Hypoglycemia: A Complication of Diabetes Therapy in Children

Hypoglycemia is the most common acute complication associated with the treatment of type 1 diabetes. At the very least, it can be an unpleasant experience for many children, because they begin to experience symptoms such as shakiness and emotional lability when their blood glucose levels fall. Many children and their parents find that hypoglycemia can be a terrifying event because under certain circumstances, more severe hypoglycemia leads to seizures or loss of consciousness and the possible development of permanent brain dysfunction, an uncertain area currently under intense investigation. For these reasons, iatrogenic hypoglycemia remains the major limiting factor in attempts to achieve the glycemic level required to prevent chronic micro- and macrovascular complications.