Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Diabetic Patients About Symptoms of Hypoglycaemia in Atbara Teaching Hospital, December 2022 – October 2023

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, which can increase the risk of micro and macro vascular complications. Hypoglycemia strongly associated with increase mortality in diabetic patients. The American Diabetes Association defines the hypoglycaemia as “any abnormally low plasma glucose concentration that exposes the subject to potential harm”, and proposes a threshold of <70 mg/dl. Prevention of hypoglycaemia can occur if much efforts spent in patient education regarding risk factors, food & physical activity, warning signs, and treatment of hypoglycaemia at an early stage. Objective: To identify Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Diabetic patients about symptoms of Hypoglycaemia at Atbara teaching hospital. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study done in Atbara teaching hospital, River Nile state, Sudan. From December 2022 – October 2023. The study population were all diabetic patients who presented to the hospital during the period of the study. Exclusion criteria was severely ill patient or those who refuse to participate in the study. With total coverage sample size was 200. The data was collected by interviewing the respondents through close ended questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed by using SPSS. Result: The male to female ratio equal one. With the predominant age between 20 to 35. Most of the participants HBA1c were between 7%-10%. The duration of diabetes was not exceeding 10 years in 44% of the participants. Majority were on oral hypoglycemic drugs with good adherence to it. Tremor is the most reported symptoms of hypoglycemia. With most of the participants deal with the symptoms by them self. Conclusion: Over all the participants show acceptable level of knowledge toward hypoglycemia. Expressed through that most of them deal with the symptoms immediately by them self. Attitude of the participant need to be more investigated in the future with further studies.