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Title: Dietary Adherence Improves Glucose Control in Children With Type 1 Diabetes
URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/224BE2.htm
Doctor's Guide
July 1, 2008

BOSTON -- July 1, 2008 -- Adherence to prescribed dietary recommendations is associated with better glucose control in children with type 1 diabetes, according to a new study published in the July issue of Diabetes Care.

"In recent years, diabetes management has been focused around new medications and technologies," said senior author Lori Laffel, MD, Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Section, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, Massachusetts. "In this study, we were encouraged to identify the unique importance of diet on blood sugar control in children and teens with type 1 diabetes."

The study surveyed the parents of 119 children and teens aged 9 to 14 years and asked how closely they followed prescribed dietary behaviours, such as estimating carbohydrate intake, matching the child's insulin dose to carbohydrate intake, and the quality of the diet itself in terms of intake of sweets and fats.

Children who adhered closely, or fairly closely, to the prescribed dietary recommendations showed a haemoglobin (Hb) A1C level of up to almost a full point lower than those who were least adherent. Those who adhered the least had an average Hb A1C of 9%, while those who adhered more closely to the recommendations had an average Hb A1C between 8.1% and 8.4%, depending on their level of adherence.

The Hb A1C difference of between 0.6 and 0.9 is considered significant, according to lead author Sanjeev Mehta, MD, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, who noted that lowering Hb A1C scores is associated with a significant reduction in risk of diabetes-related complications.

"By achieving target A1C levels, the long-term risk of complications can be reduced by 50% to 75%," he said. "For every point you lower your A1C score, the risk is reduced further."

Dr. Mehta said that this study demonstrates how dietary behaviours are directly associated with glycaemic control and provides families with another avenue through which they can optimise their children's diabetes management.

SOURCE: Joslin Diabetes Center

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