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How well are we doing? – Metabolic control in patients with diabetes
Author(s) -
Thomsett MJ,
Shield GJ,
Batch JA,
Cotterill AM
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1754.1999.355424.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ketoacidosis , diabetes mellitus , metabolic control analysis , diabetic ketoacidosis , pediatrics , insulin , population , type 1 diabetes , endocrinology , environmental health
Objective: To compare the present level of metabolic control in children and adolescents with insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) attending Brisbane paediatric diabetes clinics with published overseas data. Methodology: Blood HbA 1c concentrations, population characteristics, current treatment practices and short‐term complications were recorded in all patients, aged 19 years and under, attending the diabetes clinics of the two Brisbane Children’s Hospitals or the private practice of one of the authors (MJT) in the first quarter of 1998. Results: Two hundred and sixty‐eight patients were assessed (M/F 142/126). Ages ranged from 1 to 19 years (mean 11.2 years); duration of IDDM was 0–16 years (mean 4.4 years); and 141 (53%) were pubertal. Of those aged less than 13 years, only 4% had more than two injections daily. Insulin doses (U/kg/day) rose with increasing age. Larger doses were required in regimens involving more than two injections per day than those involving one to two injections per day. Ketoacidosis or severe hypoglycaemia in the last 3 months were reported in eight (2.7%) and 17 (6.3%) of patients, respectively. Mean HbA 1c (± SD) was 8.6 ± 1.4% (range 5.2–14.0%), with 33% of children having a HbA 1c concentration < 8%. HbA 1c concentrations were significantly related ( P < 0.05) to insulin dose and to duration of diabetes, but not to severe hypoglycaemia, ketoacidosis, age, frequency of injections, or number of clinic visits per year. Mean HbA 1c concentration was significantly higher ( P < 0.05) in those children in puberty (8.7 ± 1.5%) than in those not in puberty (8.5 ± 1.2%). Conclusions: Only 33% of patients had a HbA 1C concentration less than 8% and 6.3% had a severe hypoglycaemic episode in the 3 months. These results are similar to published overseas data.