Clinical Case Study

Self-destructive behavior – a case of recurrent severe hypoglycemia

Professor Simon Heller, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK

Diabetic Hypoglycemia January 2010, Volume 2, Issue 3: page 17-18

Abstract

This case study discusses a 32-year old woman with a 15-year history of type 1 diabetes, who was experiencing a severe form of impaired awareness of hypoglycemia. The patient appeared unconcerned by the recurrent severe hypoglycemia episodes that she was experiencing. When she attended a diabetes clinic it became apparent that the main cause of these episodes was her relentless pursuit of completely normal blood glucose values, due to a fear of diabetic complications. The patient refused to see a psychologist or to re-attend the diabetes clinic and was subsequently lost to follow-up.

Keywords: hypoglycemia, type 1 diabetes, impaired awareness