Cognitive performance of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus after recovery from hypoglycemia

The main aim of the study was to assess the cognitive functioning of children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus after a naturally occurring hypoglycemic episode. It was hypothesized that cognitive functioning may be compromised for some time after a hypoglycemic episode (blood glucose <60 mg/dL). To test this hypothesis, cognitive tests (finger-tapping in the dominant hand, Trails Type A and Trails Type B, short-term memory for digits, verbal learning list, and story memory) were administered soon after treatment (i.e., within one hour) of a naturally occurring hypoglycemic episode, 2 to 4 hours later, and 24 to 30 hours later. Comparison of the performance of these children with other children who have Type 1 diabetes but did not experience a hypoglycemic episode was carried out.;The study was conducted with 104 children, 9 to 14 years of age, while they were attending a summer camp conducted by the North Florida Regional Camp for Children with Diabetes. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: assessment immediately after a naturally occurring hypoglycemic episode had resolved, assessment 2 to 4 hours after such an episode, or a control group that had no hypoglycemia within 24 hours of testing. All participants were assessed a second time, 24 hours later.;There was no evidence of between-group differences in cognitive functioning at the first or second assessment. These results suggest that the cognitive functioning of most children with Type 1 diabetes recovers soon after treatment of hypoglycemia. However, children diagnosed with diabetes before the age of 5 may be more vulnerable, continuing to experience difficulties immediately after recovery from hypoglycemia, particularly on tasks that have a fine motor component.