BRIGHTON, England, October 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

- Campaign launches to encourage people who experience day- or night-time hypos to TALK Hypos with their doctor or nurse  

A new survey reports that one-third (32%) of people failed to report night-time hypoglycaemia (or hypos) to their doctor or nurse despite the impact they have on the lives of people living with the condition. Hypos are one of the most common diabetes complications.^[1],[2] Of those who did report, the research shows that one-third felt more confident about managing their night-time hypos (34%).^[1]

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The release of the survey findings coincides with this year's TALK Hypos campaign, which focuses on encouraging people with diabetes to report day- and night-time hypos to their doctor or nurse. TALK Hypos is an awareness campaign from Novo Nordisk, supported by Diabetes UK, which coincides with Hypo Awareness Week (5^th-11^th October 2015).

There are about 3.9 million people living with diabetes in the UK.^[3] Hypos occur when glucose in the blood falls to a low level, and symptoms can include a pounding heart, trembling, hunger, difficulty concentrating and blurred vision.^[4] Symptoms of night-time hypos include waking up with a morning headache, night sweats and extreme tiredness.^[5] Night-time hypos can be of particular concern as they can be unpredictable and hard to detect.^[6]  

Night-time hypoglycaemia can be a regular burden for people with diabetes with approximately two-thirds (66%) of people having experienced a night-time hypo in the month prior to the survey.^[1] Night-time hypos have a significant impact on the lives of people living with diabetes and can lead to absenteeism from work (21%), a loss of productivity at work (12%) and a reduced desire to socialise (13%) and exercise (12%).^[1] Almost half of people (47%) reported that their sleep had been affected by night-time hypos, and one quarter (25%) of people are scared of being alone when experiencing a night-time hypo.^[1]

Worryingly, night-time hypos can also cause physical harm with one in seven people (14%) reporting having sustained an injury while experiencing a night-time hypo.^[1] The survey also found that one-third of people cope by making changes to their treatment (37%) without consulting their doctor or nurse.^[1]

Professor Anthony Barnett, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, University of Birmingham and Consultant Physician Heart of England NHS Foundation, Birmingham, comments: "It is concerning that some patients are not reporting night-time hypos to their doctor or nurse, given the impact on their long-term health and lifestyle. People with diabetes who are experiencing either day- or night-time hypos are encouraged to speak to their doctor or nurse to ensure that they are being appropriately managed."

TALK Hypos provides an acronym to encourage people with diabetes to discuss day- and night-time hypoglycaemia with their doctor or nurse:

• THINK: Do you know what a hypo is? Do you suffer from hypos?
• ASK: your doctor or nurse about hypos and discuss them as part of your consultation
• LEARN: what can be done to better manage your hypos, including lifestyle and treatment options
• KEEP: track of your hypos for discussion with your doctor or nurse

Simon O'Neill, Director of Health Intelligence for Diabetes UK, said, "We encourage all people with diabetes to remember the simple TALK Hypos message and to take steps to better manage their day- and night-time hypos. These steps can include simple changes to lifestyle, diet and treatment so it is very important to discuss hypos as part of the regular consultation with your doctor or nurse."

The TALK Hypos campaign comprises patient education materials and an education video that is hosted on the Novo Nordisk and Diabetes UK websites.

Notes to the editor:  

Talk Hypos is an awareness campaign from Novo Nordisk, supported by Diabetes UK. 

This campaign was initiated and funded by Novo Nordisk. 

The survey was carried out in 500 people with type 1 and 2 diabetes and was commissioned by Novo Nordisk.

To access the TALK Hypos campaign materials via the Novo Nordisk website, please visit: http://www.novonordisk.co.uk/patients/diabetes/talk-hypos.html.

About Novo Nordisk  

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat other serious chronic conditions: haemophilia, growth disorders and obesity. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 39,700 people in 75 countries and markets its products in more than 180 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.co.uk.

About Diabetes UK 

Diabetes UK is the leading UK charity that cares for, connects with and campaigns on behalf of all people affected by and at risk of diabetes. For more information on all aspects of diabetes and access to Diabetes UK activities and services, visit http://www.diabetes.org.uk.

About Changing Diabetes^® 

In 2014, 387 million people in the world are living with diabetes, which is predicted to rise to 592 million in less than 25 years.^[7] Changing Diabetes^® is the Novo Nordisk global commitment to improve conditions for the millions of people who live with diabetes around the world today, and those who are at risk of developing diabetes tomorrow.

About Diabetes 

Diabetes (or diabetes mellitus) is a chronic, life-long condition, which develops when there is too much glucose in the blood due to the body being unable to produce or respond to the hormone, insulin, in the normal way.^[8] In 2015, it was estimated that 3.9 million people are living with diabetes in the UK, and this figure is projected to rise to 5 million by 2025.^[3]

There are two main types of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system destroys the cells that produce insulin. People with type 1 diabetes, therefore, need insulin injections for the rest of their lives. About 10% of all people with diabetes have type 1.^[8],[9]

Type 2 diabetes is where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body's cells do not react to insulin. This is known as insulin resistance. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes can sometimes be controlled by exercise and eating a healthy diet and monitoring blood glucose levels, but if the condition gets worse over time, it may need to be managed by medication.^[8],[10]

UK/CD/0815/0350
Date of preparation: August 2015

References  

1. Novo Nordisk UK data on file. Research into night-time hypos 2015. 

2. Kalra S et al. Hypoglycemia: The neglected complication. Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2013; 17(5): 819-834. 

3. Diabetes UK. Diabetes facts and stats. Available at: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Documents/Position%20statements/Facts%20and%20stats%20June%202015.pdf Last accessed August 2015. 

4. WebMD. Available at: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-hypoglycemia Last accessed August 2015.  

5. Diabetes.co.uk. Nocturnal Hypoglycemia - Night Time Hypos. Available at: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/nocturnal-hypoglycemia.html Last accessed August 2015. 

6. Brunton SA. Nocturnal hypoglycaemia: answering the challenge with long-acting insulin analogs. MedGenMed 2007;9(2):38.  

7. International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas 2014. Available at: http://www.idf.org/diabetesatlas/update-2014 Last accessed August 2015. 

8. Diabetes UK. What is diabetes? Available at: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/What-is-diabetes Last accessed August 2015. 

9. Diabetes UK. What is type 1 diabetes? Available at: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/What-is-diabetes/What-is-Type-1-diabetes/ Last accessed August 2015.  

10. Diabetes UK. What is type 2 diabetes? Available at: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/What-is-diabetes/What-is-Type-2-Diabetes/ Last accessed August 2015.  

For more information, please contact Stephen Cull or Paula Lewis at Novo Nordisk.

UK Media:        

Stephen Cull
+44(0)1293-762-020    
SCUL@novonordisk.com  

Paula Lewis
+44(0)1293-762-103
PLEW@novonordisk.com
 

SOURCE Novo Nordisk