Hypoglycaemic-related fear in parents of children with poor glycaemic control of their type 1 diabetes is associated with poorer glycaemic control in their child and parental emotional distress
- University of Michigan
- Correspondence to Susana R Patton
Division of Child Behavioral Health, CS Mott Children's Hospital, 1924 Taubman Center, Box 5318, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5318, USA; susanap{at}med.umich.edu
Hypoglycaemia is a common complication of type 1 diabetes treatment.1 It is typically the result of incorrect matching of insulin to carbohydrate intake and/or mismanagement of insulin when exercising. Symptoms of mild hypoglycaemia can include confusion, faintness, irritability, trembling and nausea. However, in cases of moderate to severe hypoglycaemia, low blood glucose levels can sometimes lead to seizures, coma or even death. The availability of new analogue insulin and improvements in intensive therapy have decreased the rate of severe hypoglycaemia in patients with type 1 diabetes.1 However, because the symptoms of hypoglycaemia are uncomfortable and potentially dangerous, fear of hypoglycaemia remains a widespread problem among youth with type 1 diabetes and their families.
In a population-based study, Haugstvedt and colleagues report on …
