The Psychosocial Impact of Hypoglycemia in Persons with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes on the Quality of Life of their Family Members

Project title

The Psychosocial Impact of Hypoglycemia in Persons with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes on the Quality of Life of their Family Members

Project manager

Mette Valdersdorf Jensen

Project description

Background:
Treatment with insulin is associated with an increased risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) for persons with diabetes. The occurrence of hypoglycaemia may cause acute cognitive dysfunction, confusion, coma, seizures, cardiac arrhythmias and rarely, death. Moreover, repeated episodes of hypoglycaemia have also been associated with significant end-organ disease, particularly of the heart and brain, and are of major concern to both health care professionals and people with diabetes. Due to the seriousness of this condition, being a family member to a person with diabetes can have adverse impact on different aspects of quality of life. For example, caregivers, parents and family members can experience fear of hypoglycaemia, sleep disturbances, emotional distress, as well as end of/or altered work life in relation to caring for a person with diabetes.

Objectives:
The overall aim of the PhD project is to determine the psychosocial impact of hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose level) in children, adolescents or adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes on parents, caregivers, family members and partners.

Methods:
The PhD project will include two systematic literature reviews, followed by a multinational survey, involving both quantitative and qualitative measures.

Perspectives:
The project aims to give a better understanding of the psychosocial impact of hypoglycaemia on family members, as well as identifying unmet needs and wishes to enhance quality of life for the population group.

Start date and expected end date

01.11.2018 – 01.11.2021

Main supervisor

Professor Frans Pouwer, Department of Psychology, SDU

Co-supervisors

Dr. Melanie Broadley, Department of Psychology, SDU;
Professor Jane Speight, Australian Center for Behavioral Research in Diabetes and School of Psychology, Deakin University, Australia and Department of Psychology, SDU

The project is carried out under

INSIDE Research Group, within the framework of The Hypo-RESOLVE Project

Collaborators

The PhD project is part of the Hypo-RESOLVE Project on the impact of hypoglycemia and is further embedded in the Department of Psychology at University of Southern Denmark (SDU).

Funding

The project is funded by IMI2, and is conducted under the umbrella of the HypoResolve Study

Keywords

hypoglycemia, fear of hypoglycemia, family health, type 1 diabetes, quality of life, psychosocial well-being