Impact of hypoglycemia on daily life of type 2 diabetes patients in Ukraine

Abstract

Olena Mandrik,1–3 Johan L Severens,1 Olena Doroshenko,4 Vladymir Pan'kiv,5 Nonna Kravchun,6 Maryna Vlasenko,7 Mykola Hulchiy,8 Maryna Baljuk,9 Yuliia Komisarenko,10 Eugene Martsynik,11 Liubov Sokolova,12 Olga Zalis'ka,2 Boris Mankovsky131Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; 2Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, 3MSD Ukraine, 4Ukrainian Institute for Strategic Research, 5Ukrainian Scientific Centre of Endocrine Surgery, 6Institute of Problems of Endocrine Pathology na VY Danylevskogo, Ukrainian Academy of Medical Sciences, Kyiv, 7Vinnitsa National Medical University named after MI Pyrogov, Vinnytsia, 8Kyiv City Teaching Endocrinological Center, Kyiv, 9Danilevsky Institute of Endocrine Pathology Problems, Ukrainian Academy of Medical Sciences, Kharkov, 10OO Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, 11Medical Academy of Dnepropetrovsk, Dnepropetrovsk, 12Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism after V.P. Komissarenko, National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, 13PL Shupik National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Kyiv, UkraineAbstract: This study evaluates the impact of hypoglycemia on the lives of Ukrainian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The secondary objective was to explore patient–physician relationships and the attitudes of patients towards various informational resources on diabetes management. Three focus groups with 26 patients were conducted. Qualitative information was evaluated using content analysis. The results show that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ukraine are adapting to potential attacks of hypoglycemia; however, they still experience periodic manifestations of hypoglycemia that significantly affect their psychological well-being. This result is similar to observations made in other countries. Ukrainian patients >40 years old mainly receive information on disease management from endocrinologists, and rarely use internet resources on diabetes management. Information provision was especially important at the early stage of the disease, when patients lack information on hypoglycemia manifestations and could therefore fail to identify and manage it properly.Keywords: diabetes, quality of life, developing countries, Europe, eastern