JDRF Research Highlights Hidden Impact of Diabetes
6 March 2006

A recent survey of people with type 1 diabetes, and parents of children with type 1 diabetes, has highlighted the enormous impact that severe drops in blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) can have. In the past six months, 34 percent of people with diabetes have experienced a 'hypo' so severe that they needed the help of someone else. Furthermore, over the past six months 67 percent of people with diabetes have experienced a hypo during the night.

The survey of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) members highlights that, with over 140,000 Australians living with type 1 diabetes, the impact of hypoglycaemia is huge.

Hypoglycaemia occurs when the body does not get enough fuel in the form of glucose. The effects include shakes, palpitations, sweating, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, visual disturbances and, if untreated, seizures and eventually coma. The results of the survey clearly show that severe and nocturnal hypoglycaemia is a real and ever-present concern for a significant proportion of people with type 1 diabetes.

The survey also showed that hypoglycaemia often causes psychological and sometimes physical harm. Many respondents reported both anxiety and behavioural change due to hypoglycaemia, either by themselves or by their children. The effects can last for hours, days or even weeks.

JDRF CEO, Mike Wilson, said, "The management of type 1 diabetes is a continual trade-off between keeping your blood sugar low enough to reduce the risk of long term complications, and stopping your blood sugar plunging so low that it brings on a frightening and potentially life threatening hypo. The current treatment regime forces families to walk this lifelong tightrope.

"People with type 1 diabetes may see a health professional every three months. For the rest of the time they must manage this chronic condition by themselves. The survey shows how difficult this can be and that insulin is not a cure. There is a continuing need to support new research, technology and products that can help people to live with this devastating disease, and to one day find a cure."

The survey showed that 18 percent of all respondents experienced two or more severe hypos during the past six months. 24 percent of all respondents had as many as five or more night time hypos in that same period.

Type 1 diabetes is the most serious form of the diabetes and occurs when the body loses its ability to produce insulin. Generally striking children and young adults, it makes people dependent on multiple injections of insulin every day. Type 1 diabetes can't be prevented and there is currently no cure. Insulin does not prevent the devastating health consequences of type 1 diabetes which may include blindness, heart disease, kidney failure and amputation due to nerve damage.

ENDS

For further information:
Karolyn Andrews, Media & PR Manager, JDRF
Ph. 02 9966 0400 (x203) or 0403 787 077 | email: kandrews@jdrf.org.au

About JDRF:
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the world's largest not-for-profit supporter of diabetes research, investing $130 million in the search to find a cure for type 1 diabetes each year. JDRF was founded in 1970 by parents of children with type 1 diabetes, a disease which strikes people suddenly, makes them dependent on multiple daily injections of insulin to survive and at risk of devastating health complications like blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and amputation.