When Carlos was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, the essential need to self administer insulin was clearly explained to him. The risk of experiencing hypoglycaemia when using insulin was also discussed.

Hypoglycaemia (sometimes called 'hypo') is a term used to describe low blood glucose levels, usually under 4 mmol/l.

Without diabetes, the body knows to stop releasing insulin from the pancreas if glucose levels are low. In type 1 diabetes, the level of injected insulin will not decrease in response to a low blood glucose level.

Hypoglycaemia occurs therefore as a result of a relatively high blood insulin level with an associated low blood glucose level and can make people using insulin for diabetes feel unwell.