Effects of Mild Hypoglycaemia on Cognitive Function in Type 2 Diabetes

Hypoglycaemia in subjects suffering from type 2 diabetes may have substantial consequences including a significant negative impact on quality of life. Further, repeated minor hypoglycaemias may result in significant productivity losses. Here, the investigators propose to provide quantitative results on cognition during an acute mild hypoglycaemic episode (target plasma glucose 3 mmol/L) in 28 subjects with type 2 diabetes. Data will be provided on executive function, attention and memory.

Hypoglycaemia in subjects suffering from type 2 diabetes may have substantial consequences including a significant negative impact on quality of life. Further, repeated minor hypoglycaemias may result in significant productivity losses. In healthy subjects a number of studies show that during a hypoglycaemic episode with plasma levels of 2.2 - 2.5 mmol/L (40-45 mg/dl) brain areas responsible for cognition have an altered neuronal function when measuring cerebral blood flow. This is accompanied by severely impaired cognitive function with a reduced ability to solve simple cognitive tasks. At higher levels of glucose (above 3 mmol/L (54 mg/dl)), it remains to be settled whether cognitive functions are also affected negatively and whether this may be accompanied by changes in brain metabolism. Apart from raising the blood glucose directly or indirectly via glucagon, no treatment for hypoglycaemia exists, but since Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) based therapies used in type 2 diabetes may affect brain glucose consumption, therapeutic interventions to prevent negative results of hypoglycaemia may eventually become clinically possible. Here, the investigators propose to provide quantitative results on cognition during an acute mild hypoglycaemic episode (target plasma glucose 3 mmol/L). Data will be provided on executive function, attention and memory.