13 August 2012

City Hospitals Sunderland  will be publicising the dangers of hypoglycaemia this month by taking part in the first ever national Hypo Awareness Week.

Hypos (hypoglycaemia or low blood glucose) happen when the blood glucose level of people with diabetes drops too low and they can feel shaky and unwell.

The National Diabetes Inpatient Audit, a bedside survey, has consistently found that 15 per cent of inpatients have diabetes and almost a quarter of them experience a hypo while in hospital.

The trust is taking part in the first ever national 'Hypo Awareness Week' from Monday 13th to Sunday 19th August. The week is being run by national improvement body NHS Diabetes and aims to raise awareness of this common complication of diabetes and in turn reduce incidence in secondary care.

Hospitals across England are being encouraged to hold activities and training, ensure they have fully-stocked hypo kits on their wards and that all staff (including receptionists) are aware of the symptoms of a hypo and what to do in the event of one. 

It coincides with the launch of an e-learning module for the Safe Management of Hypoglycaemia from NHS Diabetes.

The trust will be staging training and events to raise awareness of the condition. Resources, including hypo symptom factsheets and an online training course, will be used to help spread the word.

Director of NHS Diabetes Anna Morton said: “Patient safety is a priority we all take very seriously. The fact that almost a quarter of people with diabetes experience a hypo while in hospital reinforces the need to raise awareness of hypoglycaemia to ensure patients in hospital get the best possible care. This is an area of care which needs addressing urgently. This first ever National Hypo Week aims to promote hypoglycaemia and in turn reduce the number of hypos in hospitals.

“We are encouraging trusts in England to hold activities and training, ensure they have fully-stocked hypo kits on their wards and that all staff (including receptionists) are aware of the symptoms of a hypo and what to do in the event of one.”

The week will serve as preparation for the 2012 National Diabetes Inpatient Audit taking place in September.