title: Hypoglycemia perception: Cross-cultural differences in Punjabi and Hindi speaking postmenopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The cross cultural differences in perception of menopausal symptoms are well known and these differences in perception of hypoglycemic symptoms in Russian-speaking and Caucasian postmenopausal women have been reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed cross - linguistic and cross - cultural differences in symptomatology of self reported hypoglycemia, between Punjabi and Hindi speaking diabetic post menopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty Punjabi speaking and 20 Hindi speaking diabetic postmenopausal women aged over 50 years, were recruited for this study. Each subject was asked, what happens to you when you have low sugar? in the language of her choice, and spontaneous answers were recorded verbatim.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data so obtained was analyzed by paper and pen method to obtain an understanding of the frequency of self reporting of various symptoms and then analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science ver.19.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptoms of hollowness, cold sweats and headache correlated significantly (P < 0.0001, P = 0.0001 and P = 0.03 respectively). One difference was noted in women from rural vs. urban background: Inability to concentrate was more frequent in urban women (4/23) vs rural women (0/27) (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, this is the first exploratory work highlighting the differences in self reported hypoglycemia symptomatology, based on linguistic background. In India and other countries with multi ethnic, multi linguistic societies, linguistic competence in hypoglycemia history taking is important.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incidence of hypoglycemia in the subjects enrolled was not assessed. Many of the subjects in the Punjabi speaking cohort were bilingual. Some symptoms of hypoglycemia may have been missed or over-reported by participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetes care professionals should be aware that persons with diabetes from varying linguistic backgrounds may report symptoms of hypoglycemia differently.
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences Rohtak, Karnal, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Jaikrit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bhutani
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.forename: Sukriti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhutani
authors.forename: Bharti
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kalra
keywords: Diabetes in pregnancy; ethnopharmacy; gestational diabetes; history; linguistic differences; regional diabetes management