Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) can lead to cardiovascular, renal and neurological
complications if left poorly-controlled over prolonged periods of time. However, lowering
glycemic goals for diabetic patients increases their risk for hypoglycemia exposure.
Hypoglycemia is associated with symptoms such as heart palpitations, fatigue, shakiness,
anxiety, confusion, and blurred vision. Recurrent hypoglycemia leads to impairment of the
body's autonomic and symptomatic responses to this condition, and can result in loss of
awareness in the patient of the hypoglycemic state. Repeated incidences of hypoglycemia from
loss of this awareness can result in even more hypoglycemic episodes and more severe
outcomes, such as loss of consciousness, accidents, hospitalization and even death if left
untreated.
The aim of this study is to investigate whether adrenergic blockade through the use of
low-dose carvedilol treatment can improve hypoglycemia awareness and the counterregulatory
hormone responses to hypoglycemia in T1DM patients with impaired awareness of hypoglycemia.