Impact of Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 on Lebanese Families' Quality of Life

Meanings attributed to health-related quality of life by caregivers of adolescents with diabetes

OBJECTIVE

to interpret the meanings attributed to the health-related quality of life by caregivers of adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

qualitative, descriptive-exploratory study of 14 caregivers of adolescents with diabetes developed at the reference outpatient clinic for endocrine diseases in a city in the state of Paraíba. Interviews were performed between May and September 2021. Inductive thematic analysis of the empirical material, and its interpretation in light of the concepts of health-related quality of life and family functioning were performed.

RESULTS

the meanings attributed by caregivers to the health-related quality of life of adolescents converged on the feeling of being healthy, healthy eating, satisfactory family income, family involvement in care and effective access to the care network.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

knowledge of these meanings enables health professionals to develop strategies that meet the unique demands of caregivers experiencing this diagnosis.

Dental Treatment Effect on Blood Glucose Level Fluctuation in Type 1 Unbalanced Diabetic Children

Diabetic patients struggle to maintain their blood glucose near normal levels to avoid the occurrence of hypo- or hyperglycemia discomfort. Dental practitioners must foresee such complications as they can also take place during dental treatment.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the impact of the type and duration of dental treatment on the blood glucose level (BGL) fluctuation in type 1 unbalanced diabetic children [hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) >7].

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A cross-sectional approach was conducted on 83 type 1 unbalanced diabetic children (HbA1c) > 7%, aged between 7 years and 12 years, divided into 40 females and 43 males in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the Lebanese University in Beirut. For dental treatments, diabetic children were scheduled for morning sessions 60-90 minutes after breakfast intake and a habitual insulin shot. Only patients with a BGL between 70 mg/dL and 300 mg/dL underwent dental treatments. The type, the duration of the dental session, and the BGL at the baseline (T0), and at the end of the session (T1) were recorded. The dental acts were classified into simple (without local anesthesia) and unpleasant with a solution of 2% lignocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine. Statistical analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Fifty of 83 showed a decrease in their BGLs after dental treatments, 20 an increase, and 13 no change. For both genders, in simple acts, a statistical significance was noted (p = 0.0002) for the female and (p = 0.0014) for the males.

CONCLUSION

Treatment unbalanced diabetic children can be safely done by taking some precautions and measures to avoid a hypo- or hyperglycemia episode.

HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE

Noueiri B, Nassif N. Dental Treatment Effect on Blood Glucose Level Fluctuation in Type 1 Unbalanced Diabetic Children. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(4):497-501.

Mothers of children with food allergies report poorer perceived life status which may be explained by limited career choices

Pediatric food allergy is associated with direct, indirect and intangible costs. However, it remains unclear if intangible costs of pediatric food allergy influence parental career choices. Using data from 63 parents whose children had been diagnosed by a pediatric allergist with food allergy, we sought to (a) establish perceived life status of families with a food allergic child, and (b) to describe any career limitations viewed as attributable to food allergy. Compared to responding parents whose children had one to two food allergies, those with three or more food allergies had significantly poorer perceived life status (ß - 0.74; 95%CI - 1.41; - 0.07; p < 0.05). Overall, 14.3% of parents (all mothers) reported career limitations due to food allergy. Two of the 7 mothers (28.6%) who reported career limitations due to their child's food allergy fell below Statistics Canada cut-off for low-income, after tax dollars (LIM-AT). One of the three mothers who had changed jobs because of their child's food allergy was below the LIM-AT. No fathers reported food allergy-related career limitations. In conclusion, mothers of children with multiple food allergies reported worse perceived life status that may be partly explained by food allergy-related career limitations.

Oral health status and impact on the oral health-related quality of life of Egyptian children and early adolescents with type-1 diabetes: a case-control study

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of the present study is to (1) evaluate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among a group of Egyptian children and early adolescents with type-1 diabetes mellitus (T₁DM) aged from 8 to 14 years and the impact of individual, environmental, oral health care and biological independent predictors (2) assess oral health status (OHS) in terms of oral hygiene, caries experience, untreated carious cavities and gingival condition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A case-control investigation conducted on eligible 444 participants who have been assigned into four groups (two case groups included 125 children and 97 early adolescents with T₁DM and two matched control groups). The OHRQoL was measured using a validated structured CPQ_8-10 for children and CPQ_11-14 short-form questionnaires for early adolescents. The questionnaire comprised of four parts that represented the study independent variables. Descriptive data were analysed using Mann-Whitney U test for the non-parametric data. Pearson's correlations have been calculated to inspect the interrelation between metabolic disease control and study of different OHS representatives. Log-linear Poisson model regression analyses performed to determine associations between the OHRQoL and independent predictors.

RESULTS

The prevalence of dental caries (DT ≥ 1) in children with diabetes was 49.6% (75.3%). The worse GI mean and median scores were recorded among early adolescents with T₁DM [mean (SD) = 2.24 ± 0.61; median (IQR) = 2.3(1)]. The social well-being of CPQ domains was a prominent concern that negatively affected children and early adolescents' life aspects. A strong correlation between OHRQoL and the level of HbA_1c in the two diabetic groups (r = 0.69 for children's group and 0.74 for the early adolescent group) was observed. The final model of log-linear Poisson regression analysis demonstrated that the odds ratio (OR) of poor OHRQoL among children and early adolescents with poor metabolic control was 1.30 [95% CI 1.18-1.47] and 1.22 [95% CI 1.11-1.38] times more than those with good metabolic control do.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall self-reported OHRQL appears to be adversely affected by T₁DM especially among children and early adolescents with poor metabolic control. Socioeconomic status and oral health care demonstrate a significant impact on the OHRQoL; however, the effect was obvious in the diabetic and non-diabetic groups.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

1. In Egypt, the number of new cases rises progressively in a retrospective survey to figure out the prevalence of T1DM among children and adolescents. The available data is limited regarding the incidence and prevalence of dental caries and gingival condition among Egyptian children and early adolescents. 2. The present study is a premier study that assesses the OHRQoL and studies the impact of the individual, environmental, biological and oral health care variables. 3. This study highlights the urgent need for improving the oral health status of diabetic children and adolescents and the necessity for qualified oral health education programs for children and parents. There is an intense need to reinforce the role of preventive oral hygiene measures.