Correlates of fear of hypoglycemia among patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus in outpatient hospitals in Zambia
Hapunda,Given Abubakar,Amina Pouwer,Frans Van De Vijver,Fons
Hapunda,Given
Abubakar,Amina
Pouwer,Frans
Van De Vijver,Fons
Abstract
Background: Severe hypoglycemia is a burdensome complication of diabetes mellitus that can induce fear of hypoglycemia and contribute to suboptimal glycemic control. The challenge is to achieve and maintain adequate glycemic control while avoiding episodes of severe hypoglycemia. The purpose of the study was to determine how common fear of hypoglycemia was in Zambian out-patients with diabetes and also to explore correlates of fear of hypoglycemia. Methods: One hundred fifty-seven individuals with types 1 and 2 diabetes participated in the study. Fear of Hypoglycemia Scale, Diabetes Self-Care Inventory, Problem Areas in Diabetes, and the Major Depression Inventory were completed. Multiple linear regression models were computed to assess the association between fear of hypoglycemia and psychological factors. Results: About 19% [16.3% type 1 and 12.6% type 2] of individuals with diabetes based on item endorsement expressed fear of hypoglycemia especially among individuals with type 1 diabetes. After controlling for demographic variables, diabetes self-care (ß = 0.24, p < 0.05), and diabetes specific distress (ß = 0.41, p < 0.001) were associated with fear of hypoglycemia. Conclusion: Fear of hypoglycemia was common and was positively associated with diabetes specific emotional distress and diabetes self-care. Interventions to avert fear of hypoglycemia are needed while optimizing glycemic control through managing diabetes care and emotion distress in individuals with diabetes.
Description
Funding Information: A Jacobs Foundation International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development (ISSBD) mentored fellowship was given to the first author. We also want to thank all participants for giving us the data we needed and the Diabetes Association of Zambia for helping with access to participants. We dedicate this work to Prof Fons van de Vijver who unfortunately died before we published this article. Publisher Copyright: © 2020, Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India.
Date
2020-10-01
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Research Projects
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Keywords
Correlates, Fear, Fear of hypoglycemia, HFS, Hypoglycemia, SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Citation
Hapunda, G, Abubakar, A, Pouwer, F & Van De Vijver, F 2020, 'Correlates of fear of hypoglycemia among patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus in outpatient hospitals in Zambia', International Journal of Diabetes in Developing Countries, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 619-626. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13410-020-00835-2
License
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess