he p esen s udy o se e e hypoglycaemic e en s a e consis en wi h his end (Type 1 diabe es 0.7; Type 2 0.1–0.2) and sugges a simila a io o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s (Type 1 diabe es 1.8; Type 2 0.4–0.7). I should be no ed ha he equency o hypoglycaemic e en s in esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es a ies acco ding o he ea men egimen (basal-only/long-ac ing insulin-only he apy, basal-bolus/ bo h sho - and long-ac ing insulin he apy, o ano he o m o insulin he apy); howe e , his was o be expec ed gi en he di e en insulin co e age hey p o ide [11]. O e all, noc u nal e en s ep esen ed be ween one qua e and one hi d o all non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s. In he p esen s udy, he p opo ion o o e all non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s occu ing a nigh was 22% ( espon- den s wi h Type 1 diabe es), 32% ( esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-only/long–ac ing insulin-only he - apy), 22% ( esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing basal-bolus/bo h sho - and long-ac ing insulin he apy), and 27% ( esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ecei ing ano he o m o insulin he apy). Few o he s udies ha e epo ed a es o noc u nal e en s, al hough he p opo ion o noc u nal e en s would be expec ed o a y be ween insulin egimens. In he p esen s udy, we in es iga ed le els o hypoglyca- emia awa eness and epo ed 10% (Type 1 diabe es) and 6–19% (Type 2 diabe es) o esponden s o be classi ied as unawa e and 53% (Type 1 diabe es) and 43–45% (Type 2 diabe es) o ha e impai ed awa eness o hypoglycaemia (based on esponden s wi h expe ience o hypoglycaemic e en s). A compa able p opo ion o esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es we e ound o ha e impai ed awa eness (47%) o be classi ied as unawa e (13%) in a 1-yea p ospec i e s udy ha used he alida ed ques ion, ‘Do you ecognise symp- oms when you ha e a hypo?’ [15]. Fu he mo e, a c oss- sec ional s udy in a coho o 401 people wi h Type 2 diabe es, also using his ques ion, epo ed a simila p opo - ion o esponden s wi h impai ed awa eness (46%) o ha in he cu en s udy (43–45%) [18]. The e is no consensus on how o classi y awa eness, bu ou me hod bene i s om he use o h ee ca ego ies (ins ead o wo, ‘awa e’ o ‘unawa e’, as in he Cla ke e al. [19] and Gold e al. [20] me hods), which enables iden i ica ion o he g adual loss o awa eness. In addi ion, i is he only me hod p o en o pe o m simila ly ac oss language ba ie s [21]. Some conside a ion should be gi en o he di e en esponden demog aphics wi hin he cu en s udy. Fo example, symp oms o hypoglycaemia ha e been shown o decline wi h inc easing age and he p e alence o impai ed awa eness o hypoglycaemia is epo ed o inc ease wi h du a ion o Type 1 diabe es [6]; esul s may be con ounded by hese ac o s. In addi ion, he s udy by Ak am e al. [18] epo ed impai ed awa eness o hypoglycaemia o be he mos impo an isk ac o o se e e hypoglycaemia. Resul s o he cu en s udy show ha esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es classi ied as unawa e o as ha ing impai ed awa e- ness o hypoglycaemia epo ed signi ican ly highe a es (P<0.05) o se e e hypoglycaemic e en s han esponden s who we e always awa e. Unawa e esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es also epo ed signi ican ly highe a es o non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s compa ed wi h awa e esponden s (P<0.05). This could be explained by unawa e esponden s ailing o ake ac ion o p e en he onse o an e en because o an inabili y o ecognize he symp oms o low blood suga . Addi ionally, his inabili y may cause esponden s o o e - compensa e by es ing hei blood glucose mo e equen ly, esul ing in he iden i ica ion o mo e e en s; howe e , his is an a ea ha equi es u he in es iga ion, especially as hese ends we e no obse ed in esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es. An impo an inding o he cu en s udy was he high p opo ion o esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es (65%) and 98 ª2013 The Au ho s. Diabe ic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons