Dataset Information

Hypoglycemia is more common among type 2 diabetes patients with limited health literacy: the Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Little is known about the frequency of significant hypoglycemic events in actual practice. Limited health literacy (HL) is common among patients with type 2 diabetes, may impede diabetes self-management, and thus HL could increase the risk of hypoglycemia.

Objective

To determine the proportion of ambulatory, pharmacologically-treated patients with type 2 diabetes reporting > or =1 significant hypoglycemic events in the prior 12 months, and evaluate whether HL is associated with hypoglycemia.

Research design

Cross-sectional analysis in an observational cohort, the Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE).

Subjects

The subjects comprised 14,357 adults with pharmacologically-treated, type 2 diabetes who are seen at Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), a non-profit, integrated health care delivery system.

Measures

Patient-reported frequency of significant hypoglycemia (losing consciousness or requiring outside assistance); patient-reported health literacy.

Results

At least one significant hypoglycemic episode in the prior 12 months was reported by 11% of patients, with the highest risk for those on insulin (59%). Patients commonly reported limited health literacy: 53% reported problems learning about health, 40% needed help reading health materials, and 32% were not confident filling out medical forms by themselves. After adjustment, problems learning (OR 1.4, CI 1.1-1.7), needing help reading (OR 1.3, CI 1.1-1.6), and lack of confidence with forms (OR 1.3, CI 1.1-1.6) were independently associated with significant hypoglycemia.

Conclusions

Significant hypoglycemia was a frequent complication in this cohort of type 2 diabetes patients using anti-hyperglycemic therapies; those reporting limited HL were especially vulnerable. Efforts to reduce hypoglycemia and promote patient safety may require self-management support that is appropriate for those with limited HL, and consider more vigilant surveillance, conservative glycemic targets or avoidance of the most hypoglycemia-inducing medications.

SUBMITTER: Sarkar U

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2917655 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Hypoglycemia is more common among type 2 diabetes patients with limited health literacy: the Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE).

Sarkar Urmimala U Karter Andrew J AJ Liu Jennifer Y JY Moffet Howard H HH Adler Nancy E NE Schillinger Dean D

Journal of general internal medicine 20100518 9

<h4>Background</h4>Little is known about the frequency of significant hypoglycemic events in actual practice. Limited health literacy (HL) is common among patients with type 2 diabetes, may impede diabetes self-management, and thus HL could increase the risk of hypoglycemia.<h4>Objective</h4>To determine the proportion of ambulatory, pharmacologically-treated patients with type 2 diabetes reporting > or =1 significant hypoglycemic events in the prior 12 months, and evaluate whether HL is associa ...[more]

PMID: 20480249

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Project description:BackgroundPrevious studies have reported that health literacy limitations are associated with poorer disease control for chronic conditions, but have not evaluated potential associations with medication adherence.ObjectiveTo determine whether health literacy limitations are associated with poorer antidepressant medication adherence.DesignObservational new prescription cohort follow-up study.ParticipantsAdults with type 2 diabetes who completed a survey in 2006 and received a new antidepressant prescription during 2006-2010 (N?=?1,366) at Kaiser Permanente Northern California.Main measuresValidated three-item self-report scale measured health literacy. Discrete indices of adherence based on pharmacy dispensing data according to validated methods: primary non-adherence (medication never dispensed); early non-persistence (dispensed once, never refilled); non-persistence at 180 and 365 days; and new prescription medication gap (NPMG; proportion of time that the person is without medication during 12 months after the prescription date).Key resultsSeventy-two percent of patients were classified as having health literacy limitations. After adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical covariates, patients with health literacy limitations had significantly poorer adherence compared to patients with no limitations, whether measured as early non-persistence (46 % versus 38 %, p?<?0.05), non-persistence at 180 days (55 % versus 46 %, p?<?0.05), or NPMG (41 % versus 36%, p?<?0.01). There were no significant associations with primary adherence or non-persistence at 365 days.ConclusionsPoorer antidepressant adherence among adults with diabetes and health literacy limitations may jeopardize the continuation and maintenance phases of depression pharmacotherapy. Findings underscore the importance of national efforts to address health literacy, simplify health communications regarding treatment options, improve public understanding of depression treatment, and monitor antidepressant adherence.

