Data presented at the recent Diabetes UK Professional Conference shows gaps in patients’ understanding about the potential side effects of treatments for type 2 diabetes, such as hypoglycaemia.
The survey of 1,012 people with type 2 diabetes was carried out by pharmacists across the UK with patients collecting a prescription for the type 2 diabetes medication, sulphonylurea (SU). Results showed that over one-third of respondents do not confidently understand the side effects of their diabetes medicine, one of which is hypoglycaemia, often mistaking side effects for the actual disease. According to the survey, half of those surveyed had suffered a hypoglycaemic episode within the last year, of whom 32% reported an episode within the previous two months; 17% had called the emergency services to treat this, and 17% had been admitted to hospital. Yet only one-third of people stated they could identify the symptoms of a mild hypoglycaemic episode, such as trembling and shakiness, and just one-quarter of participants could recognise symptoms of a severe episode. Commenting on the study findings, Professor Tony Barnett, emeritus professor of medicine and consultant physician, University of Birmingham and Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust and study co-author, said: “It’s really concerning that as many as two-thirds of people with type 2 diabetes on sulphonylureas cannot identify the symptoms of severe hypoglycaemia. The finding that only 38% of patients who self-treated a ‘hypo’ reported the event to their GP is particularly worrying. There is an urgent need for more proactive discussions between healthcare professionals and patients – better and clearer communication will help identify the risk, and hopefully reduce the occurrence of this manageable treatment complication.”