L d on behal o Diabe es UK. DIABETICMedicine Sel - epo ed non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s in Eu ope C. G. € Os enson e al. Type 2 diabe es (50–59%) who a ely o ne e in o med hei gene al p ac i ione /specialis abou hei hypoglycae- mic e en s. Despi e hese esul s, only 17% o esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es and 21–28% o esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es said ha hei gene al p ac i ione /specialis did no ask hem abou hypoglycaemia du ing ou ine appoin - men s, sugges ing some le el o communica ion ega ding hypoglycaemic e en s is aking place. The eluc ance o people wi h diabe es o discuss hei hypoglycaemia may be caused by wide ac o s such as conce ns ega ding d i ing p i ileges [9], implica ions o employmen , o ea ha hey may be pe cei ed by hei gene al p ac i ione /specialis o ha e poo con ol o hei diabe es. Fu he esea ch is needed o unde s and he easoning behind why people may no ac i ely be epo ing hei hypoglycaemic e en s. Along wi h discussions on he equency o non-se e e hypoglycae- mic e en s and se e e hypoglycaemic e en s, o he impo an aspec s such as impai ed hypoglycaemia awa eness [18] and ea o hypoglycaemia [9,10] should be add essed, gi en ha hese a e associa ed wi h an inc eased isk o se e e hypoglycaemic e en s [18] and a isk o subop imum glycaemic con ol [9,10], espec i ely. An oppo uni y exis s o mo e s anda dized measu es o hese sel - epo ed ou - comes, which may also help o imp o e unde s anding o people wi h diabe es, and imp o e communica ion le els. Wi h he endo semen by bo h he Ame ican Diabe es Associa ion and he Eu opean Associa ion o he S udy o Diabe es o educa ion ega ding ecogni ion and ea men o hypoglycaemia [11], i is hoped ha communica ion be ween people wi h diabe es and hei physicians will inc ease u he . Whils g ea e educa ion could be expec ed o imp o e blood glucose managemen , he e will s ill be an unde lying inc ease in hypoglycaemic complica ions as insu- lin ea men egimens a e in ensi ied o e ime [1]. This is suppo ed by ou cu en eg ession analysis, whe e he numbe o non-se e e e en s inc eased wi h du a ion o insulin ea men . The equency o hypoglycaemic e en s epo ed du ing andomized ials, such as he Diabe es Con ol and Com- plica ions T ial [22], and he Uni ed Kingdom P ospec i e Diabe es S udy [23], may no be e lec i e o he incidence in eal-wo ld p ac ice because o ial inclusion and exclusion c i e ia and because obse a ional s udies ha e epo ed a highe incidence o hypoglycaemic e en s in unselec ed popula ions [1]. In addi ion, he e a e key bene i s o ob aining da a di ec ly om people wi h diabe es, pa icu- la ly since a high numbe o hem a e no epo ing non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s o hei doc o . I is impo an ha he limi a ions o his s udy a e conside ed. Responden demog aphics show ha 8% o esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es ecei e long-ac ing insulin-only he apy. I is likely ha his igu e may be he esul o inco ec epo ing o diabe es ype by esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es. As a esul , gi en ha esponden s wi h Type 2 diabe es ha e ewe hypoglycae- mic e en s, ou s udy may unde es ima e he equency o e en s o esponden s wi h Type 1 diabe es. The su ey is based upon he ecall o bo h se e e hypoglycaemic e en s and non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s and he in e p e a ion o symp oms is open o bias. A p e ious s udy showed ha a esponden ’s abili y o emembe non-se e e hypoglycae- mic e en s du ing he p e ious week was no signi ican ly di e en om he p ospec i e eco ding o e en s o e 1 week [6]. The cu en s udy was he e o e designed o maximize he op imum ecall pe iod, by asking esponden s o eco d e en s occu ing in he p e ious week o each o he ou ques ionnai es o e 4 consecu i e weeks. Also, a p e ious s udy has shown ha people wi h Type 1 diabe es and people wi h Type 2 diabe es a e able o accu a ely ecall se e e hypoglycaemic e en s wi hin a 1-yea pe iod (co esponding o he ecall pe iod in he cu en s udy) [15]. The e is also he po en ial ha he du a ion o he s udy may o e - o unde