The relationships among fear of hypoglycaemia, diabetes-related quality of life and psychological well-being in Norwegian adults with Type 1 diabetes

Abstract

Aims: To examine the associations among fear of hypoglycaemia, diabetes-related quality of life and psychological well-being, and determine whether diabetes-related quality of life is a mediator of the relationship between fear of hypoglycaemia and psychological well-being in adults with Type 1 diabetes.

Methods: A total of 235 of 319 invited adults (18-69years) with Type 1 diabetes agreed to participate. Hierarchical linear regression was applied to 188 individuals with complete data. Mediation analysis was used to determine whether diabetes-related quality of life mediated the relationship between fear of hypoglycaemia and psychological well-being.

Results: Fear of hypoglycaemia was significantly associated with diabetes-related quality of life and psychological well-being. The behaviour and worry components of fear of hypoglycaemia were significantly associated with diabetes-related quality of life (behaviour component: unstandardised coefficient=-0.04, p<0.001, standardised coefficient=-0.40; worry component: unstandardised coefficient=-0.01, p=0.041, standardised coefficient=-0.18). Fear of hypoglycaemia worry had a significant independent association with psychological well-being (unstandardised coefficient=-0.28, p=0.009, standardised coefficient=-0.25), whereas fear of hypoglycaemia behaviour did not. Diabetes-related quality of life mediated approximately half of the association between fear of hypoglycaemia worry and psychological well-being.

Conclusions: Hypoglycaemic episodes can have serious consequences, and assessing fear of hypoglycaemia might help health care providers offer suitable care strategies to individuals with Type 1 diabetes.

Keywords: Diabetes-related quality of life; Fear of hypoglycaemia; Mediation analysis; Psychological well-being; Type 1 diabetes.