Fear of Hypoglycaemia in parents of young children with type one diabetes: A qualitative study using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Background: Diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) is the most common form of diabetes in children. Strict glycaemic control can increase the risk of hypoglycaemia, which is characterised by a number of unpleasant and often frightening symptoms. Fear of Hypoglycaemia (FOH) is thought to contribute to psychological distress and diabetes management, however little is known about parents’ experiences of FOH. The aim of this study was to explore parents’ experience of FOH and its impact on their engagement with intensive insulin therapy. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted and analysed utilising an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. Purposive, volunteer sampling was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 4 parents in the hospital setting. These were transcribed and analysed. Results: The results of this study suggest that FOH is a very salient topic for parents of children with DM1. Four super-ordinate themes emerged: parents’ internal experience, coping, family unit and school. FOH appears to be characterised by a range of emotional and psychological symptoms. Parents attempt to manage the condition and their experiences through a combination of emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies. The systemic challenges of diabetes and FOH were highlighted by parents’ worries about their child’s safety when under the care of others and the burden that this places on them