Hypo Unawareness in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Experiences of people with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Hypo Unawareness
IRAS ID
176972
Contact name
Jessica Gleeson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Humber NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 8 days
Research summary
The proposed study is a semi structured interview based investigation exploring patient’s experiences of having both type 2 diabetes and hypoglycaemic unawareness (or hypo unawareness). The interview questions will be based on the illness perceptions model proposed by Leventhal. This model looks at how patients create beliefs about an illness and how they use these beliefs to guide their behaviour and manage their illness. The aim of the proposed study is to gain insight into patient’s experience.
People with diabetes can experience episodes of hypoglycaemia or hypos. This is when their blood sugar drops below a normal level and results in symptoms such as behavioural changes, feeling dizzy and reduced cognitive function. Patients without hypo unawareness are able to recognise that their blood sugar is dropping and can take action to manage this such as eating or drinking something which contains sugar. Hypo unawareness is when patients either do not experience any warning symptoms that their blood sugar is dropping or have reduced symptoms. This can lead to patients being unable to take the required action and this can mean that other people have to do this for them. This can lead to patients experiencing feelings of fear or embarrassment.
This study is of importance as there are growing numbers of people in the UK being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and it takes up a significant proportion of the NHS budget. It is hoped that gaining patient experiences will inform health care and improve services.
This study will use participants from the diabetes unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary. Those who have been identified by staff as having type 2 diabetes and hypo unawareness will be eligible for the study. Participants will be interviewed at Bradford hospital by the primary investigator and interviews are expected to last no longer than one hour.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NE/0197
Date of REC Opinion
29 May 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion