Knowledge of hypoglycemia and its associated factors among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India.
BACKGROUND
Hypoglycemia being the rate limiting complication in the attainment of strict glycemic control in diabetes management, in this study, we intended to study the knowledge of its symptoms, target blood levels during treatment and ways of prevention among type 2 diabetes patients attending Outpatient Department (OPD) of a medical college hospital.


METHODS
Every fifth patient attending the OPD during the 4 months between March and June 2013 was interviewed using a questionnaire.


RESULTS
The study included 366 type 2 diabetic patients, of which 76.5% were females. The target fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels while on treatment was known to 135 (36.9%) and 126 (34.4%) patients, respectively. The common symptoms of hypoglycemia known to the study subjects were dizziness (81.4%), weakness (73.8%), and drowsiness (72.1%). Overall, 242 (66.1%) diabetic patients had good knowledge on hypoglycemia (knowledge of at least three symptoms of hypoglycemia together with at least one precipitating factor and at least one remedial measure). Higher age, illiteracy, low socioeconomic status were associated with poor knowledge whereas treatment with insulin along with oral hypoglycemic agents was associated with good knowledge on hypoglycemia. Sex and duration of disease were not associated with knowledge on hypoglycemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the knowledge on symptoms of hypoglycemia, precipitating factors, remedial measures are high in this study, the target blood levels, complications were known to just a third of them. There is a knowledge gap on important aspects of hypoglycemia among type 2 diabetic patients.
Department of Community Medicine, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Porur, India.
Vanishree
V
Shriraam
Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Porur, India.
Shriraam
S
Mahadevan
Department of Community Medicine, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Porur, India.
M
M
Anitharani
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, India.
Nalini Sirala
NS
Jagadeesh
Department of Medical and Surgical Nursing, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, India.
Sreelekha Bhaskara
SB
Kurup
Faculty of Nursing, Vitamed Centre, Kottivakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
T A
TA
Vidya
Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Porur, India.
Krishna G
KG
Seshadri
Hypoglycemia; knowledge; symptoms; type 2 diabetes mellitus