Type 1 Seniors May Miss Spells of Low Blood Sugar

A study presented at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting suggests seniors with type 1 diabetes might have difficulty avoiding low blood sugar, with many subjects older than 60 potentially experiencing up to 100 minutes of low blood sugar daily without realizing it, reports WebMD . Any blood sugar reading below 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) is defined as low blood sugar, and a decline in blood sugar below 54 mg/dL elevates the risk for more serious symptoms. People with diabetes for a long time or who have had recurring low blood sugar are at risk of developing hypoglycemia unawareness. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) warns these individuals no longer experience the warning symptoms of hypoglycemia, adding to their risk of serious low blood sugar. More than 90 percent of 203 study participants older than 60 were white, and slightly more than half wore an insulin pump. Their general diabetes management averaged within the range recommended for older adults by the ADA. Participants spent an average of 72 minutes a day with blood sugar levels of less than 70 mg/dL, and 24 minutes a day at less than 54 mg/dL. Those with hypoglycemia unawareness had low blood sugar levels for even longer periods.