Correlation of FBS Level and Anxiety Level |1

Chapter IV

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

This chapter presents, analyses, and interprets the data gathered in this study.

The various results are presented in the succeeding tables and figures with corresponding

discussions and explanations.

Specifically, this chapter describes the correlation of fasting blood sugar and

anxiety level of the BS Medical Technology Interns Batch 2018-2019 of General Santos

Doctors’ Medical School Foundation, Inc. The demographic profile of interns was

determined by using the frequency and percentage distribution. According to the average

sugar level and anxiety level of the interns, the researchers used mean. Lastly, Pearson-r

was used to identify the correlation between the sugar level and anxiety level of

participants.

Profile of the study Population

Table 1, 2 and 3 showed the frequency and percentage distribution of the

participants according to gender, anxiety level and sugar level. The participants of the

study were the Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology Interns Batch 2018-2019 of

General Santos Doctors’ Medical School Foundation, Inc.

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Gender Frequency Percentage

Male 5 25%
Female 15 75%
Total 20 100%

Table 1. Frequency distribution and percentage of participants according gender.

16 75%
14
12
10
Frequency

8
6 25%
4
2
0
Male Female
Gender

Figure 2. Frequency distribution of participants according to Gender

Figure 2 showed the frequency distribution of gender among the respondents it

showed that the frequency of 15 (75%) were females and males has a frequency of 5

(25%). The total number of respondents of the study, as shown in the figure above, was

20. According to the GSDMSFI Registrar’s Office, female BS MT Interns (90%) has a

greater population than male interns (10%) of General Santos Doctors’ Medical School

Foundation Inc. for the school year 2018-2019.

Anxiety level Frequency Percentage

Very Low 6 30%
Low 3 15%
Average 9 45%
High 1 5%
Very High 1 5%
Total 20 100%
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Table 2. Frequency distribution of participants according to Anxiety level.

10 45%
9
8
7 30%
Frequency 6
5
4 15%
3
2 5% 5%
1
0
Very Low Low Average High Very High
Anxiety Level

Figure 3. Frequency distribution of the participants according to anxiety level

In the figure 3, it showed the frequency distribution of the respondents according

to anxiety level. It showed that the majority of the BS MT Interns were at the average

level of anxiety with a frequency of 9 (45%), followed by very low anxiety level with a

frequency of 6 (30%), low level with a frequency of 3 (15%) and lastly those with high

and very high level which both has the same frequency with 1 (5%). This data was

supported from book of Journal of Critical Care (Isra Ahmed,Haseena and Reem, 2009)

which states that increase in depression and/or anxiety symptoms of medical students will

continue throughout internship and may reach burnout level.

According to the study “Cognitive emotions: Depression and anxiety in medical

students and staff” of Isra Ahmed et. al. (2009). Medical students represent a highly

educated population under significant pressures. They encounter multiple emotions

during the transformation from insecure student to young knowledgeable physician.

During the transition to clinical settings in the third year, the student may experience a
 Correlation of FBS Level and Anxiety Level |4

loss of external control and may counter this with an increase in depression and/or

anxiety symptoms. Studies suggest that mental health worsens after students begin

medical school and remains poor throughout training. It is not just the undergraduate

study period, which brings about these changes; it may continue later in internship,

postgraduate study, and in physicians' practical life, and it may reach burnout level.

Medical students and practicing physicians, in comparison with the general population

and that of other professions, are exposed to academic and professional stress and

therefore are vulnerable to psychosocial health problems and certain specific

dysfunctions that may compromise their physical, mental, and social health. Medical

students showed 28.6% depression and 28.7% showed anxiety. In medical staff, 7.8%

showed depression and 2.2% of them showed anxiety.

Sugar level Frequency Percentage

Normal 9 45%
Impaired glucose tolerance 11 55%
Total 20 100%

Table 3. Frequency distribution of participants according to Sugar level.

12 55%

10 45%

8
Frequency

6
4
2
0
Normal Impaired
Sugar level
 Correlation of FBS Level and Anxiety Level |5

Figure 4. Frequency distribution of the participants according to sugar level

Figure 4 showed the frequency distribution of respondents according to sugar

level. It that showed that most of the respondents had an impaired glucose tolerance with

a frequency of 11 (55%) and a normal sugar level with a frequency of 9 (45%) . As cited

by Maureen Harris, et. al, in their study entitled “Prevalence of Diabetes, Impaired

Fasting Glucose, and Impaired Glucose Tolerance,” the high rates of abnormal fasting,

together with the increasing frequency of obesity and sedentary lifestyles in the

population, make it likely that diabetes will continue to be a major health problem.

Variable Mean Verbal Description

Sugar level 5.51 Normal

Anxiety level 57.67 Normal

Table 4. Average of the Sugar level and Anxiety level of the participants

Table 4 showed the average of the Sugar level and the Anxiety level of the BS

MT Interns in the GSDMSFI Batch 2018-2019 derived from all the data gathered

regarding individual sugar level and anxiety level showed that the average sugar level

was 5.51 mg/dl and Anxiety level was 57.57 which both interpreted as within normal

range.

