Table 2 Clinical characteristics of patients with type 2 diabetes.

From: Fear of hypoglycemia and associated factors in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross‑sectional study

Variable

Total (n = 494)

FoH (n = 86)

non-FoH (n = 408)

P value

BMI (Mean ± SD, kg/m2)

24.30 ± 3.31

24.54 ± 2.99

24.25 ± 3.38

0.457

HbA1c (Mean ± SD, %)

7.91 ± 2.03

7.76 ± 1.95

7.95 ± 2.05

0.435

Systolic blood pressure (Mean ± SD, mmHg)

132.98 ± 16.36

135.38 ± 16.25

132.47 ± 16.36

0.134

Diastolic blood pressure (Mean ± SD, mmHg)

77.59 ± 10.13

76.90 ± 10.10

77.73 ± 10.14

0.488

Number of hypoglycemic episodes in the past two weeks (Mean ± SD)

0.40 ± 1.17

0.92 ± 1.46

0.29 ± 1.07

 < 0.001

Number of hypoglycemic episodes in the past year (Mean ± SD)

2.87 ± 6.70

6.69 ± 10.80

2.07 ± 5.13

 < 0.001

Number of severe hypoglycemic episodes in the past year (Mean ± SD)

0.04 ± 0.25

0.12 ± 0.45

0.02 ± 0.18

0.002

Number of severe hypoglycemic episodes since diagnosis (Mean ± SD)

0.17 ± 0.75

0.35 ± 1.13

0.13 ± 0.65

0.085

Treatment in the past year, n (%)

   

0.034

Hypoglycemic drugs alone

241 (48.8)

31 (36.0)

210 (51.5)

 

Iinsulin alone

51 (10.3)

11 (12.8)

40 (9.8)

 

Insulin with hypoglycemic drugs

189 (38.3)

43 (50.0)

146 (35.8)

 

Other (diet, exercise, etc. )

13 (2.6)

1 (1.2)

12 (2.9)

 

Insulin or insulin secretagogues, n (%)

366 (74.1)

75 (87.2)

291 (71.3)

0.002

Duration of insulin use (Mean ± SD, years)

3.82 ± 5.72

6.32 ± 6.76

3.30 ± 5.34

 < 0.001

Duration of diabetes (Mean ± SD, years)

10.93 ± 7.44

12.22 ± 6.87

10.66 ± 7.54

0.029

Family history of diabetes, n (%)

260 (52.6)

48 (55.8)

212 (52.0)

0.515

Number of hypoglycemic drugs used in the past year

(Mean ± SD)

1.68 ± 0.98

1.69 ± 1.02

1.68 ± 0.98

0.953

Biguanides, n (%)

367 (74.3)

58 (67.4)

309 (75.7)

0.110

Sulfonylureas, n (%)

103 (20.9)

15 (17.4)

88 (21.6)

0.392

Glinides, n (%)

63 (12.8)

15 (17.4)

48 (11.8)

0.151

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, n (%)

46 (9.3)

12 (14.0)

34 (8.3)

0.103

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, n (%)

79 (16.0)

14 (16.3)

65 (15.9)

0.936

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, n (%)

136 (27.5)

28 (32.6)

108 (26.5)

0.251

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, n (%)

23 (4.7)

1 (1.2)

22 (5.4)

0.158

Thiazolidinediones, n (%)

13 (2.6)

2 (2.3)

11 (2.7)

1.000

Number of diabetes complications (Mean ± SD)

1.49 ± 1.30

1.86 ± 1.37

1.41 ± 1.27

0.005

Diabetic nephropathy, n (%)

132 (26.7)

29 (33.7)

103 (25.2)

0.106

Diabetic retinopathy, n (%)

132 (26.7)

31 (36.0)

101 (24.8)

0.032

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy, n (%)

231 (46.8)

53 (61.6)

178 (43.6)

0.002

Diabetic foot, n (%)

18 (3.6)

1 (1.2)

17 (4.2)

0.301

Diabetic macroangiopathy

222 (44.9)

46 (53.5)

176 (43.1)

0.079

IAH, n (%)

65 (13.2)

17 (19.8)

48 (11.8)

0.046

  1. IAH, impaired awareness of hypoglycemia; FoH, fear of hypoglycemia; BMI, body mass index; HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin; SD, standard deviation. The independent sample t-test, the Mann–Whitney U test, Pearson’s chi-squared test, the continuity corrected chi-squared test, and Fisher’s exact test were used to compare differences between groups. Hypoglycemia was defined as a plasma glucose level ≤ 3.9 mmol/L in patients with diabetes and severe hypoglycemia was defined as any hypoglycemic episode that led to seizures, loss of consciousness, and/or urgent medical attention. The number of hypoglycemic episodes was self-reported by patients on a questionnaire based on blood glucose self-monitoring diaries and their own memories.
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