Diabetic Patients’ Awareness Toward Hypoglycemia Attacks in Al Jouf Region, Saudi Arabia

Background: Hypoglycemia is a condition characterized by a drop in serum glucose concentration of ≤70 mg/ dl. A steady glucose supply is essential for brain physiological functions. Type of medications used for diabetic therapy, errors in dose or timing of insulin, prior history of hypoglycemic episodes, recurrent history of hypoglycemia, and delayed diagnosis of diabetes are the major risk factors associated with hypoglycemia. We aimed to assess diabetic patients’ awareness toward hypoglycemia attacks and explore the relationship between the level of awareness and different socio-demographic factors. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in Al Jouf Region, Saudi Arabia between August to November 2021. A convenient non-probability sampling technique was employed to collect data from the participants. Data were coded, entered, and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science version 23. Results: A total of 273 respondents were included in the study with 52.4% of them being females. The majority of the participants were in the age range of 26 to 35 years and 84.6% of them were taking medication for diabetes management. Injectable insulin was used by 55.3%. Family/friends/acquaintances were the most common (42.5%) source of participant’s knowledge about hypoglycemic attacks. Poor awareness about hypoglycemic attacks was observed among 62.6% participants. Level of awareness was significantly affected by gender, age, educational level, marital status, and monthly income with p -values = 0.018, 0.015, <0.001, <0.001, and <0.001 respectively. Conclusions: Good level of awareness regarding hypoglycemia risk factors, symptoms, complication, and treatment was found in more than half of respondents and few knowledge gaps warrants further attention.