ESPE Abstracts

Background: Achieving proper glycemic control is the major goal in the management of type 1 diabetes. The Diabetes Control and Complication Trial showed that optimal glycemic control can decrease micro- and macrovascular complications in adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes. Both hypo and hyperglycemia affect crucial regions in the developing brain. In children and young adolescents, most of the work towards achieving optimal glycemic control is led by the parents. Many studies have been published exploring parental fear of hypoglycemia and accompanying behaviors. Our clinical experience shows that similar behaviors are also relevant to hyperglycemia; however, the topic of fear of hyperglycemia has not received adequate attention in the published literature, especially among children with T1D.

Aim: To design and test the reliability and validity of a new fear of hyperglycemia fear survey parent version and to assess the correlation between parental fear of hyperglycemia and the child’s overall glycemic control as reflected by HbA1C, time in range and hypoglycemic events.

Methods: 50 parents of type 1 diabetic patients aged 6-14 years old to validate the Hyperglycemia Fear Survey – Parent version. The same parents completed the validated Hypoglycemia Fear Survey – Parent version and the validated Diabetes Treatment Satisfacton Questionnaire (DTSQ) – Parent version. The correlation between parental fear of hyperglycemia and the child’s overall glycemic control was assessed.

Results: The Hyperglycemia Fear Survey was found to be valid and reliable. Significant correlations between parental fear of hyperglycaemia and glycemic control were found.

Conclusion: The hyperglycemia fear survey – parent version can be considered a valid tool for the measuring fear of hyperglycemia among parents and caregivers of children with type 1 diabetes. It can also be associated with the child’s overall glycemic control.