Hypoglycaemia can occur as a result of relative insulin excess or increased insulin sensitivity due to:

• Administering a fast acting insulin without glucose based food.


• Incorrect insulin administered (e.g.; fast insulin taken at bedtime instead of with a meal).


• Kidney impairment (reduced insulin clearance so works for longer than expected) or severe hepatic dysfunction (reduced hepatic glucose stores to respond to a falling blood glucose level).

It is very important after a hypo to think about why it happened and what can be done to reduce the risk of another.