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Improved glycemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus who attend diabetes camp
Author(s) -
Wang YuChi A,
Stewart Sunita,
Tuli Ekta,
White Perrin
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
pediatric diabetes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.678
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1399-5448
pISSN - 1399-543X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-5448.2007.00285.x
Subject(s) - medicine , glycemic , diabetes mellitus , glycated hemoglobin , type 2 diabetes , medical record , type 1 diabetes , summer camp , depression (economics) , pediatrics , endocrinology , psychology , developmental psychology , economics , macroeconomics
Objective: Diabetes camp has become a common part of medical practice worldwide. Although patients’ knowledge and self‐management of diabetes may improve after camp, improved glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels have not been consistently demonstrated. Research Design and Methods: We performed a retrospective study of medical records at the Children’s Medical Center Dallas Endocrinology Center for adolescents with type 1 diabetes aged 12–18 yr. We compared patients who did (n = 77) or did not (n = 106) attend Camp Sweeney, a regional 20‐d diabetes camp. Some patients (n = 82) and their parents also completed measures of adherence, depression, and quality of life. Results: HbA1c decreased over time in patients who attended diabetes camp {mean [±standard deviation (SD)] at baseline, (T1) = 8.6% (±1.8%) and at follow‐up, (T2) = 8.3% (±1.6%)}, whereas it increased in those who did not attend [mean (±SD) at T1 = 8.4% (±2.1%) and at T2 = 8.9% (±2.3%)] (p < 0.005). Seven months after camp (T3), there were still significant differences in HbA1c between the camp and control groups (p = 0.04), with the difference because of persistent improvement for girls but not for boys. Patients’ adherence (p < 0.05) and adjustment (p < 0.05) improved by parental report in those who attended camp; parents of patients who did not attend did not report the change. Conclusions: Attending Camp Sweeney is associated with improved glycemic control and parent‐reported adherence and adjustment in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Additional studies are needed to determine whether these findings can be generalized to other diabetes camps.