Amiel, Stephanie

De Zoysa, Nicole

Elliott, Jackie

Heller, Simon R

Lawton, Julia

Rankin, David

Rogers, Helen A

Objective: Hypoglycaemia Unawareness (HU) affects approximately 25% of people with type 1 diabetes. People with HU are often reliant on family to detect hypoglycaemia and treat severe episodes. We explored the impact of HU on family members' lives; their involvement in preventing and managing hypoglycaemia; and, their information and support needs.Research Design and Methods: Exploratory, qualitative design comprising in-depth interviews with 24 adult family members of people with type 1 diabetes and HU.Results: Family members described restricting their lives so they could help the person with HU detect and treat hypoglycaemia. Some described being very physically afraid of their partner/relative when they had a hypoglycaemic episode due to their aggressive and argumentative behaviour and personality changes; this could also make treatment administration difficult. Family members also reported feeling anxious and worried about the safety of the person with HU, particularly when they were left unsupervised. These concerns were often precipitated by traumatic events, such as discovering the person with HU in a coma. Family members could neglect their own health and wellbeing to care for the person with HU and resentment could build up over time. Family members highlighted extensive, unmet needs for information and emotional support; however, some struggled to recognise and accept their own need for help.Conclusions: Our findings reveal a caregiver group currently 'in the shadow of the patient' and in urgent need of information and emotional support. Raising awareness amongst healthcare professionals is essential and developing proactive support for family should be considered

King's Research Portal

The experiences, views and support needs of family members of people with Hypoglycaemia Unawareness:Interview study

Objective Hypoglycaemia Unawareness (HU) affects approximately 25% of people with type 1 diabetes. People with HU are often reliant on family to detect hypoglycaemia and treat severe episodes. We explored the impact of HU on family members’ lives; their involvement in preventing and managing hypoglycaemia; and, their information and support needs.Research Design and MethodsExploratory, qualitative design comprising in-depth interviews with 24 adult family members of people with type 1 diabetes and HU.Results Family members described restricting their lives so they could help the person with HU detect and treat hypoglycaemia. Some described being very physically afraid of their partner/relative when they had a hypoglycaemic episode due to their aggressive and argumentative behaviour and personality changes; this could also make treatment administration difficult. Family members also reported feeling anxious and worried about the safety of the person with HU, particularly when they were left unsupervised. These concerns were often precipitated by traumatic events, such as discovering the person with HU in a coma. Family members could neglect their own health and wellbeing to care for the person with HU and resentment could build up over time. Family members highlighted extensive, unmet needs for information and emotional support; however, some struggled to recognise and accept their own need for help.Conclusions Our findings reveal a caregiver group currently ‘in the shadow of the patient’ and in urgent need of information and emotional support. Raising awareness amongst healthcare professionals is essential and developing proactive support for family should be considered.<br/

Heller, Simon R.

Amiel, S

Edinburgh Research Explorer

The Experiences, Views and Support Needs of Family Members of People with Hypoglycaemia Unawareness:Interview Study


                  OBJECTIVE
                  Hypoglycemia unawareness (HU) affects ∼25% of people with type 1 diabetes. People with HU are often reliant on family to detect hypoglycemia and treat severe episodes. We explored the impact of HU on family members’ lives, their involvement in preventing and managing hypoglycemia, and their information and support needs.
               
               
                  RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
                  This study employed an exploratory, qualitative design comprising in-depth interviews with 24 adult family members of persons with type 1 diabetes and HU.
               
               
                  RESULTS
                  Family members described restricting their lives so that they could help the person with HU detect and treat hypoglycemia. Some described being very physically afraid of their partner/relative when they had a hypoglycemic episode due to their aggressive and argumentative behavior and personality changes; this could also make treatment administration difficult. Family members also reported feeling anxious and worried about the safety of the person with HU, particularly when they were left unsupervised. These concerns were often precipitated by traumatic events, such as discovering the person with HU in a coma. Family members could neglect their own health and well-being to care for the person with HU and resentment could build up over time. Family members highlighted extensive, unmet needs for information and emotional support; however, some struggled to recognize and accept their own need for help.
               
               
                  CONCLUSIONS
                  Our findings reveal a caregiver group currently “in the shadow of the patient” and in urgent need of information and emotional support. Raising awareness among health care professionals is essential, and developing proactive support for family should be considered.
               </jats:sec

Julia Lawton

David Rankin

Jackie Elliott

Simon R. Heller

Helen A. Rogers

Nicole De Zoysa

Stephanie Amiel

null null

Crossref

Diabetes Care

Experiences, Views, and Support Needs of Family Members of People With Hypoglycemia Unawareness: Interview Study

https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/files/15150585/Experiences_Views_and_Support_Needs_of_Family_Members_of_People_With_Hypoglycemia_Unawareness.pdf

The Experiences, Views and Support Needs of Family Members of People with Hypoglycaemia Unawareness:Interview Study

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