Severe hypoglycaemia and cognitive impairment in diabetes

摘要

Two events within the past year have highlighted the question of the possible lasting cerebral effects of repeated severe hypoglycaemia in people with insulin dependent diabetes mel-litus. Firstly, in August 1995, the British Diabetic Association specifically requested research proposals on the cognitive effects of diabetes after their working party on cognitive impairment identified repeated severe hypoglycaemia as one possible cause of (mostly) mild cognitive decrements in some people with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (unpublished data). Secondly, the diabetes control and complications trial has reported no untoward neuropsychological effects of severe hypoglycaemia in patients with insulin dependent diabetes.