Hypoglycemic events can disrupt work productivity for diabetics, survey finds

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — A new survey sponsored by drug maker Novo Nordisk, which polled Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes patients in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and France, found that about 1-in-5 respondents regularly are unable to attend a full day of work due to disruption caused by episodes of dangerously low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemic events.

According to survey results published in the July issue of Value in Health journal, among 1,404 people surveyed ages 18 years and older, about 22.7% said they have arrived late for work or missed a full day of work as a result of a nocturnal hypoglycemic event. Meanwhile, 18.3% of people have had to leave work early or miss a full day if they experienced a hypoglycemic event during work hours.

Hypoglycemic event symptoms often include pounding heart, trembling, hunger, sweating, difficulty concentrating or confusion. What's more, diabetics that are treated with insulin can experience one to three events per month, researchers noted.

The complete study can be found online at Valueinhealthjournal.com.