Assessing Knowledge of Hypoglycemia Symptoms among Type 2 Diabetic Patients Using Insulin, Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract

Background: Hypoglycemia is a traumatic dilemma that has a critical impact on not only the patient’s quality of life but also their families and communities. Improving Patient’s awareness and knowledge regard ing hypoglycemia symptoms is crucial to avoid serious implications like loss of consciousness and even death. Objective: This study aimed to assess patients’ knowledge of hypoglycemia symptoms and source of diabetes information among insulin users type 2 diabetes. Methods: A single centre, hospital-based, analytical, and cross-sectional study was carried out among diabetic patients using insulin attended to Ribat University Hospital Diabetes Clinic (RUHDC), Khartoum State, Sudan during a period of study. A validated questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic characteristics of respondents and the patients’ knowledge regard ing hypoglycemia symptoms was assessed whether good, medium or poor. Data were analyzed, using (SPSS). Descriptive (frequencies) and inferential statistics (association used chi-square) were used at a level of confidence p ≤ 0.05. Results: A majority of patients (52%) had poor knowledge of hypoglycemia symptoms and the common symptoms known to patients were hands tremor (67.2%), blurred vision (52.8%) and sweating (65.6%) . No associations were found among hypoglycemia symptoms knowledge, socio-demographic and diabetes duration. Only (25.6%) had regular visiting to educating center and physicians were the major source of diabetes knowledge (74.4%). Conclusion: This study proved low patients hypoglycemia symptoms knowledge and physician were the main sources of information about diabetes at RUHDC. Further ideas are required in collaboration and integrated approach to filling the gap of patients’ awareness and multidisciplinary team in diabetes management.