Study on Awareness of Symptoms of Hypoglycaemia & Early Management among Patients with Diabetes

Background: Hypoglycaemia mostly occurs in diabetics on medications.The lack of awareness on hypoglycaemic symptoms among patients may delay its identification and treatment. Aims & objective: (i) Study on awareness of symptoms of hypoglycaemia among patients with diabetes. (ii) Study the knowledge in early management of hypoglycaemia among patients with diabetes. Materials & methods: This is a descriptive study done among Type-2 diabetes patients attending the outpatient and inpatient services of a tertiary teaching hospital in Mangalore. Patient with diabetes for over five years, who fulfils the selection criteria, were included for the study. After obtaining an informed consent, they were administered the questionnaire to mark their responses. Their knowledge on the symptoms, signs and treatment of hypoglycaemia were compared.Inclusion criteria:Patients with diabetes for more than 5 years on treatment with oral hypoglycaemic drugs or insulin were included.Exclusion criteria:Patients admitted in intensive care unit and those with neuro-psychiatric illness. The data collected were analysed by frequency and percentage. Results: A descriptive study was conducted among 100 diabetic patients. Among them majority (54%) had average awareness about symptoms of hypoglycemia. Only 39% had got their diabetic education classes, mainly from their doctor. Regarding management of hypoglycaemia, 49% patients preferred taking glucose powder or sugar with water as an immediate measure. Majority of patients (58%) felt going to the casualty or emergency department was the right option for hypoglycemia. The awareness was higher among literate subjects about hypoglycaemia symptoms. Conclusion: Awareness about hypoglycaemia was average among diabetics. But regarding hospital management patient felt going to the casualty or emergency department for further treatment is ideal, which is the right option. Hence the primary physician has an important role in educating diabetics on hypoglycaemia, so that hypoglycaemic episodes and morbidity could be prevented.