Variables R Sig Remarks

Anxiety & Sugar level -0.154 0.516 Not Significant

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Table 5. Correlation of the sugar level to anxiety level of the participants

Table above showed that there was no significant correlation of sugar level to the

anxiety level. Furthermore, it implies that the Anxiety level does not predict the sugar

level of the participants.

According to Sack (2013) in his study "Sugar Diet Impacts Physical and Mental

Health", heavy sugar consumption increase risk of depression and worse outcomes in

individuals with schizophrenia. Sugar suppresses activity of a hormone called BDNF that

is low in individuals with depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. Sugar is also at the root

of chronic inflammation, which impacts the immune system, the brain and other systems

in the body and also has been implicated in depression. Interestingly, countries with high

sugar intake also have a high rate of depression.

A higher national dietary intake of refined sugar and dairy products predicted a

worse 2-year outcome of anxiety. A high national prevalence of depression was predicted

by a low dietary intake of fish and seafood. The dietary predictors of outcome of anxiety

and prevalence of depression are similar to those that predict illnesses such as coronary

heart disease and diabetes, which are more common in people with mental health

problems and in which nutritional approaches are widely recommended. Dietary

intervention studies are indicated in anxiety and depression. (Peet, 2011)

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Sex Normal Impaired

Male 3 2

Female 6 9

Total 9 11

Table 6. Frequency distribution of Anxiety level according to gender.

10 9
9
8
7 6
Frequency

6
5
4 3
3
2 1
1
0
Normal Impaired

Male Female
Anxiety level acc. to sex

Figure 5. Frequency distribution of anxiety level according to sex

Figure 5 showed that majority of the male participants has a normal anxiety level

with the frequency of 3 and others have an impaired anxiety level with frequency of 2.

On the other hand, most of the female participants have an impaired anxiety level with a

frequency of 11 and the remaining females are in normal range with a frequency of 6.
 Correlation of FBS Level and Anxiety Level |8

A study entitled “Gender Differences in Test Anxiety and Academic Performance

of Medical Students” (2012) was conducted by Farooqi, et. al and showed that females

are more likely to experience anxiety than males. They have concluded that the gender

differences in test anxiety level may be attributed to different social roles assigned to men

and women and increased emotional vulnerability of women to this difference in their

roles.

According to Dustin Shaver (2017), studies showed that women are two times

more sensitive to a chemical called corticotrophin, a hormone used to initiate and

maintain the stress response within the body. This causes women to respond more easily

to stress which may result to increased anxiety. A male’s brain also processes serotonin –

a neurotransmitter which is responsible for the way we respond with stress and anxiety –

faster than a woman’s.

Table 7. Frequency distribution of Participants Sugar level according to sex.

Sex Neg Normal Minimal Mild Moderate

Male 2 1 2 0 0

Female 4 2 7 1 1
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8
7
7
6
5

Frequency
4
4
3
2 2 2
2
1 1 1
1
0 0
0
Neg Normal Minimal Mild Moderate
Sugar level according. to sex

Male female

Figure 6. Frequency distribution of sugar level according to sex

Figure 6 showed that most of the male participants were in the negative and

minimal sugar level which both has a frequency of 2, followed by the normal sugar level

with a frequency of 1. Majority of the sugar level of female participants was in the

minimal level with a frequency of 7, followed by negative sugar level with a frequency of

4 and with a normal sugar level with a frequency of 2.

A study entitled “Sex and Gender Differences in Risk, Pathophysiology and

Complications of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus” was conducted by Pacini, et. Al showed that

females are more likely experience increase blood sugar level than males. They have

concluded that T2DM is more frequently diagnosed at lower age and body mass index in

men; however, the most prominent risk factor, which is obesity, is more common in

women. Females are overall more inactive but put more effort in healthy nutrition by

consuming more fruits and vegetables and less meat. Females tend to consume more
 C o r r e l a t i o n o f F B S L e v e l a n d A n x i e t y L e v e l | 10

sugar, although high glycemic index diets seem to increase abdominal fat, particularly in

sedentary women in contrast to sedentary men.

According to Baltazar, et. Al in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice Volume

64, Issue 2, (June 2014) showed that the frequency of diabetes and IGT in urban and rural

areas were about the same, although a substantial increase from the earlier survey was

noted in rural areas. Women registered a higher prevalence for both conditions than men.

Aside from age and gender, the other correlates of diabetes mellitus were hypertension,

family history of diabetes, BMI and physical inactivity. IGT had similar correlates as

diabetes except physical inactivity. The present findings which are consistent with those

of other studies underscore the role of lifestyle behaviors in diabetes and should be the

target of intervention to prevent further increase in disease frequency.

C o r r e l a t i o n o f F B S L e v e l a n d A n x i e t y L e v e l | 11