Impaired Awareness of Hypoglycemia and Severe Hypoglycemia in Drivers With Diabetes: Insights From the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists Nationwide Audit

Abstract

Hypoglycemia is an acute complication in people living with diabetes, with 83% of those with type 1 diabetes experiencing hypoglycemia at least once a month and even higher rates of 5 events per week recorded on continuous glucose monitoring (1). There are limited population-based data on the prevalence of impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH) and severe hypoglycemia (SH) in drivers with diabetes in the U.K. and worldwide. The availability of these data can inform policy decisions and help optimize treatment options for people living with diabetes (2). To understand the prevalence of IAH and SH in drivers with diabetes, we obtained data from the nationwide audit of FreeStyle Libre (FSL), conducted by the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD). Baseline pre-FSL data included demographics, HbA1c values from the previous 12 months, Gold score (3) (to assess hypoglycemia awareness), and SH. Rates of recurrent SH, defined as two or more episodes of hypoglycemia requiring third-party assistance in the 12 months prior to FSL initiation (4), were documented by clinicians. The study consisted of 13,127 adults (aged ≥17 years) with diabetes, and information about driving was available for 4,262 (96% type 1 diabetes) of those (3,210 drivers and 1,052 nondrivers). Of those with a driving license, 3,182 had a group 1 driving license (a license to drive a motor car and a motorcycle), 25 had a group 2 driving …