Taking hypoglycaemia seriously: diabetes, dementia and heart disease.

Hypoglycaemia is a common and potentially deadly problem for people with diabetes who are prescribed insulin secretagogues and/or insulin as part of their treatment regimen. This article focuses mainly on type 2 diabetes and considers the incidence, pharmacological causes and definition of hypoglycaemia. It discusses the recently defined relationships between hypoglycaemia and the onset and development of dementia and cardiovascular disease. Hypoglycaemia risk factors are identified and linked to specific characteristics found in the elderly, and information is offered on how to treat hypoglycaemia effectively and avoid repeated episodes.