Hypoglycemia and diabetes: increased need for awareness.

Hypoglycemia is an abnormally low plasma glucose concentration that may expose individuals to potential harm. It is associated with treatment of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes-related hypoglycemia may result in various complications, reduced quality of life, and increased costs. Hypoglycemia, therefore, impacts patient management and must be considered by primary healthcare practitioners at the forefront of diabetes care. This paper reviews the impact of hypoglycemia on patients and healthcare practitioners in the clinical setting. Recognizing hypoglycemia and its risk factors and identifying high-risk patients can assist with prevention and management. Prevention rather than treatment of hypoglycemia is preferable by individualizing glycemic goals, considering hypoglycemia risk factors, and continuing professional support. Education of patients and healthcare practitioners is also a key factor in hypoglycemia prevention. Although several newer-generation therapies and treatment strategies for type 2 diabetes have a lower risk of hypoglycemia than established agents, long-term safety data are currently lacking. Thus, choice of therapy is important, with hypoglycemic risk varying according to drug selection.