Utilisation of health care services and patient quality oflife following nocturnal and daytime non-severe hypogycaemic events in people with diabetes in Colombia

258-258Objectives: To study the effect of nocturnal and daytime non-severe hypoglycaemic events on the utilisation of health care services and health-related quality of life in people with diabetes in Colombia. Methods: People with diabetes from five different countries who had experienced a non-severe hypoglycaemic event in the past 4 weeks were asked to take part in a nocturnal (N) and/or daytime (D) hypoglycaemia survey. In the Colombian subgroup, 83 people responded (50 respondents for the nocturnal survey; 50 for the daytime survey). Both surveys were conducted face-toface. All information, including hypoglycaemic events, was self-reported. Results: In the Colombian cohort, respondents’ mean age was 58 years/54 years (N/D), mean weight was 64.3 kg/65.5 kg (N/D), 36%/38% (N/D) were male, 76%/76% (N/D) had type 2 diabetes, and all received treatment with insulin (100%/100% [N/D]). Although 78%/82% (N/D) of respondents considered themselves in good health, almost half had diabetes-related complications (48%/54% [N/D]). Non-severe hypoglycaemic episodes were experienced at least once weekly by 16%/20% (N/D) and at least once a month by 70%/70% (N/D). After a hypoglycaemic event, 0%/24% (N/D) decreased their insulin dose, 32%/40% contacted a health care professional, and, in the following week, they used on average 5/6 (N/D) extra blood glucose strips. The majority of respondents reported a high level of fear of nocturnal hypoglycaemic events (60%/36% [N/D]). One third (32%) reported that a nocturnal event had a high impact on quality of sleep, and one in five (22%) reported that an event highly impacted their social life. Hypoglycaemic events did not severely effect paid work (n=16/15), with 19%/7% (N/D) of respondents reporting arriving at work late or leaving early, and 13%/7% (N/D) missing ≥1 full working day. Conclusions: Nocturnal and daytime non-severe hypoglycaemic events have an impact upon patients’ health-related quality of life and diabetes management in Colombia