Carbohydrate counting with an automated bolus calculator helps to improve glycaemic control in children with type 1 diabetes using multiple daily injection therapy: an 18-month observational study.
Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2014;
103:388-94. [PMID:
24447811 DOI:
10.1016/j.diabres.2013.12.026]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Revised: 10/22/2013] [Accepted: 12/21/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
AIMS
This study aimed to investigate the effect of carbohydrate counting (carbC), with or without an automated bolus calculator (ABC), in children with type 1 diabetes treated with multiple daily insulin injections.
METHODS
We evaluated 85 children, aged 9-16 years, with type 1 diabetes, divided into four groups: controls (n=23), experienced carbC (n=19), experienced carbC+ABC (n=18) and non-experienced carbC+ABC (n=25). Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin use, and glycaemic variability - evaluated as high blood glucose index (HBGI) and low blood glucose index (LBGI) - were assessed at baseline and after 6 and 18 months.
RESULTS
At baseline, age, disease duration, BMI, HbA1c, insulin use, and HBGI (but not LBGI; p=0.020) were similar for all groups. After 6 months, HbA1c improved from baseline, although not significantly - patients using ABC (according to manufacturer's recommendations) HbA1c 7.14 ± 0.41% at 6 months vs. 7.35 ± 0.53% at baseline, (p=0.136) or without carbC experience HbA1c 7.61±0.62% vs. 7.95 ± 0.99% (p=0.063). Patients using ABC had a better HBGI (p=0.001) and a slightly worse LBGI (p=0.010) than those not using ABC. ABC settings were then personalised. At 18 months, further improvements in HbA1c were seen in children using the ABC, especially in the non-experienced carbC group (-0.42% from baseline; p=0.018).
CONCLUSIONS
CarbC helped to improve glycaemic control in children with type 1 diabetes using multiple daily injections. ABC use led to greater improvements in HbA1c, HBGI and LBGI compared with patients using only carbC, regardless of experience with carbC.
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