Patient experience of hypoglycaemia unawareness in Type 1 diabetes: are patients appropriately concerned?

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2011.03444.x
• Publication Date: 2011-09-13T21:33:39Z
• Authors: H. A. Rogers; N. de Zoysa; S. A. Amiel
• Keywords: Blood Glucose; Glycated Hemoglobin; Male; 150; Sick Role; 610; Awareness; Middle Aged; Hypoglycemia; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; 0302 clinical medicine; Patient Education as Topic; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin; Female; Attitude to Health

Diabet. Med. 29, 321–327 (2012) Abstract Objective Risk of severe hypoglycaemia is increased by absence subjective awareness and reduced avoidance minor hypoglycaemia. For many, problems persist despite educational strategies that work for others. We explored psychological factors might inhibit the efforts an individual in avoidance. Methods People with Type 1 diabetes unawareness gave semi‐structured interviews exploring their perceptions experiences condition. Identified were grouped into categories analysed to establish links form a grounded theory constant comparative analysis. A questionnaire was devised from qualitative analysis identify patients problematic beliefs about Results Saturation (no new themes emerging) reached 17 patients. Responses fell two groups: high concern low regarding unawareness. Those first group described as aversive wanted regain awareness. The second included three whom not associated hypoglycaemia, nevertheless unhelpful attitudes which inhibited expressed. this categories: (1) normalizing presence unawareness; (2) underestimating its consequences; (3) wanting avoiding ‘sick role’; (4) overestimating consequences hyperglycaemia. Conclusions patient identified deficits education, technology motivation Interventions can therefore be tailored target underlying prevent regaining brief assessment tool categorize patients’ accordingly. Psychological interventions should developed address ‘low concern’