title: Fear of hypoglycemia in parents of children with type 1 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to determine if parental hypoglycaemia fear is associated with worse glycaemic control and increased resource utilisation and to identify risk factors for increased hypoglycaemia fear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents of children with diabetes completed a modified Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey. Demographic data, phone contacts and mean glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were also recorded over a 1 year study period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 106 parents participated. Mean patient age was 11.1 years, and duration of diabetes was 4.8 years. Fifty-two per cent were male, and 48% were on insulin pump therapy. Fear of hypoglycaemia was highest among parents of 6- to 11-year-olds. Parents of children with HbA1c less than 7.5% had less hypoglycaemia fear. Previous seizures and increased frequency of phone calls to the diabetes team were not associated with increased fear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fear of hypoglycaemia is associated with worse glycaemic control. It is highest among parents of 6- to 11-year-olds but is not affected by previous severe hypoglycaemia or associated with increased contact with the diabetes team.
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Colin Patrick
authors: CP
authors: Hawkes
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: McDarby
authors: Declan
authors: D
authors: Cody
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin
keywords: diabetes; hypoglycaemia; paediatric