Diabetes Metab J.  2018 Feb;42(1):43-52. 10.4093/dmj.2018.42.1.43.

Patient Understanding of Hypoglycemia in Tertiary Referral Centers

• Cho NH
• Kim NK
• Han E
• Hong JH
• Jeon EJ
• Moon JS
• Seo MH
• Lee JE
• Seo HA
• Kim MK
• Kim HS

• KMID: 2409185
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2018.42.1.43

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Hypoglycemia is an important complication in the treatment of patients with diabetes. We surveyed the insight by patients with diabetes into hypoglycemia, their hypoglycemia avoidance behavior, and their level of worry regarding hypoglycemia.
METHODS
A survey of patients with diabetes, who had visited seven tertiary referral centers in Daegu or Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea, between June 2014 and June 2015, was conducted. The survey contained questions about personal history, symptoms, educational experience, self-management, and attitudes about hypoglycemia.
RESULTS
Of 758 participants, 471 (62.1%) had experienced hypoglycemia, and 250 (32.9%) had experienced hypoglycemia at least once in the month immediately preceding the study. Two hundred and forty-two (31.8%) of the participants had received hypoglycemia education at least once, but only 148 (19.4%) knew the exact definition of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemic symptoms identified by the participants were dizziness (55.0%), sweating (53.8%), and tremor (40.8%). They mostly chose candy (62.1%), chocolate (37.7%), or juice (36.8%) as food for recovering hypoglycemia. Participants who had experienced hypoglycemia had longer duration of diabetes and a higher proportion of insulin usage. The mean scores for hypoglycemia avoidance behavior and worry about hypoglycemia were 21.2±10.71 and 23.38±13.19, respectively. These scores tended to be higher for participants with higher than 8% of glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin use, and experience of emergency room visits.
CONCLUSION
Many patients had experienced hypoglycemia and worried about it. We recommend identifying patients that are anxious about hypoglycemia and educating them about what to do when they develop hypoglycemic symptoms, especially those who have a high risk of hypoglycemia.

Keyword

Diabetes; Education; Hypoglycemia; Insulin

MeSH Terms

Avoidance Learning
Cacao
Candy
Daegu
Dizziness
Education
Emergency Service, Hospital
Gyeongsangbuk-do
Hemoglobin A, Glycosylated
Humans
Hypoglycemia*
Insulin
Korea
Self Care
Sweat
Sweating
Tertiary Care Centers*
Tremor
Insulin

Figure

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  Fig. 1 An awareness of patients: hypoglycemia-related symptoms (multiple choice).

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  Fig. 2 An awareness of patients: foods to eat when hypoglycemia occurs (multiple choice).

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