es ima e he annual equency o hypoglycaemia, gi en ha seasonal a ia ion was no conside ed ( he s udy was conduc ed Decembe –May). The ec ui men o esponden s, mos ly ia online panels and he equi emen o an email add ess in o de o pa icipa e in he s udy could ha e in oduced selec ion bias; howe e , he in e ne pene a ion a es o all o he coun ies s udied a e high (80–97%) [24]. The anonymous na u e o he online panel may allow a be e means o ob aining sel - epo ed da a on a eas such as communica- ion le els wi h physicians. Rec ui men was ia b oad panels e lec i e o he gene al popula ion and esponden s we e in i ed ia email o pa icipa e in he su ey by ollowing a link, and we e no in o med ha he su ey was abou hypoglycaemia be o e hey clicked on he link o en e he su ey. The e a e he e o e no easons o sugges any selec ion bias owa ds people s uggling wi h hypo- glycaemia in he i s wa e o he s udy; howe e , since he esponse a es o subsequen wa es diminished (76, 66 and 57% o esponden s comple ed wa es wo, h ee and ou , espec i ely) we canno exclude he possibili y ha la e wa es we e comple ed by esponden s who had mo e expe ience o hypoglycaemic e en s. Ne e heless, a sub- sequen analysis compa ing e en a es o he di e en wa es did no sugges any ends owa ds highe equency in la e wa es. The a ge ec ui men a e o 600 espon- den s pe coun y was no eached in Aus ia, No way and Swi ze land because o di icul ies in accessing people wi h diabe es; howe e , esul s we e ema kably consis en ac oss he coun ies. Some esponden s did no comple e all ou wa es, bu only small changes in he non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en a es (1.09 in wa e 1 o 0.93 in wa e 4) we e seen when compa ing da a ac oss wa es. This was a desc ip i e s udy, he e o e, ew compa isons we e explo ed and no adjus men s we e made o mul iple c oss-coun y compa isons; howe e , a ia ions in non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en a es ac oss coun ies we e 1.3–2.0 pe esponden , pe week in Type 1 diabe es, and ª2013 The Au ho s. Diabe ic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons L d on behal o Diabe es UK. 99 Resea ch a icle DIABETICMedicine 0.2–1.0 pe esponden , pe week in Type 2 diabe es (0.2–0.5 in Type 2 diabe es esponden s ecei ing basa- l-only/long-ac ing insulin-only he apy, 0.5–1.0 in Type 2 diabe es esponden s ecei ing basal-bolus/bo h sho - and long-ac ing insulin he apy and 0.2–0.9 in Type 2 diabe es esponden s ecei ing ano he o m o insulin he apy). This migh e lec o he demog aphic di e ences which we e no cap u ed, such as local di e ences in ea men egimens, di e en pa ien educa ion le els o a ge s o glycaemic con ol. Addi ionally, he ec ui men me hod does no di e en ia e be ween p ima y and seconda y ca e pa ien s, which may also ha e an impac . Despi e hese limi a ions, he p esen s udy epo s he eal-wo ld a es o hypoglycaemic e en s in a la ge numbe o people wi h Type 1 diabe es and people wi h Type 2 diabe es ac oss se en Eu opean coun ies and p o ides e idence o a need o minimize he equency o hypo- glycaemia. I is acknowledged ha bo h se e e and non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s a e mo e equen in people wi h Type 1 diabe es, bu he associa ed social and economic bu den o e en s in people wi h Type 2 diabe es is likely o be subs an ial gi en he global epidemic o Type 2 diabe es [25]. Hypoglycaemia p esen s a ba ie o op imum glycaemic con ol, inc easing he isk o diabe ic complica ions and mo ali y; he e o e, discussion du ing physician consul a ions and educa ion on he ecogni ion and ea men o hypoglycaemic e en s o people wi h diabe es a e impe a i e o encou age g ea e communica- ion wi h physicians. Funding sou ces This s udy was unded by No oNo disk. Compe ing in e es s R. Wei gasse has ecei ed hono a ia o lec u es and as a membe o he Ad iso y Boa d o No o No disk, Eli Lilly, Sano i, No a is, Med onic, MSD, Takeda, As a Zeneca/ BMS, Boeh inge -Ingelheim and Roche Diagnos ics. J. Lah ela has ecei ed hono a ia as a symposium speake o No a is, Sano i, No o No disk, MSD symposia. C. G. € Os enson has ecei ed hono a ia as a symposium speake o No o No