The Relationship Between Nonroutine Use of Insulin, Food, and Exercise and the Occurrence of Hypoglycemia in Adults With IDDM and Varying Degrees of Hypoglycemic Awareness and Metabolic Control

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine objectively the relationships between changes in the usual amount of insulin injected, food eaten, and exercise performed, and the subsequent occurrence of low blood glucose (<3.9mM) in adults with IDDM and varying degrees of hypoglycemic awareness and metabolic control. Subjects used a handheld computer to record whether their most recent insulin, food, and exercise had been omitted or were greater than, less than, or about the same as usual following every measured blood glucose level of <3.9mM and >5.6mM. Responses for each self-management behavior were compared for the two blood glucose ranges. Food was omitted more frequently prior to a low glucose reading and exercise was omitted more frequently prior to a high glucose reading. More insulin, less food, and more exercise each were associated with low glucose levels. These findings underscore the importance of traditional diabetes education.