RESUMO
AIM: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of hypoglycaemia in subjects with type 1 diabetes (T1D) attending a public health tertiary diabetes clinic in Durban, South Africa. METHODS: Patients with T1D were enrolled at the time of clinic attendance. Data on hypoglycaemia over the previous 12â¯weeks were obtained from glucose meter downloads as well as diary records. Each patient completed the Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey questionnaire as well as an in-house questionnaire on hypoglycaemic episodes in the previous 12â¯months. RESULTS: A total of 151 subjects (58% female, 54% black African) were enrolled. "Any" hypoglycaemia occurred in 144 (95.4%) in the 12â¯months prior to clinic attendance. Of these, "severe" hypoglycaemia occurred in 107 (74.3%) and 22 (20.6%) had five or more severe episodes. The most frequent behavioural change in response to hypoglycaemia was insulin dose self-adjustment and the commonest worry was the possibility of becoming emotionally upset during hypoglycaemia. CONCLUSIONS: In a tertiary diabetes clinic in Durban, South Africa, there was a high frequency of hypoglycaemia in patients with T1D and in the majority, at least one severe episode occurred in the 12â¯months prior to clinic attendance. The results indicate a need for further study and strategies to reduce the frequency and severity of hypoglycaemia.