Conversations and Reactions Around Severe Hypoglycemia (CRASH) Study: Results From People With Diabetes and Caregivers in the United States

Barriers and solutions for the management of severe hypoglycaemia in people with diabetes in Spain: A Delphi survey

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Severe hypoglycaemia (SH) imposes a significant burden for people with diabetes (PwD), their caregivers (CGs), and the healthcare system. The study aimed to identify barriers and solutions in the management of SH in PwD in Spain, gathering consensus from physicians and nurses.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Expert opinion from physicians and nurses who manage PwD was collected via a 2-round online Delphi method. Consensus was predefined as ≥ 70% of the panellists agreeing or disagreeing with the statement.

RESULTS

Physicians (n = 25) and nurses (n = 17) reached ≥ 90% consensus on the following barriers for the management of SH: absence of symptoms, cost to the health system, lack of implementation of glucose monitoring devices, lack of patient training to identify and manage SH, and the fear of SH in children and CGs. Main solutions, identified with ≥ 70% consensus, included training, education, and psychological support using diabetes nurse educators and the use of new glucose monitoring technologies and applications.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides valuable insights on the barriers and solutions in the management of SH in Spain. Structured self-management training, the support of diabetes educators, and the use of insulin delivery devices and glucose monitoring technologies is required for the management of SH.

Assessment and prevention of hypoglycaemia in primary care among U.S. Veterans: a mixed methods study

Background

Hypoglycaemia from diabetes treatment causes morbidity and lower quality of life, and prevention should be routinely addressed in clinical visits.

Methods

This mixed methods study evaluated how primary care providers (PCPs) assess for and prevent hypoglycaemia by analyzing audio-recorded visits from five Veterans Affairs medical centres in the US. Two investigators independently coded visit dialogue to classify discussions of hypoglycaemia history, anticipatory guidance, and adjustments to hypoglycaemia-causing medications according to diabetes guidelines.

Findings

There were 242 patients (one PCP visit per patient) and 49 PCPs. Two thirds of patients were treated with insulin and 40% with sulfonylureas. Hypoglycaemia history was discussed in 78/242 visits (32%). PCPs provided hypoglycaemia anticipatory guidance in 50 visits (21%) that focused on holding diabetes medications while fasting and carrying glucose tabs; avoiding driving and glucagon were not discussed. Hypoglycaemia-causing medications were de-intensified or adjusted more often (p < 0.001) when the patient reported a history of hypoglycaemia (15/51 visits, 29%) than when the patient reported no hypoglycaemia or it was not discussed (6/191 visits, 3%). Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was not associated with diabetes medication adjustment, and only 5/12 patients (42%) who reported hypoglycaemia with HbA1c <7.0% had medications de-intensified or adjusted.

Interpretation

PCPs discussed hypoglycaemia in one-third of visits for at-risk patients and provided limited hypoglycaemia anticipatory guidance. De-intensifying or adjusting hypoglycaemia-causing medications did not occur routinely after reported hypoglycaemia with HbA1c <7.0%. Routine hypoglycaemia assessment and provision of diabetes self-management education are needed to achieve guideline-concordant hypoglycaemia prevention.

Funding

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

Incidence rate and risk factors for hypoglycemia among individuals with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes in China receiving insulin treatment

AIMS

We investigated the real-world incidence of hypoglycemic events among patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes (T1DM or T2DM) receiving insulin in routine clinical practice in China.

METHODS

In this observational study, data were collected electronically via the Lilly Connected Care Program (LCCP) electronic system from adults with T1DM or T2DM who had registered on LCCP between 1 February 2019 and 31 January 2022, had used insulin for a full 12-week period following registration. The following outcomes were assessed during the 12 weeks following registration: incidence of level 1 and level 2 hypoglycemia.

RESULTS

In total, 22,752 patients were enrolled. Among patients with monitoring data, over the 12-week study period, level 1 and 2 hypoglycemia were experienced by 48.8% and 25.9% of patients with T1DM and 26.5% and 13.9% of patients with T2DM. The proportion of patients treated with oral anti-diabetes drugs (OADs) capable of producing hypoglycemia (sulfonylurea or glinide) was 1.3% in T1DM and 1.6% in T2DM, respectively. Questionnaire data revealed that up to 92.5% of hypoglycemic events occurred outside of hospital and 18.6% were serious.

CONCLUSIONS

These real-world data collected from Chinese patients with diabetes receiving insulin treatment reveal a relatively high percentage of patients experiencing hypoglycemia, with around one quarter of these events classified as severe and as many as 92.5% occurring outside of a hospital or clinic.

Systematic Literature Review and Indirect Treatment Comparison of Three Ready-to-Use Glucagon Treatments for Severe Hypoglycemia

INTRODUCTION

Ready-to-use glucagon represents a significant advancement in the management of severe hypoglycemia for people with diabetes and their caregivers. This indirect treatment comparison (ITC) evaluated the efficacy and safety differences among the three ready-to-use glucagon treatments, Baqsimi® (nasal glucagon), Gvoke® (glucagon injection) and Zegalogue® (dasiglucagon injection), in adults and children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted to identify randomized clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of Baqsimi, Gvoke or Zegalogue versus reconstituted, injectable glucagon (IG) in reversing insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Bayesian fixed-effect network meta-analysis was used to perform the ITC. Study endpoints included proportion of participants achieving treatment success, maximum blood glucose achieved, time to achieve treatment success and maximum blood glucose and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE).

RESULTS

Ten clinical trials were included in the ITC (four for Baqsimi, three for Gvoke, and three for Zegalogue). All three treatments achieved high proportions of treatment success (> 98%). In adults, the efficacy results from combined T1D and T2D analysis were consistent with the T1D analysis, except statistically significantly faster in achieving treatment success for Baqsimi vs Gvoke in the combined analysis (13.96 vs 14.66 min). The mean maximum blood glucose values were also statistically significantly lower for Baqsimi (168 mg/dl) vs Gvoke (220 mg/dl) and Zegalogue (190 mg/dl). There was a trend towards a lower number of adults experiencing ≥ 1 TEAE with Baqsimi compared to Gvoke or Zegalogue, but no statistical significance was reached.

CONCLUSION

Baqsimi, Gvoke and Zegalogue had comparable high proportions of treatment success in reversing insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Baqsimi achieved a lower mean maximum blood glucose value, which may have implications for the re-establishment of euglycemia. These findings may help support patients, caregivers and health care providers in their decision-making process when discussing various ready-to-use glucagon treatment options.