The relationships among fear of hypoglycaemia, diabetes-related quality of life and psychological well-being in Norwegian adults with Type 1 diabetes

Aims To examine the associations among fear of hypoglycaemia, diabetes-related quality of life and psychological well-being, and determine whether diabetes-related quality of life is a mediator of the relationship between fear of hypoglycaemia and psychological well-being in adults with Type 1 diabetes. Methods A total of 235 of 319 invited adults (18–69 years) with Type 1 diabetes agreed to participate. Hierarchical linear regression was applied to 188 individuals with complete data. Mediation analysis was used to determine whether diabetes-related quality of life mediated the relationship between fear of hypoglycaemia and psychological well-being. Results Fear of hypoglycaemia was significantly associated with diabetes-related quality of life and psychological well-being. The behaviour and worry components of fear of hypoglycaemia were significantly associated with diabetes-related quality of life (behaviour component: unstandardised coefficient = −0.04, p < 0.001, standardised coefficient = −0.40; worry component: unstandardised coefficient = −0.01, p = 0.041, standardised coefficient = −0.18). Fear of hypoglycaemia worry had a significant independent association with psychological well-being (unstandardised coefficient = −0.28, p = 0.009, standardised coefficient = −0.25), whereas fear of hypoglycaemia behaviour did not. Diabetes-related quality of life mediated approximately half of the association between fear of hypoglycaemia worry and psychological well-being. Conclusions Hypoglycaemic episodes can have serious consequences, and assessing fear of hypoglycaemia might help health care providers offer suitable care strategies to individuals with Type 1 diabetes.