Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide patients with diabetes with proper guidance about snow-removal work. A survey was conducted about snow-removal work in winter, individual drug therapy, frequency of hypoglycemia during the work, and how patients had been instructed in relation to the prevention and self-treatment of hypoglycemia and real actions that were taken in response to the presentation of symptoms of hypoglycemia. Results: The survey revealed that 85.7 % (203/237) of male and 61.8 % (122/197) of female diabetic patients performed snow-removal work and that 133 patients even worked on the roof during the winter season of 2011-2012. From these patients 8.9 % (29/325) of the snow-removers and 9.0 % (12/133) of roof snow-removers responded that they experienced hypoglycemic symptoms during the work. Very few patients had received guidance on reduction policies in relation to insulin or oral diabetic drugs. Conclusion: Snow removal work is routine and necessary in heavy snow areas, even for people with diabetes. Patients should be taught the signs, symptoms, and proper treatment of hypoglycemia, as well how it may be prevented. It is important to educate not only diabetes patients, but also other members of the diabetes-management team on the need for individualized therapy.
