Symptoms of hypoglycaemia in people with diabetes

The symptoms of hypoglycaemia are fundamental to the early detection and tr eatment of this side-effect of insulin and oral hypoglycaemic therapy in pe ople with diabetes. The physiology of normal responses to hypoglycaemia is described and the importance of symptoms of hypoglycaemia is discussed in r elation to the treatment of diabetes. The symptoms of hypoglycaemia are des cribed in detail. The classification of symptoms is considered and the usef ulness of autonomic and neuroglycopenic symptoms for detecting hypoglycaemi a is discussed. The many external and internal factors involved in the perc eption of symptoms are reviewed, and symptoms of hypoglycaemia experienced by people with Type 2 diabetes are addressed. Age-specific differences in t he symptoms of hypoglycaemia have been identified, and are important for cl inical and research practice, particularly with respect to the development of acquired hypoglycaemia syndromes in people with Type 1 diabetes that can result in impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia. In addition, the routine as sessment of hypoglycaemia symptoms in the diabetic clinic is emphasized as an important part of the regular review of people with diabetes who are tre ated with insulin.