UK healthcare professionals need to improve their communications with type 2 diabetes patients when discussing hypoglycaemia, a new survey claims.

Data gathered from five countries across Europe show that although 74% of the 50 UK healthcare professionals surveyed always question their patients about whether they have experienced hypoglycaemia since their last appointment, most believe they are not informed about all their patients` episodes.

The report, which was released on Wednesday at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 46th Annual Meeting, shows that half of patients questioned admit they do not regularly discuss hypoglycaemia with their healthcare professional, despite 88% expressing concern about experiencing a future episode.

And 34% of patients surveyed revealed they don`t bother because they believe hypoglycaemia is an inevitable side effect of diabetes medication, while a same number simply do not know enough about it to broach the subject with their doctors.

Anthony Barnett, who works for the Heart of England Foundation Trust in Birmingham, believes the onus is on healthcare professionals to educate their patients about hypoglycaemia.

He said: "It is up to us as healthcare professionals to open discussions, educate our patients and make it clear that they do not need to live in fear of hypoglycaemic events or their effects."

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