Managing hypoglycemia in children: what the clinician needs to know before advising parents

Abstract

SUMMARY Hypoglycemia is one of the most common acute complications of Type 1 diabetes. The risk of recurrent and severe hypoglycemia causes significant anxiety and emotional morbidity for patients and families and is a limiting factor in achieving optimal glycemic control. Managing hypoglycemia in children requires an understanding of the physiological differences in children and adolescents and the effects of clinical precipitants such as exercise and sleep. Current therapies, such as analog insulins and sensor-augmented pump therapy with insulin suspension, offer the potential to improve the incidence and duration of hypoglycemia in children.