disk Scandina ia. P. Geelhoed-Duij es ijn has ecei ed hono a ia o lec u es om No o No disk and as a membe o he Ad iso y Boa ds o Med onic, Sano i A en is and Elli Lilly. U. Pede sen-Bje gaa d has ecei ed hono a ia o lec u es and consul ancy om No o No disk, Sano i A en is, and BMS and has se ed as a membe o Ad iso y Boa d o No o No disk. M. Ma ke Jensen is employed by No o No disk Scandina ia AB. Acknowledgemen s Edi o ial suppo was p o ided by Adelphi Values. Re e ences 1 UK Hypoglycaemia S udy G oup. Risk o hypoglycaemia in ypes 1 and 2 diabe es: e ec s o ea men modali ies and hei du a ion. Diabe ologia 2007; 50: 1140–1147. 2 Eu opean Medicines Agency Commi ee o Medical P oduc s o Human Use (CHMP). Guidelines on clinical in es iga ion o medical p oduc s in he ea men o p e en ion o diabe es melli us. Eu opean Medicines Agency, 2012. A ailable a h p:// www.ema.eu opa.eu/ema/index.jsp?cu l=pages/includes/documen / documen _de ail.jsp?webCon en Id=WC500129256&mid=WC0b01 ac058009a3dc Las accessed 5 July 2013. 3 Ame ican Diabe es Associa ion Wo kg oup on Hypoglycemia. De ining and Repo ing Hypoglycemia in Diabe es. Diabe es Ca e 2005; 28: 1245–1249. 4 Da is RE, Mo issey M, Pe e s JR, Wi up-Jensen K, Kennedy-Ma in T, Cu ie CJ. Impac o hypoglycaemia on quali y o li e and p oduc i i y in ype 1 and ype 2 diabe es. Cu Med Res Opin 2005; 21: 1477–1483. 5 Donnelly LA, Mo is AD, F ie BM, Ellis JD, Donnan PT, Du an R, e al. F equency and p edic o s o hypoglycaemia in Type 1 and insulin- ea ed Type 2 diabe es: a popula ion-based s udy. Diabe Med 2005; 22: 749–755. 6 P amming S, Tho s einsson B, Bend son I, Binde C. Symp oma ic hypoglycaemia in 411 ype 1 diabe ic pa ien s. Diabe Med 1991; 8: 217–222. 7 B od M, Ch is ensen T, Thomsen TL, Bushnell DM. The impac o non-se e e hypoglycemic e en s on wo k p oduc i i y and diabe es managemen . Value Heal h 2011; 14: 665–671. 8 Lundk is J, Be ne C, Bolinde B, Jonsson L. The economic and quali y o li e impac o hypoglycemia. Eu J Heal h Econ 2005; 6: 197–202. 9 Wild D, on MR, B ohan E, Ch is ensen T, Clauson P, Gonde -F ede ick L. A c i ical e iew o he li e a u e on ea o hypoglycemia in diabe es: Implica ions o diabe es managemen and pa ien educa ion. Pa ien Educ Couns 2007; 68:10–15. 10 Lei e LA, Yale JF, Chiasson JL, Ha is S, Kleins i e P, Sau iol L. Assessmen o he Impac o Fea o Hypoglycemic Episodes on Glycemic and Hypoglycemia Managemen . Can J Diabe es 2005; 29:1–7. 11 Inzucchi SE, Be gens al RM, Buse JB, Diaman M, Fe annini E, Nauck M, e al. Managemen o hype glycaemia in ype 2 diabe es: a pa ien -cen ed app oach. Posi ion s a emen o he Ame ican Diabe es Associa ion (ADA) and he Eu opean Associ- a ion o he S udy o Diabe es (EASD). Diabe ologia 2012; 55: 1577–1596. 12 Wo ld ESOMAR Resea ch. ICC/ESOMAR In e na ional Code on Ma ke and Social Resea ch 2012. In e na ional Chambe o Comme ce (ICC), 2007. A ailable a : h p://www.esoma .o g/ uploads/public/knowledge-and-s anda ds/codes-and-guidelines/ICC ESOMAR_Code_English_.pd Las accessed 5 July 2013. 13 Eu opean Pha maceu ical Ma ke Resea ch Associa ion. Code o Conduc 1997. A ailable a h p://www.ephm a.o g/p o essional- s anda ds/m -code-o -conduc .aspx Las accessed 5 July 2013. 14 B od M, Pohlman B, Wolden M, Ch is ensen T. Non-se e e noc u nal hypoglycemic e en s: expe ience and impac s on pa ien unc ioning and well-being. Qual Li e Res [ahead o p in ] 2012. 15 Pede sen-Bje gaa d U, P amming S, Tho s einsson B. Recall o se e e hypoglycaemia and sel -es ima ed s a e o awa eness in ype 1 diabe es. Diabe es Me ab Res Re 2003; 19: 232–240. 16 Pede sen-Bje gaa d U, P amming S, Helle SR, Wallace TM, Rasmussen AK, Jo gensen HV, e al. Se e e hypoglycemia in 1076 adul pa ien s wi h ype 1 diabe es: in luence o isk ma ke s and selec ion. Diabe es Me ab Res Re 2004; 20: 479–486. 17 K is ensen PL, Hansen LS, Jespe sen MJ, Pede sen-Bje gaa d U, Beck-Nielsen H, Ch is iansen JS, e al. Insulin analogues and se e e 100 ª2013 The Au ho s. Diabe ic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons L d on behal o Diabe es UK. DIABETICMedicine Sel - epo ed non-se e e hypoglycaemic e en s in Eu ope C. G. € Os enson e al.