Revisiting the Relationships Between Measures of Glycemic Control and Hypoglycemia in Continuous Glucose Monitoring Datasets

This analysis (n=448) found a J shaped relationship between hypoglycaemia (HG) and HbA1c, with lower HbA1c associated with increased HG risk. However use of continuous glucose monitoring may weaken this association, allowing for achievement of both lower HbA1c and HG risk.

From their analysis, the authors identified two groups of people at increased risk of HG: those with tight glycaemic control (lower HbA1c and reduced glucose variability) and people with higher HbA1c values and increased glucose variability. They hypothesise that the latter group is more labile and important to recognise (currently those with higher HbA1c levels may not be thought of as at risk for HG).

 

As the results suggest achievement of HbA1c values of 8.1 – 8.6% may be associated with lowest risk of HG, they suggest this could be an initial target range for those with a higher HbA1c and history of severe HG.