A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STRUCTURED TEACHING PROGRAMME ON KNOWLEDGE REGARDING PREVENTION OF HYPOGLYCEMIA AMONG DIABETICS AT ASRAM HOSPITAL ELURU, ANDHRA PRADESH

Background: Hypoglycemia is one of the most serious complications of diabetes mellitus, with a higher risk among elderly patients, those with comorbidities, pregnant women, and children with Type 1 diabetes. In Type 2 diabetes, prolonged disease duration and strict glycemic control also elevate this risk. Hypoglycemia can lead to impaired counter-regulatory responses, unawareness, and increased risk of vascular events or death. Patient education is key to its prevention. Objectives: (1) To assess the level of knowledge regarding prevention of hypoglycemia among diabetic patients. (2) To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme in terms of gain in knowledge scores. (3) To nd the association between post-test knowledge levels and selected demographic variables.Methods: Apre-experimental one-group pre-test and post-test design was conducted among 30 diabetic patients admitted to ASRAM Hospital, Eluru, using a purposive sampling technique. A structured questionnaire assessed knowledge before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: In the pre-test, only 3.3% of participants had good knowledge, while 73.3% had average and 23.3% had poor knowledge. In the post-test, 90% showed good knowledge and 10% had average knowledge. Signicant associations were observed between post-test knowledge and demographic variables such as age, gender, education, marital status, duration of illness, and dietary habits. Conclusion: The structured teaching programme was effective in improving the knowledge regarding prevention of hypoglycemia among diabetic patients. Regular educational interventions can help promote self-care and reduce hypoglycemic episodes.