• Urmimala Sarkar, Andrew J Karter, Jennifer Y Liu, Howard H Moffet, Nancy E Adler, and Dean Schillinger.
• UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA. usarkar@medsfgh.ucsf.edu
• J Gen Intern Med. 2010 Sep 1; 25 (9): 962968962-8.

BackgroundLittle is known about the frequency of significant hypoglycemic events in actual practice. Limited health literacy (HL) is common among patients with type 2 diabetes, may impede diabetes self-management, and thus HL could increase the risk of hypoglycemia.ObjectiveTo determine the proportion of ambulatory, pharmacologically-treated patients with type 2 diabetes reporting > or =1 significant hypoglycemic events in the prior 12 months, and evaluate whether HL is associated with hypoglycemia.Research DesignCross-sectional analysis in an observational cohort, the Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE).SubjectsThe subjects comprised 14,357 adults with pharmacologically-treated, type 2 diabetes who are seen at Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), a non-profit, integrated health care delivery system.MeasuresPatient-reported frequency of significant hypoglycemia (losing consciousness or requiring outside assistance); patient-reported health literacy.ResultsAt least one significant hypoglycemic episode in the prior 12 months was reported by 11% of patients, with the highest risk for those on insulin (59%). Patients commonly reported limited health literacy: 53% reported problems learning about health, 40% needed help reading health materials, and 32% were not confident filling out medical forms by themselves. After adjustment, problems learning (OR 1.4, CI 1.1-1.7), needing help reading (OR 1.3, CI 1.1-1.6), and lack of confidence with forms (OR 1.3, CI 1.1-1.6) were independently associated with significant hypoglycemia.ConclusionsSignificant hypoglycemia was a frequent complication in this cohort of type 2 diabetes patients using anti-hyperglycemic therapies; those reporting limited HL were especially vulnerable. Efforts to reduce hypoglycemia and promote patient safety may require self-management support that is appropriate for those with limited HL, and consider more vigilant surveillance, conservative glycemic targets or avoidance of the most hypoglycemia-inducing medications.

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