Knowledge of hypoglycemia symptoms and associated factors among diabetic patients in Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Ethiopia: A cross sectional study, 2021

Background

Hypoglycemia is a common and serious complication of diabetes. Diabetic patients who lack knowledge of hypoglycemic symptoms might lead to delayed treatment and causes death. Despite one study in Ethiopia found that 51.2 % of diabetic patients had poor knowledge of identifying hypoglycemia symptoms, there is a paucity of study regarding knowledge of hypoglycemia symptoms.

Objective

This study aimed to explore knowledge of hypoglycemia symptoms and associated factors among diabetic patients in Adama Hospital Medical College.

Methods

Health institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February–March 2021. Systematic random sampling method was used to select 212 diabetic patients. Epi-data version 4.6 and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 were used for data entry and analysis. Linear regression model (adjusted beta, 95 % confidence interval (CI), and p value < 0.05) was fitted to determine the predictor of knowledge of hypoglycemia symptoms.

Results

The mean knowledge of hypoglycemia symptom score was 64.63(±27.6). 68 % of the participants knew more than half symptoms of hypoglycemia. Excessive hunger is the most identified symptom of hypoglycemia. Experiencing hypoglycemia episodes (β = 19, 95 % CI 12, 26.9) and type of treatment (β = 22.6, 95%CI 4, 41) were associated with the knowledge of hypoglycemia symptoms.

Conclusions

This study showed that sixty-eight (32 %) of the participants know less than six symptoms. There is a visible knowledge gap regarding essential aspects of hypoglycemia symptoms among diabetic patients.