Fear of hypoglycaemia (FoH) can be a serious barrier to maintaining good glycemic control in type 1 diabetes, epsecially so in insulin-treated diabetes where hypoglycaemia unfortunately is a common and threatening complication.

There is evidence that FoH has a significantly negative effect on both self-care behaviors, glycemic control, subsequent health outcomes, and quality of life. There is, however, also some preliminary evidence and suggestions that "Blood Glucose Awareness Training" as well as Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) interventions might reduce FoH.

 

However, much more research is needed to identify individual factors that might influence the development and maintenance of FoH in order to develop scientifically based interventions to reduce FoH.

 

The overall aim of this project is to lay a scientific basis for developing treatment program for fear of hypoglycaemia through:

• analyzes of FoH and its relation to demographic, disease specific and psycho-social factors in a large cohort of Swedish patients with type 1 diabetes.
• in-depth clinical interviews, so-called behavior analysis, as well as through a series of exploratory, single-case experimental design studies, search for a deeper understanding of fundamental factors triggering and maintaining FoH.

 

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Project member:  Jan Lisspers

Financing:

External collaboration: The Karolinska institute, Danderyd- and Huddinge University Hospitals (U-B Johansson, main project coordinator; Andersbro, Moberg, and research group)