Project description:BackgroundThe role that environmental factors, such as neighborhood socioeconomics, food, and physical environment, play in the risk of obesity and chronic diseases is not well quantified. Understanding how spatial distribution of disease risk factors overlap with that of environmental (contextual) characteristics may inform health interventions and policies aimed at reducing the environment risk factors. We evaluated the extent to which spatial clustering of extreme body mass index (BMI) values among a large sample of adults with diabetes was explained by individual characteristics and contextual factors.MethodsWe quantified spatial clustering of BMI among 15,854 adults with diabetes from the Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE) cohort using the Global and Local Moran's I spatial statistic. As a null model, we assessed the amount of clustering when BMI values were randomly assigned. To evaluate predictors of spatial clustering, we estimated two linear models to estimate BMI residuals. First we included individual factors (demographic and socioeconomic characteristics). Then we added contextual factors (neighborhood deprivation, food environment) that may be associated with BMI. We assessed the amount of clustering that remained using BMI residuals.ResultsGlobal Moran's I indicated significant clustering of extreme BMI values; however, after accounting for individual socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, there was no longer significant clustering. Twelve percent of the sample clustered in extreme high or low BMI clusters, whereas, only 2.67% of the sample was clustered when BMI values were randomly assigned. After accounting for individual characteristics, we found clustering of 3.8% while accounting for neighborhood characteristics resulted in 6.0% clustering of BMI. After additional adjustment of neighborhood characteristics, clustering was reduced to 3.4%, effectively accounting for spatial clustering of BMI.ConclusionsWe found substantial clustering of extreme high and low BMI values in Northern California among adults with diabetes. Individual characteristics explained somewhat more of clustering of the BMI values than did neighborhood characteristics. These findings, although cross-sectional, may suggest that selection into neighborhoods as the primary explanation of why individuals with extreme BMI values live close to one another. Further studies are needed to assess causes of extreme BMI clustering, and to identify any community level role to influence behavior change.

Project description:BackgroundDespite the widespread clinical perception that hypoglycemia may drive weight gain in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D), there is an absence of published evidence supporting this hypothesis.MethodsWe estimated the body fat percentage (eBFP) of 211 youth (HbA1c 8.0-13.0%, age 13-16) at baseline, 6, and 18 months of the Flexible Lifestyles Empowering Change trial using validated equations. Group-based trajectory modeling assigned adolescents to sex-specific eBFP groups. Using baseline 7-day blinded continuous glucose monitoring data, "more" vs. "less" percent time spent in hypoglycemia was defined by cut-points using sample median split and clinical guidelines. Adjusted logistic regression estimated the odds of membership in an increasing eBFP group comparing youth with more vs. less baseline hypoglycemia.ResultsMore time spent in clinical hypoglycemia (defined by median split) was associated with 0.29 the odds of increasing eBFP in females (95% CI: 0.12, 0.69; p = 0.005), and 0.33 the odds of stable/increasing eBFP in males (95% CI: 0.14, 0.78; p = 0.01).ConclusionsHypoglycemia may not be a major driver of weight gain in US youth with T1D and HbA1c ≥8.0. Further studies in different sub-groups are needed to clarify for whom hypoglycemia may drive weight gain and focus future etiological studies and interventions.ImpactWe contribute epidemiological evidence that hypoglycemia may not be a major driver of weight gain in US youth with type 1 diabetes and HbA1c ≥8.0% and highlight the need for studies to prospectively test this hypothesis rooted in clinical perception. Future research should examine the relationship between hypoglycemia and adiposity together with psychosocial, behavioral, and other clinical factors among sub-groups of youth with type 1 diabetes (i.e., who meet glycemic targets or experience a frequency/severity of hypoglycemia above a threshold) to further clarify for whom hypoglycemia may drive weight gain and progress etiological understanding of and interventions for healthy weight maintenance.

Project description:BackgroundHealth literacy (HL) skills are essential to enable self-management and shared decision-making in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Limited HL in these patients is associated with poorer outcomes. It is not clear what the burden of limited HL in patients with T2DM across countries and what factors influence it.MethodsA systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017056150). We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and ERIC for articles published up to January 2017. Articles that measured HL levels in adult patients with T2DM; that used validated HL tools; and that were reported in English were included. Two reviewers assessed studies for eligibility and quality, and extracted the data. Prevalence of limited HL is calculated from the number of patients with less than adequate HL over the total number of patients with T2DM in the study. Meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis were conducted using the Open Meta-analyst software.ResultsTwenty-nine studies involving 13,457 patients with T2DM from seven countries were included. In total, seven different HL measurement tools were used. The prevalence of limited HL ranged from 7.3% to 82%, lowest in Switzerland and the highest in Taiwan. Meta-regression analysis of all included studies showed the country of study (p<0.001), HL tool used (p = 0.002), and the country's region (p<0.001) contributed to the variation findings. Thirteen studies in the USA measured functional HL. The pooled prevalence of inadequate functional HL among patients with T2DM in the USA was 28.9% (95% CI: 20.4-37.3), with high heterogeneity (I2 = 97.9%, p <0.001). Studies were done in the community as opposed to a hospital or primary care (p = 0.005) and populations with education level lower than high school education (p = 0.009) reported a higher prevalence of limited HL.ConclusionThe prevalence of limited HL in patients with T2DM varied widely between countries, HL tools used and the country's region. Pooled prevalence showed nearly one in three patients with T2DM in the USA had limited functional HL. Interactions with healthcare providers and educational attainment were associated with reported of prevalence in the USA.

Dataset Information

Hypoglycemia is more common among type 2 diabetes patients with limited health literacy: the Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE).

Background

Objective

Research design

Subjects

Measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Hypoglycemia is more common among type 2 diabetes patients with limited health literacy: the Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE).

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