Self‐treating hypoglycaemia: a longitudinal qualitative investigation of the experiences and views of people with Type 1 diabetes. Issue 2 (21st January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lawton, J.; Rankin, D.; Cooke, D. D.; Elliott, J.; Amiel, S.; Heller, S.
• Is Part Of: Diabetic medicine. Volume 30:Issue 2(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: 209
• Page End: 215
• Publication Date: 2013-01-21
• Subjects: Diabetes -- Periodicals; 616.462
• DOI: 10.1111/dme.12007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0742-3071

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="sec-sum-1" sec-type="section"> <p>Diabet. Med. 30, 209–215 (2013)</p> </sec> <sec id="abs1-1" sec-type="section"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>Aims </bold> Despite improvements in insulin therapy, hypoglycaemia remains an inevitable part of life for many people with Type 1 diabetes. Little attention has been paid to how individuals self‐treat hypoglycaemia and their likes and dislikes of clinically recommended treatments. We explored participants' experiences of self‐treating hypoglycaemia after attending a structured education programme for people with Type 1 diabetes. Our aims were: to identify treatments that are acceptable to people with Type 1 diabetes; and to provide recommendations for promoting self‐treatment in line with clinical guidelines.</p> <p> <bold>Methods </bold> Thirty adults with Type 1 diabetes were recruited from the Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE) programme in the UK. Study participants were interviewed post‐course and 6 and 12 months later, enabling their experiences to be explored over time.</p> <p> <bold>Results </bold> Study participants described a poor knowledge of how to self‐treat hypoglycaemia correctly pre‐course. Post‐course, individuals often struggled to adhere to clinically recommended guidelines because of: panic, disorientation, hunger sensations and consequent difficulties ingesting fixed quantities of fast‐acting carbohydrate; use of sweets to manage hypoglycaemia; reversion to habituated practices when cognitive impairment as a result of hypoglycaemia supervened; difficulties ingesting dextrose tablets; and other people's anxieties about under‐treatment.</p> <p> <bold>Conclusions </bold> Historical experiences of hypoglycaemia and habituated practices can influence present self‐treatment approaches. Professionals need to be aware of the range of difficulties individuals may experience restricting themselves to fixed quantities of fast‐acting carbohydrate to manage hypoglycaemia. There may be merit in developing a more acceptable range of treatments tailored to people's own preferences, circumstances and needs.</p> </sec> </abstract>