Hypoglycemia is a common side effect of insulin therapy, the constant threat of hypoglycemia symptoms and consequences may lead people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to develop fear of hypoglycemia (FOH). This analysis aims to explore the characteristics of people who consider FOH as a barrier to managing diabetes.
Methods: Self-reported data from an online T1D registry were analyzed to compare participants who consider FOH a barrier to those who do not (a registry-specific yes/no question) using χ2 test for categorical variables (gender, diabetes technology use, and hypoglycemia history) and the Mann-Whitney Test for age, T1D duration, Hypoglycemia Fear Survey (HFS-II), Hypoglycemia Confidence Survey (HCS), and Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS) scores.
Results: Among 780 adults, 65% women, aged 44±15 years, had T1D for 25±15 years, 35% reported HbA1c≤ 7%, and 45% perceived FOH as a barrier. The prevalence of FOH as a barrier was higher in women, participants with history of symptomatic nocturnal or level 3 hypoglycemia, higher HbA1c, higher HFS and DDS scores, and lower HCS scores (Table 1).
Conclusion: A significant proportion of adults, in particular women and those with a challenging T1D management (high HbA1c, history of hypoglycemia, diabetes distress, and low hypoglycemia confidence), consider FOH to be a barrier in T1D management, thus it needs to be considered as part of clinical follow-up.
M.K.Talbo: None. C.Leroux: None. L.Hill: None. A.Brazeau: Other Relationship; Dexcom, Inc., Diabète québec, Ordre des diététistes nutritionnistes du Québec, Research Support; Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Fonds de recherche du Québec en Santé.
