Person—severe hypoglycaemia indicator, code N

Identifying and definitional attributes

Metadata item type:Help on this termData Element
Short name:Help on this termHypoglycaemia - severe
METEOR identifier:Help on this term302825
Registration status:Help on this term
  • Health, Standard 21/09/2005
Definition:Help on this term

Whether a person has had severe hypoglycaemia, as represented by a code.

Data Element Concept:Person—severe hypoglycaemia indicator

Value domain attributes

Representational attributes

Representation class:Help on this termCode
Data type:Help on this termNumber
Format:Help on this termN
Maximum character length:Help on this term1
Permissible values:Help on this term
ValueMeaning
1Yes
2No
Supplementary values:Help on this term
ValueMeaning
9Not stated/inadequately described

Collection and usage attributes

Guide for use:Help on this term

CODE 9    Not stated/inadequately described

This code is not for use in primary data collections.

Data element attributes

Collection and usage attributes

Guide for use:Help on this term

CODE 1   Yes
Record if the person has a history of severe hypoglycaemia.

CODE 2   No
Record if the person has no history of severe hypoglycaemia.

Collection methods:Help on this term

Ask the individual if he/she has had a severe hypoglycaemia requiring assistance. Alternatively obtain the relevant information from appropriate documentation.

Comments:Help on this term

The medications used in the treatment of diabetes may cause the blood glucose value to fall below the normal range and this is called hypoglycaemia.

Source and reference attributes

Submitting organisation:Help on this term

National diabetes data working group

Origin:Help on this term

National Diabetes Outcomes Quality Review Initiative (NDOQRIN) data dictionary.

Reference documents:Help on this term

Definition corresponds with the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT): DCCT New England Journal of Medicine, 329(14), September 30, 1993. Report of the Health Care Committee Expert Panel on Diabetes; Commonwealth of Australia 1991; ISBN 0644143207.

Relational attributes

Related metadata references:Help on this term
Supersedes Person—severe hypoglycaemia history, status code N
  • Health, Superseded 21/09/2005
Implementation in Data Set Specifications:Help on this term

Diabetes (clinical) NBPDSHealth, Standard 21/09/2005

DSS specific information:

Most hypoglycaemic reactions, however, do not cause long term problems, but the risks of permanent injury to the brain are greater in children under the age of 5 years, the elderly with associated cerebrovascular disease and patients with other medical conditions such as cirrhosis and coeliac disease. The serious consequences of hypoglycaemia relate to its effects on the brain. Rarely hypoglycaemia may cause death.

It is important to know how to recognise and react when someone is unconscious from hypoglycaemia. These people should be placed on their side and the airway checked so that breathing is unhampered and nothing should be given by mouth as food may enter the breathing passages. Treatment needs to be given by injection - either glucagon (a hormone which raises the blood glucose by mobilising liver stores) or glucose itself. Glucagon should be given by injection (usually intramuscular) at a dose of 0.5 units (or mg) in children under the age of 5 years and 1.0 units (mg) for all older age groups.

All diabetic patients at risk of developing hypoglycaemia should have glucagon at home. Their families need to be shown how to administer it in times of severe hypoglycaemia.